New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-11
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING.

REGISTER MAKES A HALFWAY REFORM.
The rooms OF the Bar Association In West
Twentyninth-st. were moderately well filled last
night with members had assembled TO hear the re-
port OF the committee appointed IN September last 10
testimony in regard to the alleged illegal fees OF
the Sheriff. the Register and the County Clerk or the
committee, which comprises Artemus ii. Holmes,
Charles F. Maclean, II. W. Knox, George DeForest
Lord, and ]. Adrance Bush all the members were
present except Mr. Lord, who Is absent FROM the CITY,
LIE wis L. Deafeld presided over the meeting.
Mr.. Holmes read the report IL was listened to
throughout with apparently great interest The COM
mitees description OF the conflicts with the accused
officers obtain Information about the charges excited
much laughter. A correspondence with County Clerk
GumbetOn, wherein the latter was deliberately
polite but elusive IN regard to request for permission
to crossexamne his clerks, was found very amusing.
Mr. Holmes read these portions Of the report in
quietly sarcastic tone of voice that was very
telling.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
After giving the resolution under which the committee
was appointed Mr.. Holmes read the report, which IN
substance was follows:
Although the task undertaken by the committee has
not been wholly accomplished it is deemed best to make
report order that the association give the COM
mittee further instructions. Many members OF THIS as
ISOLATION offered documentary and other evidence.
large number however, refused TO appear before the
committee personally, for fear of the conse-
auences to themselves and their clients. From per-
sona visits OF the committee and from other sources,
however, was clearly shown that Irregularities eN-
sted aud as the officials expressed willingness TO have
their departments examined the investigation was De-
gun Tie Register is required by law to Keep book
containing record OF the fees taken and the services
rendered By his office. On examination, this
book was found to be kept inexacty, ana
not in substantial compliance with. the law
In the 500 cases which were looked over,
excessive charges were shown with very rare excep-
Nh TnaNu NnnK
office schedule of charges drawn up, by which the
copyist was to receive fee and the Register another
The legal charge for recording was 10 cents foho'
For recording power Of attorney covering ten Ioos
and for which 81 paid TO the copyist' 81 70 was
charged In another Sc was charged, Wnere
only 81 20 should have been asked. In still another
SO 20 was charged where the cost should have
been 50 so Mr. Loew, however, declared that he had
not seen this list OF charges When the cash books USED
pror to the appointment of the committee OF inVesuga-
ton we're asked the committee was told that they
had been lost and could not be found The DOCKS az inc
Office, however, showed uDmistakaDIy that eAcessl'o
fees have been exacted.
A visit vas then made TO the sherif7s Office or the
manner in which this office been conducted the COM
mittee received many complaints from botn lawyers
and aymen those OF the latter being under pledge OF
secrecy The Sheriff and his de pues showed tnat they
| were well acquainted with the emOuments OF their
Offices and with law relating thereto and the shern
and orderoArrest Clerk said it would be impossible to
carry on the office with the legal fees We learned that
the deputy-sheris receive salaries, but are allowed
certain fees The results OF this system are seen in the
account sales, in every one OF which are lllegal
charge For instance under an execution for Ss6aC-
a. with interest of $l,0s4 go amounting to $500 81
the e G and D On S %5 was
Poundage .....S125 O6 Certificate OF sale. $50 25
Levy and return.... 269 Compensatlop'.'... "a Al
Notice Of Sale: 20 90 Total Sc
OeductinG this from the whole amount leaves So
755 a. when ast ,ne % bakery were sold
leaving S12s, to satisfy Judgment OF Ss3 Inc shetTs
Ses we're IN S'S s I"V anSher case the s6ers bill
amounted to S24 CO. again barely SATISFYING the ludg-
The order OF Arrest Clerk admitted that 81 = cents was
the legal fee for oabCnd while Sll 90 WIS actually
divided between himself and his suboTdnates and that
he had discharged four Ior moi aEI S Iet jail and
the books asked for, as the cOmmMtee hud Decn
made that these bad been destroyed aud that now
the accounts were kept on sheets OF paper Whe were
be managed for profit without regard TO the law, and
thorough investigation was advisable. -, no ...
The County Clerk was visited on November 20 ana an
Investigation made In the cases OF mechanles'
Items When the books containing the accounts OF ices
such books but only memoranda kept on little slips
of paper that thrown away after several days
This the only account kept The COnnty Sderh saia
he had hardly thought that there was 10 De 80 searching
and thorough investigation, and suggested tnat IL
would be well to return to his private once In one
case charge 100 per cent III excess OF
said that he had an engagement and hurried away As
he did want the investigation 70 continue IN ms abb
TO find him IN his office, but ne was al
ways absent and b, the an Deputy 4 Of GP1s nsnb6r
dnation for him TO permit further lhVestigauon
wrote to the County Clerk, setting day 10 continue the
examination III his reply the Clerk siu lb"t IL would
O or ' 6ody as " tue I'll" Bar Assocation and
asked for specific h st Of t9' The Sh SG%
mtee replied that the absence Of the Cerk rom MS
office was the only obstacle ID me way se ON c o
meet uIlu. The Clerk replied that sthey ought 70
1S!o could not pact aet uness the 9S veil Of secrecy
removed au hter AID he again asked what the charges
rious" The committee wrote December 4, stating
that if the CHARGES were found 10 be rue 'hey intended
false to exenorate those said TO have been implicated
The committee denied any intention Oh aetns Secretly
or OF being Influenced AZ all by partisan motives. .
oaaiTs I'm me Gonnty clerks otce has been made hut
tho committee has reason TO believe that excessive
charges have beeu MADE there as wei as elsewhere
TnTee visits we're made the Controller in order TO
examine the accounts rendered to him. and when the
Committee made known the oTecI Oh I hsltt
you want; you can't have them and you shant
nave them, and that's the end OF IT, on beng
asked 10 state the provision OF the statute on which ne
based the REFUSAL ne declined TO discuss the matter ana
reiterated his refusal He stated on inquiry that copies
When the price was offered be referred the matter 70
his audi,Or. They sent for the papers, ana were
proceeding to ascertain the number OF LONGS 70 90
charged tor when the auditor was sent Tor Dy tue S0h
members making the request that 10 came nlInh lno
uroyisuns relating TO such inspection he declined 10
rye any Information unless they put their statements
IN the form Of aihdayits
G. H. Arnold said he thought the resolution too sweep
ing g. W. Wingate moved as an amendment that the
United states Register in Bankruptcy be included
IN tho investigation. George II. Yeaman said
that the abuses were old abuses, and that the
lawyers OF the city were cupable for having
endured them He did not tuink that the
association wanted the scalp OF public officer who
would reform hls onice. Tne committee ought to DO
given discretionary power In this respect
Ex;Judge Peabody sad tha' =, ne was op,