New-York tribune., 1884-01-22
TIE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
LEAVING MR.. THOMPSON FOR A TIME.

In
were opened to the public in the morning, only the
chairman. Mr. Roosevelt. and his Republican col
lcacues. Mr.. Erwin and Mr. O'Neil, were present
Air Stetson. representing Mr.. Thompson occupied,
NV invitation the witness chair at the end of the
,sble opposite the chairman. Mr.. Roosevelt stated
that Nh Nelson and Mr.. Welch were absent on ac-
connt Of business matters calling them home, hay
tnc beeu informed Saturday that nothing OF
great importance would come before the COM
mittee on Monday. He added that under instruc-
tions from the committee he would make the follow
ing statement;
THIS committee was directed by the House 70 MAKE
general Investigation into the local government OF the
City NewYOrk with view to rnding OUT "hae @ 1g th
laws under which the heads OF the various dePrtmens
Sesds carried out the law in 10 suggest -
prOvemens the laws, In the other case 10 report upon
We're removed from office The House strictly ana plainly
showed that it did not wish the coGmte&e & 10 JU Ton
o ~ onr in1urv IL was evident that could not 90
mt maers I'm the same way IN which the Senate Com
mttee probably would. so 1t H. and always nas ottii,
The unanimous opinion Of this committee not 70 lon VII.
ne senate C1mmittee in making this Investigation IL
was evidently the strong Wlsh OF ths 1OtSo , I ~
committee should first investigate the ~
ereuce to which the most serious charges nav ~ ue
that Is, the department OF PUBIC "ITH bt T. would he
tee fully aware Of the tact 5nSt hodies NO cs
likely to clash With two G G'her the Senatorial
lgS[Ste%sttiratGg Committee that had like object
n view But this committee did not lee al HofIA @ % 10
a,srTgu gar MADE ne tbe expemment We now ind that the
papers which wished to examine to'sE are % V ;,es az
ii o'clock before the Grand Jury and thaJ the b
whom we chiefly wished to examines also claimed oy lhe
obcr comnee-that OF the senate. We do not Tor one
,omcn admit that we have not right 10 the Wlthess
but we also do not propose to allow ourselves ~ ~ h
Into controversy with the committee OF the senate "nen
such controversy result neither 10 the dignity nor
The profit Of either body A6cor1ns WE % PSc Wnrk
Ne will return 10 later Meanwhile we VIII taRe up
PERTAIN OF other branches OF the local
the Cv OF New York which 10 Us 70 need nVes
tgatlon against which charges have 9een fIo MAJ f f
tempt to go into the Department OF Public works We WI
take that later and WIN now Is e se for ms to
attempt There will be short session TINS AFTERNOON a
o'clock but think may say that the work VIII not not
regularly BEGIN until 10 o'clock next Friday al TINS
place. 90,
The committee then formally took recess until
o'clock.
In heforecoing statement of the chairman thecom-
mittee declined to admit that it was not entitled
to the presence of Nh Thompson in pursuance of IT'S
instructions to him Saturday. Previous TO the
meeting Mr.. Stetson, in conversation upon tins
point said that it was clearly the duty OF his client
10 appear before the Senate Committee on Monday,
and that he had so advised him; that while Mr.
Thompson, III appearing on saturday by invitation
or request and permitting himself to be sworn
placed himself under the jurisdiction Of the AS
tembIv Committee, that committee had seen mt to
excuse HIM in order to allow him
an opportunity TO respond to the sub
pTna of the senate Committee. The last-named
committec had by taking recess over until Mon
dav retained its Jurisdiction over him under the
oTiyginal simmons: consequently his duty was
clearly established Mr. Stetson added that he
knew of only one decision bearing AZ all upon tins
noiut and that was in North Carolina In that de
cision il was held that where witness was SUD
npugd 10 aupear in different places at the same
time hc was at liberty 10 make choice between
them in responding; but even the opinion referred
60 did not hold good III the present case IoI the
IcasOus above stated.
REGISTER REILLY ON THE STAND.
In the afternoon about half past 1, the Regis
Ter John Reilly. called at the hotel and, as he vas
anxious To 20 a, soon as possible. the committee
began an examination which lasted only a few mo-
mcuts Mr.. Reilly said that be had only been Reg
lister since January l. 1854. Tne following ques-
uons were then put by the chairman:
O-Has Augustus T. Docuarty, your predecessor taken
hiSh1oas awsyl Al do ul. auOv. hi,c never seen
item IN the office. ums .ha boo there belong 10 ne
CITY. | think Nh Docluy carried away some o. his
Can you from tao books the Office tell what The
la; yc-ri 40 sir. could not ZEN YOU Ny books
are tuerc on tuc dc-S ''-- 10 very ''c} - ., ,.
n,Inb.r,rI A-err,a!u, Tie Register - required 10
make rrtlru 90 Do" secretary Oi ttc pn or before the
10th 0ay of January ot each year OF every Item 1pchdeu
0-lyeryI,ca in tacolc-l A-Ycs sir asothe gross
amount he receives, required tohe made on or be ore
the ION day OF January ech yeor, Ot believe it hss
never been male hy any Register That is my o2inlou
Ny report, DO not commence before the lOth OF Jan
Can Won tud ont from the books beforeue1t Monday,
iCO~ attu it'c4Ftt t' tii' '4
ruubrlt during tlc past gear, ana now much has been
Jal orti A.-No ~ir, could not. never was In the
uG.. before nu- ana never hdd any con
sutteI win III DocAdIiy about lAc business Vi t"e
U-rnc books are not made so that you can hat
onSeI Al do not know now Jr DocAlrty kept the
booas Probably Mr Mclaughlin can tell
Mr. Reilly was then excused, with the under
standing that he would have one Of his deputies
present next Monday with the necessary books, If
it was possible to procure them from which the IN
f,r-,.f .,, Jp.ivt1 coull Np obtained.
ma COUNTY CLERK, FEES.
Shortly after the Register went ont
Deputy County Clerk II, :. Beattie arrived.
Nh Beat.ie said that in the absence
Of Mr. keenan,, the County Clerk
b. had himself responded 70 the call of the com
m.ttee. The chairman replied that 1t was the
purpose of the committee 10 subpoena Mr.. Keenan,
60 appear on Friday morning at 10 o'clock, andthat
DE- .uld be furnished with memorandum cover
ing The points concerning winch he would be re-
Qur,d to testify. Mr. Beatie expressed hope that
the days business would not be called for. Mr..
Roosevelt said that no demand would be made for
any thmg except mat winch was proper and
necessary TOR 2n Intelligent examination Of the
matter III hand; Mir. Beattie was then asked
"hc.A'I ne toUld give the total amount of sums
received aud paid out by the County Clerk during
the past year. lie answered that he did not think
any t0Ot(ugs Of the amounts had been made Charles
T. Miller who was present counsel for the COM
mittec, inquired whether they did not include in
their rcpo + 10 the Controller the amount of fees
received and suLIs pdld out.
Mr. BcaJtc-The statute olly requires that record
shau kept money received and paid by him.
docs require that all the fee received shall be
ported The fees for searches for instance are never re-
ported.
Mr. R0Osevolt-Then there are no books showing the
gross amount OF fees received by any former cerki
Mr. Beattc-NO, sir. none al all There are only few
books reIneluinC over from Mr. GumbletOns time, but
ihcy relate wholly believe, TO matters that were undor
Investigation 10y the Bar Association.
Mr. IpO-evelt-Can You TO us the amount OF fees
received per anuum by the present CleTki
Nj Beate-NO, sir. He has only been IN Office year.
The items all entered the books the certificates
are rendered aud the amounts paid.
The committee adjourned to meet on Friday next
6t 10 o'clock, when Mr.. Keenan, is expected TO ap-
near The examination of Sheriff davidson will