New-York tribune., 1884-01-29
REGISTERo REILLY'S FEES.
NOT so LARGE YET AS HE EXPECTED.
HE HOPES, HOWEVER, TO GET BACK As MUCH AS
HE sPENf IN BEATING MR.. HESS.

taking OF test nony Mr. Peckham then departed. Regis
ter John Reilly took the witness chair and questioned
| by Mr. Miller.
| Q.-How long have you been Register, Mr. Reilly. A
Since the first OF January During the short time
have been there have tried TO learn the affairs Of the
| Office AS fast as | can.
duCe certain books OF the office required 10 be kept under
Section 762 o. the Consolidation Act. Have you those
%They 2h wT aro not thcr nsracte3 Mr. MacISnsRn
and other gentlemen in the Office about the books, hut
The ChaiIman-Thcn Your predec books not in
the object A-The books that belong TO The ONCE are
there, but this daybook, Of course, Mr. DoeaIy has got
Mr. NelsOn-What do you call this book that IS not
therel A-Itis the 9lotter they call it, All the moneys
received are entered in that book.
Mr. Miller here read the section requiring the book to
be kept.
Q-Doyo understand that this book belongs to the Office
or to the publci Alt belongs 70 the public IN my op-
Mr.. Nelson belongs the public it should be
in the Office. Al do not know ~
dir Mer-There is no book of that description belong
ing to your predecessor now IN the Olice ASO am In
formed by my deputy and gentlemen ia the Office
Mr. Miller then made statement to the effect that the
fees received daily entered in what is known as the
botter and that there another book for monthly
counts kept with certain lawyers; accounts were ad-
ustod at the end Of each month. This statement was
confirmed by the witness
GLOOMY ANTICIPATIONs.
The Register submitted at this point list of employees
who paid By hmsef also list of those paid ont Of
the city treasury under recent act providing for the
preservation Of the records The work consists of copy
ing entries from old wonout records into books for
future use, and is necessary to make the new book
counterpart OF the old Tho appropriated this
year for this service $2 500 and last year $4,000
The further explained the system of division of
fees the Register, the satisfaction clerk the
chattc mortgage clerk and the searchers Those who
ceive oneha the fees pay their assistants. The
crossing clerks charge ten cents per folio and receive
Onehalf OF that sum. The witness, continuing, said:
I have to pay for eycrything-statiOnery, Gas, fuel
night watchncn, day watchuen cleaner; everything in
Office pad for by The city pays nothing.
1t only furnishes the building and pays the clerks engaged
in the preservation OF records
Mr. Mler-Haye yon any knowledge OF tho gross
amount received byyour predecessor III 01cef ALlhaye
not Ihave not talkel with Mr: Docharty on tnat.
have talked with hr Sgel aud Mr. Jones' and Mr. Boew,
and they said the Office is not what il is cracked
to be- From the way the fees are coming In now thlhk
they will be very small.
WHAT WOULD BIZ A FAIR SALARY
Mr. Mlcr-What do you call a very small sum for one
to get from that Oicc3 A.-Well, don't know. What
do you think gentleman having that Office should re-
ccivef [Iaughterl
The ChaiTnan-The witness must not ask counter
questions The incumbents OF these Offices known 10
receive of money greatly dlsprOporiiOnate TO the
services rendered This belief is confirmed by tho tesi
mony OF the County Clerk ami the Sheriff As to your Of
fee the that certain books taken away by Mr.
DOcharty mfOrtunate. Now, what would you cOnsid
er reasonable compensation for your in hat Of
frel At u impossible loi me TO answer Thore Is
nothing 60 DE concealed IN my Office. want the public
TO know everything.
Mir. Nller-Iow much Of the time yon therei A
get there as close 10 o'clock ~ possible, and remain
TIL ; and e. signing circulars and papers and going
through the department TO see if every man Is attending
to his duties.
The vii ness then said that be under bond for $685.
OOO with two bo1dsmcn. and that be supposed the
Register was responsible for any growing out OF
carces-ncss on Che part Of ths There
fourteen searhers he added leach under bond Of $l0
OOO."
O.-Aside from the liability which may or may not
attach to the officer Of Register by OF mistakes OF
scarcheIS. and without regard to security from bonds
men, what in yOTr opinion WOld a filr salary 10 pay
man FOR performing the duties OF Reglsterf A-NelL,
don't know.
Q-Do YOU think - 900 year would be fair salary
Al don't know If would not be under any response
O2You have held number Of Offices in this city and
are familiar with the salaries it and compensation re-
ceyed: Can you form an idea OF What Moald De IaT
salary independent Of auy responsibility mat may occur
Q.-Yon know what receipts have into the Office
OF Register this month and how they averaye nom day
TO dayf A.Ies, ana hope they viii Increase the next
QAfter paving all the expenses connected with tMs
Office do you think yOu will get - 900 durn- this month
AFur thsmOnn! don't think they Will take IN great
deal more than that Tor the month About @o'Ooo Is AcIe
Q-Aier paying all monthly expenses do you think you
would get $1,000 Al don't think VII ger tho nan OF
it tuis month or one-third Ihope things Will improve
along later. lLaughter.l
Mr Miller here asked the witness II he had examined
the books in which the monthly kept with
different firms. Mr.. Reilly replied with some sharp
ness that he had more confidence in his
suborduates than watching them IN that manner.
The chairman thereupon requested the witness 10
direct in his replies Mr. Reilly retorted by suggesting
that he would like TO require Mr. Miller TO follow the
same rule in putting his questions.
Q.-DO you know from books about what the days
fees will average1 Al cannot give direct answert to
Others am told thar January is GOOD average month
II runs along some days 5000, and some day; more;
have not struck an ayeraee as yet hardly thlnk IL
would reach $3.50 day for this month.
Q-Asde from the daily collections you have the
monthly accounts 70 be collected Al the end Of the
III them there
told by my collector, can never coll ect -. a.,
QSO what appears IN the dAy-bOok does not show the
average for the month"; That appears in botA books
A.-Yes sir
MIR. REILLY's ASSESSMENTS
The Chairman-From cursory examination OF the
books it would appear that you have received over
$500 per day aside from the amount coming
due at the end OF the month. The question |
am about to ask viii require explanation. II Is
openly known that in quence OF these offices being
them are very heavy We will not ask you alone the |
question but viii ask it also of Mr. Keenan, ana Mr.
Davidson We do not ask with view or saying whether
not perfectly proper to give the assessment but only
with reference to Us bearing upon the remuneration eX
pected by the candidate 70 DC derived Hom tIc ONCE
What were your assessments last yesri You were tile
candidate ofTammany Hall - ....,,. |
Republicans voted for me. [Laughteri
Q-Well aside from the respectable Republicans what
did you give the various organzauonst Al could not
keep accurate account.
Q-How much did you give Mr. Kellyi Al dontre' |
member could not ten YOU You nave oeen cahdlIae
and you know how hard 1t is 10 keep the run Of those
llllgs. llaugnlel.I
The Chainnan-Yes, sir and l give you memo |
randa OF all my expenses.
The Witness-Tnen you are very happy man. Laugh
teri have been candidate eight times, and never
could keep accurate account
Q.-Cannot you give US approximately the amount |
Al do not remember. How mUch does your party |
charge "A candidstsi Laughter
The Chairnan-rhat cannot tell you. want you 10 !
that you here 10 be examined and tnat
it s expected that will respect the committee am
not asking these questions or you Democrat or what
party you belong to- Please answer Us without any
impetincnce II you can.
The Wness-l am too much OF gentleman to be !
mpernent TO. the committee. 1 an citizen AMI |
have rights well anybody else. told you |
lid not remember and say again
Q.-Cauu0t you refresh your memory Al do not |
think could.
O.-Was il over $2OOOOl Al do not know sir
Mr.. Welch-You certainly must have some idea.
The Wueas-ln all probability 1t cost lie more than
that.
IL. ln.a n