New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-15
TIE COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE.

Under existing laws the Clerk Of the City and County
Of New-York is paid salary Of 20 500 and n addition
thereto authorized an the fees for searches
All the clerks IN his Office paid by the city salaries
varying 10 amount from $4,000 PAID 10 thelmeehanos
lien clerk down 20 $500 paid % Of the recording
clerks. Many Of the subordinate positions III The once
established by provisions H. the tax levy acts OF
fifteen years ago ana me salaries dhcAed 70 tho-o
positions have been paid to The lncum9eHts eve since
without regard 10 the nature or extent OF their duties or
the amount OF services actually rendered
The result OF this system ha been was admitted by
INC County CsfA ana Ills ,C Jsp4y 10 s serH gs,57
ana SuIoiuiuhtc7 very hucu "I'i i'', i' itl f.o l
lowed TO other clerks and subOriiuates holding equally
Te,I ou-iue positions and performing equally arduOus
Duties Under existing laws ~ Is maze t"c 0ty OF me
County Clerk 10 keep in his office BOOKS ia which shall e
entered the exact amounts ~ AL fees, pcrqsites aud
emouments received his Office from any what
ever and 10 report monthly % the Controller the exact
statement Of the sources from which such fees were
derived. An cXaarauou OF the records IN the Con
Buf,er Who served fof three ycsr prior f fat date
a. we'll Mr.. Buffers predecessor SIR Hubert q.
Thompson. Who served for eight months, have
complied viii the requirements ol The stl,cs a. far a.
keeping books AMI uSAiE- tie required returns aIe con
That though the law on the subject Is definite and
concise and though daring al the times that the various
County Clerks already mentioned have been ~ office u
az moneys received By Them from all sources except for
searches yet they have retained 20 their own Use fees
amounting iu the a-grc gate 60 considerably over
$4,000, 90 which they have right or title whatever
See, , oi- 10 'ne t.Iy vi ,u, Jun -, w has
ana $4,000 by his predecessor. Mr.. Butler We Will
lVse tho Corporation Couusc. TO bring suit to recover
An examination Of the law shows clearly that the
force OF clerks ana subordinate In the once who
paid ont OF The CITY Treasury, Am, r. their various
salaries 20 perform duties FOR public for which certain
Tee arr allowed bat which Intended % be solely
Tor the benefit ~ Tie CITY. on the other hand the cor
Of searchers is pad by he county CLERK ont m hi own
pocket ANA al fees from thu, source he long u
bim The evidence shows clearly that during the year
1-S3 present County Clerk retained % his oyr ua
Sl3926 ~ TO which he ma right title whatever
and which consisted 81 fees received Ia his Office and
paid to saiariei clerks for ne Performance OF duties
Imposed upon them by law and which they were bound
L. perform The evidence also shows that Mr Butler.
Mr. Kccuaus predecessor retained during has ~
Office $4,000 30 10 which lie Aad 10 rght or Title what
ever. and we believe that the present practice
that has obtained IN the Office during the term OF his
Various predecessors.
stated that De had been advised 10y counsel that be had
rEht q iretain these moneys but neither he nor ms
counsel were able 70 inform the committee undeI NhaJ
LAY" OF authority these moneys were retained anu AZ
analysis OF the evidence shows that the only authority
for such action The authority of precedent or IN
other words that he did btcaUSe has predecessor hdd
The evidence further that the County Clerk
ceived for paid during the year lSS3,
SgOOj9 81, that his net Income ring that wear
aside from his salary ~ $500 upward $50 600
Your committee II unanimous in the opinion that such
state OF things should longer be allowed 10 exist and
present Zee system the county CLERK nets during his
Of office the enOrmOus sum OF quarter OF "a million
dollars part OF this s not retained by him for his
use, but l. turned over 70 the various political
other words this quarter OF million dollars becomes
gigantic campaign fund and OF the most fruitful
10T committee has therefore prepared two bills
relative tie County Clerks Office, or mich has
system OF tbt government OF thc ONCE ana Oc ollc mas
been prepared With reference the aic, and employ
met Of tie various clerks and -ubOrnates in The ONCE
and would state here that there seeils ~ De no
question Of the efficiency and honesty Of the subOrnates
az tie County Clerk IN the nrst OF these bills your
COMMITTEE III order 70 avoid any c0Astit uuOnaI CUES