The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-16
Mr.. Roosevelt's Attack on the Surrogate.


There is one part OF Mr.. RoosEvELT's re-
port to the Assembly which Is simply out
rageous, and that is his personal attack upon
the Surrogate
New York has not had a better Surrogate
than DANIEL G. ROLLINS since ALEXANDER
w. BRADFORD presided over the Surrogate's
Court here. Mr.. ROLLINS established him
self In the good opinion Of the people by a
long term Of service as public prosecutor
under the late District Attorney PHELPS,
whom he succeeded In Office; and as Surro-
gate he has manifested the same industry
and ability which characterized his previous
official career. His honor and integrity have
never been questioned, and there Is no reason
to question them now.
Mr.. ROOsEvELr's committee discovered
some abuses among the clerks in the Surro-
gates Office. These men exacted unlawful
fees from persons having business there.
Mr.. ROLLINS was as indignant at the mis-
conduct Of his subordinates AZ any member
Of the investigating committee. No COM
plant had ever been made to him from any
source. He had no reason to suppose that
any illegal practices prevailed. His time
was chiefly occupied by his judicial duties,
AZ ACuIA hS uAo NcCiuiu8 CtsoCS al COuHt, I'D
distinguished from those administrative
functions which the Surrogate Is obliged to
devolve largely upon others. There did not
seem to be any cause to doubt the honesty Of
the clerks who turned out to be wrongdoers.
and one OF them. we believe. was man
whom the Republican voters Of Mr. RoosE-
vRLT's own district deemed a suitable person
to represent them In the Assembly only few
years ago.
Surrogate ROLLINS at once dismissed
those clerks. The committee did not call
upon him to testify in reference to their acts
or his responsibility therefor. Indeed, the
evidence expressly showed that he had no
knowledge whatever Of their improper trans
actions. Notwithstanding this fact, and
without calling upon him for word Of ex-
PLANTATION, or even intimating In any way
that they thought him personally blame
| worthy, the committee rushed up to Albany
and reported that the practices Of his sub
ordinates could only be explained upon
tho ground Of gross negligence upon the
part OF the Surrogate or else by his actually
conniving at what took place."
| It Ia seldom that public ofIlcer Is sub
jected to 30 cruel and unfounded an impu-
tation as this
The proof before the committee affords no
warrant whatever for either Of the differences
which are suggested
The Surrogate cannot stand over the desk
Of each clerk In his office to see that the
man does nothing wrong He must make
the best appointments he can, and exercise
the closest possible supervision over his
subordinates consistent with the discharge
OF all his other duties. Did the committee
make any inquiry as to the action Of Mr.
ROLLINS In these respects? None what
ever. Their ideas Of justice and fairness are
such that they convict an oficcr Of culpable
neglect without giving him . hearing or
seeking to ascertain whether he has any
thing to say In his own behalf.
But the alternative suggestion thst the
present Surrogate may have connived at the
wrOngdoing In his ONCE 10 particularly
wicked ThsrS y not particle Of svtdsaes