The New York herald., 1878-09-11

ter whether the charges would injure rammany or
not Governor Robinson was bound TO consider them
upon their merits and to remove the officials
charges The Tildenites seemed 10 be especially
anxious to disavow any connection, open or coyerti
OF Mr.. Tilden with the present movement TO have
the officials impeached aud removed. gentleman
who IL ON intimate terms with Governor Tiiden
and s said to have only very recently held condden
ual commentators with HIM tho subject Of tne
coming Syracuse Convention, stated that the OK.
Governor protessed ignorance as TO the charges anu
declared he had nothing TO do with getting tnsm up
The friends Of Msssrs. Robert b. Roosevelt. Emanuel
b. Har. Ira Shaier and other anti-fammany ieaaers
up tho chsrpes they s'meant business" ana would
be vigorously pressed before the Governor
INDEPENDENT VIEWS
AS no impartia views could be expected from either
Tammany or anti-rammany men II was important 10
ascertain how the independent ana non par.san pauao
viewed the matter, number OF clzens oeomg
ing TO neither faction were interviewed. rne
prevailing sentiment among these seemed 20 %
that the charges political dodge, though was
probably true that the officials were mo- doubt anx-
Gus TO make as much money out OF their ofnces as
they could and would not hesitate 10 charge as mucn
as iney could get people to pay them. Nevertheless
they thought that the officials would probably be
too wary 10 caught nagrant violation OF the law
ion seemed almost general that whenever tho charges
would come before Governor Robinson he would In
yesigate them upon their merits, and take impartial
action upon tncm, unnnuenced by partisan motives.
Anyway, people SAID II would be good Thing or tne
people exorban: charges by officials were brought 10
light ana fully ventilated by tho pubic press, rs there
was no doub, they excessive aad oppressive
Mavor Ely, when questioned to his knowledge on
the subject said all knew about II was that about
POLITICIAN at the Manhattan Club who told him that
Immediately after the adjournment OF the Legislature
charges would be made against several OF the leading
county cfcers such character that the Governor
would be compelled TO remove them "He onereo 10
bet me a dinner" the Mayor good humoredly added,
''hat such removals would be made prior 10 the Atm
OF July last A few days alter the 4th OF July aud
friends had the pleasure OF eating a good dinner
ut the gcntleman's expense. And that's all know
.sDo you think, Mr.. Mayor. that Governor ri,den
would have recourse 10 such sratagem In order 70
cripple rammany before the Syracuse ConventionT
.'What acute and subtle AN intellect as that OF
Samuel J. rilden might conceive or seeg TO accom-
piish," the Mayor replied with a smile, 'is some.
Thing shall not endcavor to imagine have no
peliove however, that Mr. rilden Is at oil
cognizant OF this scheme"
'What do you think Of the probabilities oil It's sue
ii Ihlnk the Governor is good lawyer" the
mind, aud will not permit his personal or partisan
feelings TO lead him into anything that Is not just
As the Chief Executive OF the city have you neard
OF any charges complaints OF illegal or cxccs.
extortaon OF fees on the part OF these county
o1icersY"
0No complaints have been made to me, and. indeed,
l am wholly ignorant OF what the charges and oom-'
plants are except tas TO what l read to-day IN ns
HERALD All three OF tho county officials alluded 10
are OF good personal character; one OF them, be-
lieve, has just returned from Europe.
COMPTROLLER KKLLy SILENT.
Comptroller Kelly said mat he had already given
a newspaper reporter answers to lew questions
on this subject ana uuQ COnCuueQ Ior tue uTrs-
ent 10 say nothing further. HI intimatea that be
reserved what might have to say and
OF hts tricnds declared that-it the Comptroller
were only SO nciined-he could doubt make some
very spicy and interesting revelations as 10 the his
tory and the connection OF these charges Mr..
Kclys Office overrun with visitors during the day
and the pressure Of business was another plea on
which, for the present. the Comptroller declined 70 be
COUNTY CLERK GUMBLEroN
The County Clerk had not had any Information OF
an authoritative character us to charges against
ssJh
around" be sntd, sbut ! paid attention to
them I have certainIy been very careful In tho
should DO extorted, have heard OF single
complaint In that resncct Tne lawyers OF TINS
COUNTY cas vao clerx's oce is make monthly
TO the county under cath, and my assistants
also mako oath as 70 the amounts received by them.
BY virtue OF my Office am also Clerk OF the Supreme
Court and appoint clerks to assist ia the various
branches They also receive fees and return them TO
me under oath. also hand them over 10 the city
under OATH"
i.Then You know absolutely nothing ofthe charges ?"
"No,nug whatever. II they come l am M ready m =. 70
since 1862 when entered II as recording CLERK at
salary OF $500 per annum under William n.. =
and Deputy County Clerk prior 20 my election TO the
County Cicrkship. The Office was investigated by a
judiciary committee from the Assembly In 1871. Mr.
samuel j. TiIden was . member OF that committee.
Testimony was given by the County Clerk himself
and several lawyers werc examined. Nothing was
.sYou are rcady for any investigation that may be
orderedf"
honestly brought against my office, and challenge
tho most rigid examination" /"
Mr.. Gumblei on furnished the following statement
of returns OF fees mado since 1852 paid into tho
county treasury by various county cierxs:-iSo:
M ssss SIsV os s isss ss'
$I7l49 33; 1862 Sl5,949 ~; 1870, sl472l 81; 1871
sialo5 o5; 1872 SIS sos 81; 1873, sie.$ol ss 1874
sI6920 73; 1875, STA 9Sl 10; 1876 Sj,S33 Sc; 1877
carst year oi Mr. Gumbisionl, sIs,274 CO.
REGISTER LoEw.
Register Frederick W. Locw was in his sanctum on
the second floor of his Office in the City Hall Park
when the HERALD representative called upon him.
"Do you know that charges are beng preferred
against you to Governor Robiusonf" he was asked
Nothing moro than what see IN the newspapers.
have heard o. outside rumors TO that elect Tor some
time past, bu. they from authentic source"
'Is imputed charge correct that you persist N
collecting illegal fees In your oniceY''
'No, sir; l gave Instructions 10 my deputy when
came Into of1cc exactly what nv predeccs-
sore did-nothing more. II anything wrong has boen
done by my employees viii. OF course sec that 1t is
remed ed"
.sHavo any complaints been made to you as to over
chargesf"
'Ony one since the lst OF January last, and that
had Immediately rectiGed when brought to my attsn
tion."
'Is John 7. Savage, late Deputy Register, one OF
tho parties pushing these charsesT
81 saw Il SO stated in one OF The papers, but don't
know the fact OF my own knowledge"
suxRIFP REILLY
Sheriff Bernard Reilly nad heard nothing Of an
official character relative TO the charges.
''lf they are brought,n he remarked, 'vhey must
Tammany Hull There can be no other reason tor
such q movement Even II the opponents to Tam
many should get possession oil these Offices before
election the advantage to them would amount to vcry
little. Tho patronage is not much"
s.iIow to the allegations tnat illegal fees have
been exac.ed Ia your oillce2'
II don't know of any such In my office. II know
OF It certainty would BIO tho nrst TO put an end to
such. +"
.sThcro is nothing you would wish to add TO your
interview published In this mornings HERALD"
"Notbing at all 1t Is useless to undertake to de-
land vauru han WI aro M Hack nd a nOt
propose 1ght the wind. ! look upon this whole
movement as simply ridiculous. Be assured thnt u
an attack should be mado upon my Official charact ter
In any way I Will strike out from the shoulder, and
that efIectualy. mean by that that court Of law
will settle The case between me and any one who
dares to impugn my honesty as an oflical.n
LAWS AFFECTING REGISTER AND COUNTY CLERK.
The laws In relation 70 the Registers oflire pre-
scribe that Register and County Clerk shall keep
book In which shall be entered all fees charged or
received by him for official services, the tnc of rem
dcring tho same, the person (if known 10 himI for
whom tho same was rendered and brici statefnsn mt
Of the nature OF The service for which any Ice Is
charged or received. QS44 Chapter 1851 1t appears
that fhere las never been any such book kept. Tho