New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE ORDER OF ARREST DEPARTMENT.

THE ORDER Of ARhESI OEfAhiMbNA'
COMMENTS on A RECENT STATEMENT or MAJOR
oUINCY-How THE FEES ARE INCREASED LILLE
GALLY.
TO the Editor OF the Tribune.
SIR: In the issue of your journal of the
18th inst under the heading OF Statements from the
Accused Officers" occurs the following amusing state
mont from Major Quincy, the Order OF Arrest Clerk:
Il is absurd suppose that this Office could be sup
ported merely received 81 cents for each person
arrested There 1000 orders Of arrest Issued
yearly but could this Office be maintained on only
800 7" Then he pauses for reply. Allow me to give it.
Evidently printer and the Major failed TO insert
q but the total is wrong instead Of $780, 1t
should be by his own figuring $3.50. Let us see how
much legally the sherif's Office may receive on an
order OF On entering the order OF arrest IN the
sher1Ps Office the plaintiff paws 81 u.s. made up. sup
pOse as follows q r. s. 924 Sec. $50:
For serving process by which a suit shall be com
For serving 1oee Of The object Of suit with each
For returning aDy writ summons etc....... .I2La
MIsagomfor 'p SF2fyens IN @a5S service Of process
cents per mile, in going only, say sis miles 90
Total 10
So that the figures would he about as follows:
For the sherin
1000 arrest at 81 rs each 49, 500
ment Messrs. Quincy. McGOnieal and McIlhargy
1000 orders Of arrest at 81 = cents 100
Is not that enough To be WrunR from that class Oh I'M
fOrtunatesf
The Major then continues:
" The laws giving such small fees passed when
city was far smaller and when therefore, therewas
less labor involved In executing the work OF this Office
Major Quincy you have altogether forgotten to show
that by your exhibit the balance sheet stands as
follows:
1000 orders atsIl 10 wide "ouncy Arrest
legal charges $50
be divided among the riumvirate Of the order Of
Arrest Department. SZzfoO
For the benefit triumvrate let II be said and
their credit lin ban that this Is not ALL for next
the various eOmpensatODs for alleged services
dered and supposed to rendered to the aore
said two tnousandsl0 for this $25 for that $50 for
something else, and Sl00-up to as much be OBJ
tanned Tor keeping arrested man out OF jail all night
or course this Is not taking into consideration what II Is
there IA an order out for him This "ouincy-Gcation
is Of the most valuable perqusites OF The tFiumVi
rate Say that big and litte the compensation bust
ness would average about $25 man, then 1t would
stand about as follows:
1000 compensators at s25 each 900
Brought down. $4,000
Chow Is this for hight" 800
The Major then proceeds to defend himself and says
" have not done anything wrong in the conduct OF
this Office" 90 49,, -
al shall face boldly any investigation OF the methods
dong here conscious Of the strength Of our
That's right, Major Tell them. as deceased states
man said to " mob who Investigated him, What
are you gong 20 do about 1t ~
Please mark the delicate irony Of the Major Observe
how he eNcOrates the NestOrs OF the Bar: suspect
that the Impression that this office charges high fees is
due TO the large bills rendered by some LAWYERS 20 their
clients IN winch sherifs charges are put at large
figure. such figures were analJ zed by clients they
would frequently hnd, have doubt, that the real
sherif's fee was only small portion Of the amount
charged against That officer"
He continues: -
the public a. to-day"
kindly relieved of 500 or So aud Others whose
names are legion VIII fully agree with the Maori A
certain Scotch pedler had stereotyped prayer wnIea
myself" or course there is no need OF Major QnncJs
He adds: TAKE the testimony OF the lawyers" 1
strongly suspect that that exactly what our honest
upright leyei-headed Governor IS going 70 40.
''They viii say am sure, that the once was never
run more TO their satisfaction Observation-Disclosures
diet OF the uniortunates who have been there would
be Business is transacted speedily anu honestly"
Speedily Yes II IOuuuly pau IoI' holostl nh4s
a burlesque Major Quincy makes OF our statutes. Is
there set Oaws made to be broken ana another 70
all repealed should judge so from the Majors state
ment. ,,--,..,
,,Siay aiem o Your paper has always been fore
mOst in the against all sorts OF abuses Z. c. d.
NelC- York, September ls' 1873
Major Quincy said Wednesday that he could
not take the trouble reply TO such "mass OF mis-
statements aud nonsense As far the Sll 70 fee Is
concerned be continued, that Is reasOhaoy explained
ia this way by the law of 1913 perhaps 81 rs would
be all that should be asked. But 1t is the universal
practice OF the Bar in this city and has been for years
past to pay $40 extra. II could only get the legal fee
Of 37Ia cents would accept the bail offered by
any defendant would say, You TO jail and stay
stlsfaetry 10 the court you will at liberty. My
deputies instructed never 90 ask fees, but the per
son under arrest seems inclined 10 give them 50 $40
for extra pOteness received, don't know that any law
binders The acceptance OF the GIFT. AS far fees
am willing to stand before the Governor OF any one
else"
lone thing more" concluded the Major, "I said the
oher ay that about 1000 orders OF issued
from tins Office ina upon examination that there are
not so many-perhaps not than l,6OO-and not so
many actual arrests are made, for defendants
donit fud Moreover Il triumyirate in tins
onioe There Is only one head-myself"
STATE SANITARY LEGISLATION.
- IN. Edftor OF The Tribune.