The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-12
What They Say About the Bar AS
SOeiation Charges.
PURELY A PARTISAN EFFORT.
Has the Man of Gramercy Park a Hand
In It2

seemed to disturb the equanimity OF the accused
officials. The general opinion among the county OIL
GERS and their friends that the whole proceeding
was partisan in its nature, and was aimed only at
officials who held their places under the patronage OF
Tammany Hall. The HERALD reporter had few
minutes conversation with Comptroller Kelly rela-
tive to the report of the Bar Association Committee
TrDEN CAME.
'It is nothing more less than political in its
aims" said Mr.. Kelly "One of the committee Is
Charles f. Maclean. who draws $4,000 year as eoun-
sci to the Board of Police Commissioners. This gen
1lernan is a connection of Governor Tildens.
.In what is ii political?'
.Weu Mr. Tilden wants to break up the democratic
party Of this city subserve his ambitions. He
thinks that by raising cutlery of this description
he can compel the accused officials to identify them
selves with his waning fortunes"
How do you suppose this committee intends to
proceedY'
II presume they propose to go before the Governor
with certain charges One thing can say with GER
tainty-they cannot find anything wrong in the
County Clerks Office"
How about the Sheriff and Registers"
'.weu those gentlemen could not live were they to
conne themselves strictly to the statutory allow
ance. Laws affecting these departments passed
nearly century ago and cannot be applied to pres
ent emergencies
Of this city?''
"Why. certainly. Nearly all the members of the
Bar perfectly understand this condition of affairs
They only tolerate the practice but encourage it
a necessity in order to carry the public bus-
would like to know if these lawyers them
selves live up to the statutory regulations in making
their bills against clients 1t would not be bad
idea to inquire from clients how they have been
mulcted in that way"
.swin not Governor Robinson be compelled to
those officials if they proved guilty OF ille
gal practices?'
Il think not The Governor will doubtless take
into consideration all the circumstances surro unding
the action of the officials"
'You were incensed at the visit of the committee
to your Officer
Certainly was. They had no authority at all for
investigating in such DOM believe any
one of them taxpayer"
THE sHEf:1FF's OFFICE.
Major Quincy, chief of the Order of Arrest De-
partment in the Sherifs Office, said that he ut
terly astonished that a body OF men like the one
which made report the charges TO the Bar Assoc
citation should so msrep present and entirely
strue facts as they had done The interview which
the members of the committee had with him when
they his office of entirely different
rharacter than thew had p1yen il one of the rentIe
asked him if he familiar with the statutory
charges in the matter of making ont bonds, &c and
he replied that he was stating at the time how
inadequate to pay the running of the Office
He cited the case where only thrtyseven and half
cents is allowed TO be ch arged tor the making out of
bsl bond, and said that this amount would not
pay for the paper and ink used in the operation
let alone defraying the legitimate expenses Of the
deputies
Mr.. Quincy continued his remarks as follows:-
''Some time ago larg number of the more pron-
nent members Of the legal profession in this city
agreed after good deal of discussion pay charge
OF 81 rs for the work while the law only allowed
thirty-seven and half cents be paid The parties
concurrng in this deci sion recognized the fact that
there large amour 1t of expense attached TO
ming the Sherifs Office and considered that charge
of FIJI IS was little ugh for the labor and respon
sibility These genten still continue to pay this
amount. In reference the other portions of the
port want to say just this that far the charges
made therein are con ,erned they are false. posi-
lively and emphatical deny that at any time dis
charged had dischar sed any deputy because he
Fused To divide up with me. The three men were
discharged for good an / sufficient cause"
NOT ErTISG
Major Quincy then gave instances where he had
having to pay out ey in order 10 obey the orders
of courts and dwelt rticularly the Tweed case
stating that he had not received one cent from that
gentleman for bringing him down TO the AdermaDic
Chamber to attend the Tweed investigation He also
said that he prcpa to prove under oath that he
supposed making 70 rtune out of the office. He
said that any arrangem,1 i that entered into be-
mer was kept out Ge Jail for short time
In order TO obtain h Ill was q purely personal
affair with which he had nothing to 10. The deputy
had perfect right TO n scept whatever was offered
him by the prisoner. ans l he Major Quincy would
point ont the law forbidc ing him to do Ia con-
Guiding his remarks AIajc quincy said that would
be a long time before the gentlemen who had made
the report would have lother opportunity to mis-
represent him.
ONLY DEsfon 4ars ACCUSED.
''H the Investigation In any significance that is
not merely political" said Deputy sheriff Cummings
70 HERALD reporter. "wh is it that only democrats
are agcusedg surely Their other Offices which
might be- investigated best DIES those Of the Register
Sheriff and County Clerk. d donot think il the Bar
Association anxious to erye The public instead Of
political end that the District Attorneys Office
would be considered above suspicion. To make the
Investigation fair ought 70 extend TO every office in
which the Bar has inte rest There have been
ugly stories lately bout referees charged.
Why don't the Bar Assoca ltion investigate these
Why allow the offices of the Clerk of the Marine and
other courts 20 escape after ton altogether Then
there are the Registers in Ban kruptcy and the United
States MarShas. Both the y ar and the public
much interested in knowing how these offices have
been administered those VI lich the Bar Association
but how about the speriR accusations Of over
CHARGES Ia the sherifs Officer the reporter asked.
"Ihe charges cited by the % 'm1nttee may may
not be true have not taken the trouble to examine
them In any event tho parts in interest satis
Del with their fees and PAD Il em without objection
~ there vas any Suspicion Of wrong they could have
had them taxed by the court, and ii there actual
triple the amount. None of IL people who paid the
foes are complaining exospt Of the clients Of
elr Knox, who has been the ost active member Of
e commute ana 90 not III nk IL - exactly proper
Tor him. while acting in behalf Of private parties,
use the machinery Of the Bar .ssocation conduct
ALI an inquiry which Dug at, at least 20 be impartial"
WHY TIE COUNTY CtEHK PIED INQUIRY.
The reporter subsequently, visited Mr. Henry A. |
Gnmhleton, at his private Office in the County Clerks
otien-
!. The committee 81 the Bar Association report"
The reporter satd, THAT owing 20 opposition from
You they were able to rn AXE My very limited
ANIMATION Of the County Clerk Office"
when they came here" M Gumblet0n replied. |
81 was disposed to afford the every facility and
make the examination ope9i a. possible. While |
the committee was at work . reporter came in here
and asked to be allowed to be present. / consented
at once. but tho committee oh cctcd. was rather
surprised NJ this for II there VI anything wrong IN
my office is singular that they should want the
public ~ know it,
But their objection to pubicby not the reason
You stopped the inquiry the re porter interpoaed.
ION, no. stopped II because Lhey refused 10 fur
1ish me with the charges accusations they in
tended 10 Investigate. While they were disposed To
Keep me N as complete Is aorancs II their intentions
NJ the public they seem Ell 70 Il ink Il my duty 60
furnish them with proofs upOT. which they might
base charges 90 tirrI IL 4 declined 10