New-York tribune., 1884-03-08
THE ROOSEVELT COMMITTEE.
MORE ABOUT THE sURRoGATEs OFFICE.
TWO PARK COMMISSIONERS FIRST TEsTIFY-sUB-
oRpINATEs OF THE SURROGATE HEARD.

ing the president OF the Commission for brief terms
three and six months and desired to know there was
system OF rotation in practice among theHi
Mr. Wales discaimed all knowledge of any such agree
| ment He had been chosen after an expression
on his part OF the pleasure such concession would aoro
him. In view Of long service in connection with the
Department He elected unanimously and upon the
conclusion of his term he had himself offered resOuuoh
providing for the election OF General Vele as president
for three months The chairman asked flt was not an
untsual thing elect president FOR short periods and
the witness replied that the for this action were
not political He was not quite satisfied IN his own mind
that General Vele who was a professional man, pos
sessed the necessary administrative faculties ana heheo
he named the period OF three months.
The Chairman-was IT understood among the members,
that nasmuch there only one position 70 whch
X~Tbere was nothing OF that kind II human nature.
and TO the emoluments OF the office, # any attach.
The witness said he dld not believe in a four-headed
commission The had been reduced from I'VE 70
four in order to render IL nonparsan, but tnat result
had practically not been reached.
Mr. Wales also questioned as to the charge OF CUT
ting down He replied that the charge had been
grossly exaggerated good many dead trees were re-
moved hut nothing else. He also entered at length into
the proposed removal OF the menagere and justified the
action of the committee in that regard. As to the
appointment of aborers, he said that political reasons
did not prevail II there forty to be appointed
ten would he assigned to each Commissioner, but all
applicants would be subject proof Of qualification No
one was appointed inspector until he had passed
thorough examination by the engineer and had cert-
cate OF fitness. In reply 10 question by Mr.. Miller az 70
gave special dignity the presidency the witness
replied salary Of $4,000 year digniaed 1t, and he
had more power.
General Ecbert L. viee president OF the Commission
was then called He said that any statement alleging
understanding rotation in the Office Of president
false how many heads there should be in the Com
mission he said he did that it made much differ
ence man could do good work bad, he felt dis
posed. Public opinion had effect upon a bad
man. and good man wanted nothing OF
public opinion outside OF his own conscience. As
10 the resolutions respecting the removal OF the
men3geTie he assumed entire responslDhty. Inc re
mova of the collection. ne said the wse@ thing that
could done The Commission attacked In the most
scurrlouz manner by the ne%spapeTs An oIghIlio1 @
did 10 thoroughly and the object ws 70 annoy the
Commissioners The chairman asked II the witness did
not think the action OF the Commissioners fairly laid
lion proydng FOR removal and then resembling it, He
pied that ne did %" do not think" he SAID that the
cent 10 lead the souls OF the petitioners God" He
thought 1t the duty Of the people to back up the COM
The witness explained the delay in preparing maps Of
the annexed district. He claimed that al had been done
that possible TO 10 with the force supplied ana tue
money appropriated
PROBATE CLERK TRNfBLE HEARD.
The next witness William J. Trimhle probate clerk
OF the surrogate's Office He Mr RooseyeJs prede-
ccssor In the Assembly His salary il $1,000. He said
that he received fees in connection with the appointment
Of special guardians He charged also for expenses u m
nature Of certacatons divided the amount received
on certificates with the clerk Of the Court He often
recommended Mr. Van schack FOR service Of citations BE
so charged drawing up commissions IN cases where
witness resides out Oh lAe Guy luls Jiss Vi "oiA he
demand for fees. He did not receive any
In the natter of ADVERT he was in the habit often
times OF approximaung the cost OK notices puosne IN
the state paper at Albany and TIE Aecord here Iheae
charges frequently varied according tO the number Of
foos. Occasionally the costs amounted 70 less tAa ne
and being divided between himself and his assistant
He sometimes required TO wait upon a
in such generally him what they pleased lie
made charge and the AMOUNT Ptd 9Spenueu upon lS
lfbcrsv the attorney. In reply 10 Nj Nelson he SAID
T % b tbe tota amonnt received by his desk dur
ing the last year about $4,000 In reply 10 Mr. Erwin
the witness said that the surrogate received no part OI
the money acquired bv MIN In visiting sick witnesses.
Charles c. Appegate clerk connected with law
firm detailed OF his experience IN the transaction
OF bnsness in the surrogae's office. The one
In winch there citation. II necessary 70 pro-
certified and exenplihed copies OF documents I9r
se fn Pennsylvania The charge was 1l1. but he paid
it, Later found it necessary 10 procure copy OF
another paper The copy contained about nne lo9s hucH
Of II printed matter. The charge was y 90 he saw ~
was not ex-mpiied. This being done, an additional
charge Of ~ was asked He gave $40 bill, and re
cevcd = in change 80 cents being deducted though Ior
what reason the witness could not explain.
OTHER MATTERS N THE sURROGATE's OFFICE.
James Trainor. administrative clerk OF the surro-
gates Office FOR pact eight years, was next sworn
His salary at present is $500 AT one time 1t WA
$1,000 10 had been gradually reduced to the present
figure His fees amount TO less than ~ 900. He had
made moderate charges for extra work When making
charges m advance he always told persons hat they
would be cutitet rebate, and In ease. the rebate
had been claimed and paid. ON January Mr.. kolh5
had cautioned those IN the Office about excessive charges
and sad thai n ANYTHING OF kind occurred it would
aS bccr % ,-Ied i'm his charges bv the custom which
existed when ne entered the office and had never sought
George H. sheldon, Fire MM shal, and rz-
Alderman Joseph L. Perley. who are frequently re
i creuIned Tfe former said that he received from
this source last year little over $1,000 the latter
.bo1t II 200 I'm the same period.
Dtid TcCurc LAWYER testified as 20 the difficulties
U rb Eraa or collection of assessments and arrears.
The searchcrs De said. make excessive charges anu
,I il IN h"rtu.a tirv know that they are not re-
expedite searches and they exercise tAat power al their
solomon De wallteari. who has desk room in the
suwosate's office and acts a. cer% to the appin-gis
amusement during his prolonged examination by an
explanation az his method Of tI~actuE business Ihe
legal charge for appraiser Is - and expenses The
witness charge OF the accounts. which are kept only
in memoranda which are de-ilofe ed wren tnerc ls no
further Use Tor them The substance OF MS testimony
effect that it the custom TO make sort Of
OF the cases comln- INTO th' apfd5ers hahds
by making excessive chal-e- Z" es,l,' %, Iir-e nol
and exercising planthro3c consideration Tor those OF
meaner proportions lie experienced mich dlhculyI
expenses. Inference that he believed In the
doctrine thdt the duufci worthy OF ul- hlIt
II he did not get proper return from the source
which dincrcased labor he Justified In holding
the average To strict accountability lie placed the
amount OF his receipts at about $1,000. He never
charges the larger estates however unless he had good
reasons 50 doing but Mr.. Wech failed 10 get from
him satisfactory definition Of the good reasons
which controlled MS actions.
The committee will hold another session to-day. when
the Surrogate Office viii receive further attention.
THE ARMORY FRAUD INQUIRY.
The tall form of Assemblyman Newton Mar
Tin Curtis OF st Lawrence County led into the District
.....,,,. ,aico va.+ar1av AGsembvmon Krlse O