The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-22

EDGAR KETCHUMS VIEWS.
Mr. Edgar Ketchum first visited by the reporter
of the HERALD his chambers in the Bennett Build
ing. He asked what disclosures he could make
in regard to the administration of the county Offices,
and responded as follows:
Il shall be very glad to talk to You this sub
ject'
Years ago." continued he plunging into the midst
of things there time fixed for the return Of
searches by the Register and the County Clerk after
for to be fixed by law, until the officers them
selves prepared bill which set the limit OF time for
the work, and il passed. Extra rates. however.
had already been demanded, and objected to by
some while they were acquicsced in by others. The
applications Of those who resisted cxtortion would be
postponed and their way through the records of the
offices was filled with hindrances. Still have
recollection Of having been kept waiting in those times
ten or fifteen days Tor searches. At later period
the applicant told the length Of time
quircd for his search. and II he wanted it
sooner he must pay additional compcnsa
and were Obliged to wait In the meantime the OFF,
had induced the Legislature to increase their
fees. Ten fifteen years ago, in the Clerks Office
instance the fee for searching each year for judy
ments was five cents. Since then it has been made
fifteen cents ut the instance of the officers very
handsome fee. good many liens real estate
created also. for searching against which the
County Clerk was to be paid and the compensation
was thus largely increased.
'.Ihe fixing of the time for the return of the
constitutes the and the wrong done to
the community II affords the officers chance to
thrust out fender against the applicant. who must
suffer the agony of suspense for an unnecessary
length of time or must succumb to cxtortion.
ii was licensed a lawyer in 1888 and had worked
very hard before that. l have never paid any
fees, and have very rarely been i'll treated in the
public Offices When these officers know that the
men who apply to them know what they entitled
10 they almost always yield with respect to the
amount of the charge, but never rs to the point Of
time.
EXCESSIVE COST OF RECORDING.
''In the Registers Office there is great wrong in
the excessive charges made for recording papers.
The documents are returned to the lawyers by run
ners VINO ny them on their desks and demand
much money. For recording ordinary warrantcc
deed, printed and written. with description of
property subject to mortgage they ask 81 10. IL
the lawyer dcmurs to the charge aud says is too
much the runner replies that he has nothing to do
with the fixing of the price; he Is simply to collect
it or TO take the decd back to the Register II it is
wanted right away the money will be paid. This
practice goes all the great city of New York
At a very early period of my practice began to
attend to the matter of fees myself. would asccr
tain the number of folios in paper and note them on
the back. together with the legal fee / always
sent this memorandum and the exact amount OF
money named, and IL was never refused"
Mr.. ketchum showed the following marks on an old
decd:-"folios ~; pay 81 AZ" Twelve and half
cents said he, 'are paid for the certificate OF record
and twelve and half cents for the copy Oft always
allowed whole fraction where folio was not filed.
Thus in the deed in your hand the bare charge for
recording ought to be 81 ~ and twentyhv cents be-
ing added for the two certificates, the one In the
book and the other ON tho deed made 1t 81 AZ. The
ordinary charge made by the register, as am in
formed is " 20. There is nothing they like better
over there than to get hold of deed mortgage all
OF which is in manuscript and then they generally
charge they please. But have always had tho
pages of my papers counted and have paid for only
80 much as there actually was the If part
of IL were printed.
'How THEY DO IN PHILADELPHIA"
Twill tell you an illustrative incident which hap
pcned TO me under one OF the former Registers.
was appointed loan commissioner and 1t was my
duty 10 stand in the registers Office certain days
~ the year. On one Of those days the Register
walked in with fine looking gentleman, and APP