The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-14
THREE WORRIED OFFICERS.
MORE NEW YORK LAWYERS COMPLAIN
INC Or ENJOR1ION
WIN tho sheriff. and County Clerks OF tho
interior Actf-Mr. wnterbury'- Discinim.
-r-- kim. County Oniccr. not Alarmed.

WIN tho sheriff. and County Clerk. OF tho
interior Actt-Mr. Wnterbury'- Di-cinim-
-r-Kins. County Onecr. NOT Alarmed.
The gentlemen who are preparing the
charges ngainsi the Sheriff. County Clerk. and
Register have found 1t impossible to complete
their work in time TO place tho aflldavits before
Gov. Robinson this wcck. The publicity givon
t. their intention has resulted in IN accumuln-
tion Of additional facts bearing on the charges.
Affdnvits Of lawyers are being received daily.
which contain authenticated cnses in
which cxtortionntc and illegal fees have been
oxnctrd by each OF the three county officers.
All of these additional complaints have TO be
examined and put in proper shape Tor presen-
tation TO the Governor. II IL probable. however.
that the charges will be carried to Albany early
next week.
The Tammany leaders still profess to believe
that the attempt to- rcniov" the accused officials
will not succeed. Taking ,hoir cue from John
Kelly. they boast Tint these officers can make n
perfect defence to the charges. and assert that
in any event the Governor will not dare to make
tho removals. because IL will be made clear TO
him that the movement IS the result OF n do
sire to transfer the patronage OF these ofl-
cog from Tammany Hall TO it's opponents and
was not dictated by desire to work reform in
the management 1t was said yesterday by n
friend OF County Clerk Gumbeton that the
County Clerks Association. which IL composed
OF all the occupants OF that position in the stale.
will he called together to take measures Tor the
projection Of Mr. Gumbcton. IL is believed by
politicians that the Shcrfls NJ the State will he
M nrtive In behalf OF Mr.. Reilly The gentle
men who are preparing the charges are aware
OF the pressure that will be brought to- boar On
tho Governor in favor of the accused officials.
and have. therefore. endcavored to base them
on such specifications only ~ can ne clrnrly
proved They say that they shall submit their
case on proved allegations of irregularities.
and shnli use no uniiticni influence.
Mr.. Nelson j. Waterbury. writing To THE
SUN. says that neither hr nor any political or
Canization has been engaged in tho prcpuratiun
OF charges against the Sheriff County Clerk.
and Register. The movement originated IN a
cnsuai conversation about the eNtortionate
character OF some rXactions that were made by
those officers. Most OF the men who had so far
aided the movement were not active politicians
and were influenced solely by desire to secure
an honest administration of those offices. Mr.
Waterbury admits. however. that some Of the
active opponents of Tammany. and are. doubt
less. Influenced IN their action by their hos
tlity to that organization He believes that the
absolute rule oi or" man over n city OF a million
of persons by means " landlords power over
one building within IT, limits. is an INVASION 81
the rights OF every citizen. and therefore thinks
that those who are determined to destroy the
Tnmmany power acted wisely in attack INK the
turrets on the outer wall before moving upon
~" citadel. He adds that the making OF these
charges may remove unfaithful officers secure
one years honest administration ot the offices
faithful successors, and prevent 10y new laws.
the repetition OF thf eXactions by which the city
and tigants hive suffered. These changes
would. in his opinion. be n public benefit.
The rum9r Of charges against the sheriff,
Clerk and Register OF Kings County obtained
no more basis in fact yesterday than was indi-
Gated in yesterdays sun. The officials named
showed no ANXIETY about the rumors The
eular in the fact that IL l. the only Office in the
State that has fee bill which II fixed by statute.
No other county ever took tho pains to get thi
done. The liability of the Clerk to impcach-
ment and removal for charging more than was
regulated by law led To the application 10y the
Kings County Clerk for special Legislation.
The fees in the bill were made higher than
those charged in New York. and IL il the differ
ence in the charges in the two cities that has
led 10 the complaints against tho Kings County
Clerk. by lawyers who did not know OF the eN-
lstence Of tho statutes referred to. The Clerk =
office in brooklyn IL essentially private enter
prise. The county furnishes u room and the
necessary furniture. hut the Clerk hires and
pays all his help. The charges are higher in
Kings County than in my other county in the
state Deputy George Barnard said Yesterday
that the fees Of the office could be increased
1000 II tho Clerk chose to he ms stringent ~
he might The Regisi"r's fees are also rrgu-
standing the popular belief a. the contrary. he
keeps for himself all that he receives as fees.
Inc SheriH claims statutory protection Tor all
oil his fees and charges. In cases Of seizures.
goods Tor length Of time. the whole expense is
charged. amounting frequently to $40 or $50.
wnrre the legal Tees ar" only from ten to twelve
dollars, These fees We're fixed 10y law seventy
or eighty years ago. and were the only legal
fees that could be charged. hut the office trusted
usually to tho generosity OF the LAWYERS to reim-
hnrso the Sheriff for his nciual expenses.
Whenever these charges were objected To- they
charges We're deemed oxorbtnnt. the aggrieved
person could always find redress in the courts.