The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-15
ANSWER THIS, Mr.. REGISTER.
TIE PROFITS or 4 SINGLE Day IN THE
COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
The Alleged Difference between What Was
Charged for Filling aud What should Have
Bcen Charged-Mr. Gumbieton's Card.

81 confess" said lawyer to n reporter
for THE sun yesterday. that the public inter
est in tho charges against the Sheriff County
Clerk and Register has reached point where
1t is necessary 10 substitute specific allegations.
with names, dates. and amounts. There docs
not seem to be any doubt that these officers
have received cmoluments not authorized 10y
statute. and there IL. believe. n universal con-
vdon that the mysteries OF their Offices
should be exposed. to the end that a plain sys-
tom and uniform rate Of compensation should
be substituted.
The Shorlr has said that in his long ex-
pcrienco in the office us deputy and chief the
charges hive. always been the snmc. Major
Quincy. who has charge " the order ~ Arrest
Bureau. declares that he could not live on the
legal fec of ~ cents for each arrest. but DOES
not controvert any assertion thus far published
II has been stnt"d I'm THE SuN. and il in proof.
that this Inference is great ~ to swell in one
case at least the statutory fee OF 81 cents to ;2l
and There s. according 10 the statements Of
those familiar with the allegations. abundant
proof that even this enormous eNacton was not
"Iicretofore hut little has been said about the
charges against the County Clerk II II not dis
put"d by Mr.. Gnmhlrt9n or any OF his suppr-
dnates. that citizens doing business with his
office have rs "A rule. unid sums grraier thnn
those allowed 10y law. Tho function Of a searrher
I'm the Office of tho County Clerk is analogous to
that NJ srarcher In the Registers Office. The
distinction between the two Is that the Register
has to do with the records 81 property trans
fcrrod by consent Of parties, or leased. or mort
gagged. while the County Clerk has 10 do with
adjudicated matters whatever the nature of the
property concerned. The Registers office deals
with agreements within the snherc OF hNei
property. The County Clerk : oricp deals with
All Aisagrecments between ctizrns which have
arrived at the dignity ol presentation before
judicial tribunals. II il therefore evident that
the sphere Of operations of the County Clerk is
more extended than that OF the Register. and
~
County Clerk Gumhlcton on Tuesday last called
together his soarchors and instructed them 10 re-
duce their charges ifty per cent In the County
Clerks Office the searchers' charges come
under the head OF extras. and amount to fifty
per cent. OF tho original charge. II instruc-
ton on the day above stated was TO reduce
this extra TO 20 per cent, 50 that the total cost
OF a statutory $40 original search which here
toforo was actually us. is now $3.50. The line
OF defence OF the County Clerk against the
charges preferred against him will be that the
amount, paid by persons doing business
simply subject OF arrangement be.
tween the, party requiring the, search and
made This defence is analogous to that sug-
gested by MAJOR Quincy, Of the sherifis office.
prisoner 70 his deputy was matter OF arrange
mont between tho two.
The case Of t6e Register seems to have
For papers recorded the Register is entitled to
charge the uniform rate Of 10 cents a folio Of
100 words. The standard il simple. and the
comparison of tho practice with the law
is easy 1t is true. however. that
tho detailed development Of the charges against
the Register has been considerably retarded by
the fact that the public books which the law re-
quired him to Keep have not been kept, enough
of the record being hahitually suppressed t.
prevent the comparison of the emolument- re-
ceiVed with the legal allowances Another
cause IL TINT since tho institution oi tho present
Investigation entries Of moneys received have
been entirely suppressed. through instructions
similar To-, those given by tho County
Clerk. The gentlemen concerned in
tho prosecution state that this suppression
WAS not only I'm Itself an additional offence. sub
jecting thu Register to punishment by impris-
Onmcnt. hut that It WAS utterly nugptory. Tor the
reason that they had IN hand. made day by day
for "A long period. complete transcripts Of the
transactions of the Office. proving tn" eNtor-
tlonate charges made 10y him. For instance. as
early as Jan. %. 1878. the conveyance records