The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-18
LAWYERS AT LOGGERHEADS.

THE TWO REPORTS ON THE CoDIFIcArIoN OF
THE ORDINANCES THAT WERE MADE by
MEssRs sHAFER AND SHEPARD.
At the last meeting of the Board of Aldermen the
Law Committee instructed to consider the differ
cnces that exist between Mr.. Elliott +. Shepard and
Mr. Ebenezer b. shafer. who were appointed by the
Mayor and the Common Council to codify the laws
and ordinances of this city. The two Commissioners
sent in separate reports to the Aldermen and both
OF them were referred week SINCE to the Law Com
mittee which consists of Messrs. Hyatt Stewart and
Keenan,. The committee held five hours session
yesterday. all the time being taken up with argu-
ments made by Mr.. Shafer and Mr.. Shepard in favor
OF their respective reports.
Mr.. Shepard WAS the first speaker. He gave
brief history of the origin of the commission, and
claimed that there disposition whatever on
the part of his colleague to to any agreement in
respect to making combined report of their labors.
1t was very laborious duty to perform to obtain
complete compilation of the ordinances. The task
was hercuean. The joint proceedings Of the Boards
of Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen had to be thor
onghly examined. and the amount OF work in doing
this alone enormous. Besides this. money had
to be expended freely. Scarce books municipal
laws and ordinances had to be secured at any price
before justice could be done to work Of the
character which had been laid before the Board.
Mr.. Shepard then argued at some length upon the
necessity Of having complete codifcation of the
ordinances and in the course of his remarks in this
connection said that very few persons arrested for
violating the laws of the Corporation really knew
before their Of the existence of the ordinance
violated. Some ordinances, eating away back III the
to be still in force One of these law regulat-
ing the weight of all bread sold ia this city. Mr..
Shepard closed his remarks by claiming that he had
done all the work required that it was entirely
owing to Mr.. Skaters course i'll the matter that
separate reports handed in and that he did not
think any agreement could be reached IN the pres
ent state of feeling the part of his colleague and
himself
Mr. sIAFER's ARGUMENT.
Mr. Shafcr then gave his side of the story. He said
he commenced to codiiy the ordinances long before
Mr. Shepard did thing at all on the subject II was
did nothing. After the resignation OF Mr. Stetson,
which took place January %. 1877. he was APP
pointed by Mayor Ely. 1T the solicitation OF Mr..
Shepard The two Commissioners hired an Office in
a building and it was furnished entirely out OF his
own pocket Whom he requested OF Mr. Shepard all
the books and papers relating to the matter under
consideration the latter gentleman turned over to
him number of mutilated documents, with leaves
cut which were not fit to use Mr. Skater then went
on to OF Mr. Shepards alleged unftness
to do the work and said that the gentleman clerk
had come to his Office and asked him (Shafer) to
sign his position Commissioner offering to give
him 81, 900 If he did SO; the next day the amount
increased to $2,5OO ard the clerk said that his
not care for the money. The speaker then said that
not line of MI. Shepard's report was prepared by
that gentleman. All the WORK was uone by MS clerk
and by his clerk alone the two reports entirely
different; Mr.. Shepard's compilation contained
nothing but the enactments passed by the Common
Council q work that could be made up in few
weeks. On the other hand his (Mr. Shaer 81 report
contained a comprehensive digest OF all the state
Laws. also codihcaton OF all the municipal ordi-
nances and large amount OF general information
relating 10 the history OF the city.
Mr.. Shepard, in his rejoinder did not deny many
OF Mr.. Skaters statements. but contented himself
with explaining the merits OF his report, con-
trasted with that of his colleague. The assertion
that all the work was done by Mr.. Shepard's clerk
was replied to by the speaker who quoted the Latin
maxim, "Qua tacit per alum tacit per Sc"
The members Of the committee looked ut each
other for an explanation of the quotation. but
relieved from their perplexity when Mr. Shepard
obligngly furnished the translation. HE who does
q thing through another does it himself"
Anoth II hearing will take place on Monday next.