New-York tribune., 1884-01-26
Mr.. KEENAN's TESTIMONY.

Dir. Keenan, after being sworn, testified that
he had heen County Clerk since January l. lss3. He
read letter which he had ndited 10 the committee
stating that he had prepared papers giving h- of tho
employees his ONCE. with their respective duties ana
salaries. These papers he gave TO the committee He
said that 20 furnish all the information the committee
had requested of him would take from eight to twelve
days and that the work would have 70 he done after
business hours.
Mr. Miler-Have you In your office any employees paid
OF the city treasury whose places arc AOV PIoFusu
o Mr. KeenSn~Sot that am aware of. Before UNDER
conduct tie business OF the once consulted WIN
Mr. Miller-Ass from the advice OF counsel have you
made any examination to ascertain what clerks and
employees who paid cut OF the city treasury you
are entitled 10 employ
Mr. Keenau-N0. not particularly
Nj. Mler-Are you personally familiar with the de-
Nh Keenan-WeI. no. cannot say am personally
Mr Miiier-Do you know the duties which your chief
clerks are supposed 10 perform
oIr. Kcenan-i have stated them IN that conmmiea-
''9p STr Mier-A,ide from that communication YOU
personally familiar with their duties
M kecnUn--I cannot swear thtt am
Mr. Keenan-io generally superintend the va.s and
s' A. T' N - cam yon tel the work i. done prop-
eTly II YOU 10 not know what the duties Ol yO -H1Oh-
Mr keenan, uooking somewhat puzlicl-By by pay
Mr Mnier-As a matter Of fact. M B9te is much
more familiar with the work OF Office than you are
HIS DUTIES As A LOCAL POLITICIAN.
Mr Keenan-Yes sir. | am IN the office yearly ovcTy
day from II to ,. somo days am there It-e ater;
days little earlier. man IN the 'iiy OF New-
York who Is co-,idcred local politician los sreas
many things to attend TO.
Mr.. Rooseyelt-Do you mean that yom duties a. local
politician occasionally oyeuIde your duties County
Clerk
Nj. Kecnan-No, sir.
Mr. Roo,cyelt-Thcn You DO mean that ,ohe''mes yOa
have to attend To class of duties ~ local politician
which prevent You from giving iu attention - YOU
would wish TO yoir duties as County Clerk
Mr.. Roo,eyclt--now dc you mean yoa have eo' 70
DO you mean thai the politicians would be @--au>bed
with yOu u NOu dd uOt
Nj keenau--I don't mean the politicians
Dir. k0O-ryelt-What do yOu mean
Mr keenan, 4luuch coufl-edl-l mean ra'-l mean
of tie people am eompell.d for 1-lance 10 go
lfr Roo>eye-Do you consider that comes under he
head OF y0ui duties ~ a loca. politician :
M kceuan his confusion lncieaHhSl-l ht'' D. par
tculT duties local poiuciau' but have -1,tme- 20
Mr. Roose; ei-By Ito saisy lie people" you mean
NJ Kfenau"i do not think that my dates - a local
poiticsn would interfere Win my dalie, ID. county
Clerk, bec>c # am lot there ia, te j. -@h.p'S
RETAINING FEES WITHOUT AUTH uN.
Mr.. keenan, was evidently much relieved when Mr..
Roosevelt dooi-tcd tuis line Of inquiry II answer
to yarioa. queries from Miller he said that Dee had no
other business OF County Clerk and had retired
from the quor business three years ago He hal been
an Alderman for consecutive years nave been
connected" he said with nearly eNciy branch 81 ths
Democracy. took my first lessons in Mozart iia."
He sa.d coId without reference 60 The papers he
had furnished to the committee, state -oncialis what
were the duties Ot the clerks Ms Office who were paid
ont VI the city treasury. ne employed clerks a hi- own
expense as ,earcheg whose duties separate and dis
tlnct from those who pad by the city and who st
tend 70 the business OF the Office IN connection With tho
courts The law required him TO make mon'i! state
u.cnt 80 the Controller OF thc ices received by HIM
Mr. MIlrr-Y You keep boo IN WhOd ont'i,i All
the ices paid you, including ices receive" ny ~" "'
stticht5 -, q. .. ,...,.,. uath ma
Mr Miier-Do you aside from ices paia yon for
searches retain any other fees received ~ our Once
Mr keeuan taItcr a ong pause - think do
Mr. Mcr-tm you form any, any %' a. ~ % l 1 , Witch
have been received IN your Office other thA ices Tor
% Iscu,n Not At pro4out can after eNamining
,be books have the least idea Of what II amounts
'0 MIR. Mler-would you be surprised TO hear that IL
Mr. Keenan, Yes. sir. IL would surprise moii II
Mr. Miller DO you know under what authority Of law
YOU retain any ything except what il paid Cor searches
that direction have done 10y adI les ol council
Mr.. Mhor-Is there amy authority Of law Whatever
nfr. Kocuan-I don't know.
Mr. Miller reminded Mr. Keenan, that three days before
lie had told him that he should question him Oh this mat
Ter aud would require his authority for retaining fees
other than received for searches Mr. keenan, TO
piled that he could not hud the necessary time Ihen
followed some discussion TO how much time 1t would
have taken Go get that information, at the end 0 when
air. keenan, said with mild indignation:
have no dcirc retain money that ain .'t gu.
titled to ert, presume that oil my predecessors ha'o
Mr. Neilson~It soems TO me that IL is as much the duty
Of the Committee understand the law Oh 'HN p0h' 40
VI" Ne SSaan-I know uolhlus .sbout the law. VIII