New-York tribune., 1884-01-27
SHERIFF AND COUNTY CLERK.
THE AMOUNT OF FEES PAID TO THEM.


vELT's COMMITTEE.
| The Special Assembly Committee appointed
to investigate the city departments continued its work
yesterday in the Metropolitan Hotel Sheriff Alexander
V. Davidson was closely questioned TO the fees he
charges various kinds of services and as to the man
agoment Of the Ludlow Street Jail. Chairman Roose-
welt gave 1t his impression that the
| fees $4,000 in excess of what they
should be- Isaac H. Barrett general bOOkkeeper In the FL
nance Department explained the manner in which the
fees returned by County Clerk to the Finance De-
partment, and the amount. County clerk heehah
| answered certain questions put to him on Friday
by tho committee. Deputy County CLERK Beatue
gave at considerable length the details OF the oi1ce
THE SHERIFF's TESTIMONY.
When Mr. Davidson was called Mr.. Roosevelt said that
the principal object of the investigation to discover
the OF fees which the Sheriff is legally authorized
TO receive and ascertain whether these fees are not
excessive when compared with the work that
the sheriff has to perform. 1.-The inquiry he added,
sis not directed throw any dscredt Sheriff David
son II bears the whole system under which he works
and we want if that system should not be changed
OF amended"
Mr. Miller, counsel for the committee read various stat
Of State and ordinances OF the Board OF Alder
men, defining Of the duties OF the Sheriff aud the
fees he is allowed to charge.
Mr. Davidson testified that he had been Sheriff since
January 1888 When questioned as to his fees he Of
| Mr. Miller-By Chapter GO4 Of the laws OF 1867 the
fees of the Sheriff fixed in the various counties OF the
state The Board of Aldermen, acting supervisors,
Sheriff Daydson-I am allowed to charge fifty cents for
thirty cents for each juror summoned Fl Is
veyng each person to and from the city prison to the
courts and to the penitentay the board OF te
in the county jail s cents per day; fio to[
every Grand jury drawn $50 for each capital trial. %
Mr. Miller-Yon charge under the authority OF tine tne
prisoner to and from the city prison the courts and
| Blackwell's Island. How are they transportedt
the DstTict.Attorney. Sometimes there are 60 or 20
prisoners so transported daily sometimes less number
The cost 10 me would be the same II there was one psoh
MI RooseveCTbe4 for the service OF two horses van
and three you receive about 500 per day
Mr.. Dayidson-I cannot say. Under-sherf stevens
| Mr.. Rooscvet~By this voucher see there 900
Tombs 2O8 the Pcnetcntiay and 80 to the House OF
| Refuge IN the month OF January, 1883.
| COST OF THE PRISON VAN.
Mr.. Miller-what is the cost OF the want
Mr. Dayidson-That is a private affair AFTER some
| hesitatonl-About 81 900.
Mr. Roosevelt (severely)-I think the question proper
to what the any other article used by the
| Sheriff III public capacity costs
In response further questions the witness said that
the three men employed with the paid between
| $50 and $40 a month each.
Mr. Mler-Then you received about 80 100 for this
service for the month Of January and paid out $3.50 or
Mr. Davdson-oh, much more; There are eight or ten
prisoners by the van some by street cars ana some by
carriages We always take the women prisoners separately
Mr. Miler-HOw many times have you carried prison
ers i'm coaches to and from the courts
MrDayidson-i cannot say; have kept no memoranda
Mr. Miler-Dont you think you should be able To gave
Mr. Davidson dmpatientIy)-It Is a small matter had
| no idea | would be questioned 10 this. supposed
from my subpoena thatI would be questioned certain
| CTo tie c6airInanJ-I think should be projected.
These charges seem to me 10 he excessive and am
/ deaYOrng to show WhcIc tney
Mr. Davidson said that al prisoners charged with
der were taken to and from the prison in hacks The
average amount charged he coud say. because the
prisoner was in court sometimes not more than half an
hour and sometimes half day.
SCOPE or THE INQUIRY.
W Bourke Cochran, who, with Under-shcrif Stevens,
beside the sheriff prompting him. wished 10 know
whether this part OF the investigation directed to-
ward the personal acts Of Sheriff Davidson the meth
obs OF the Sherih7s Office.
Mr. Roosevelt (sharply)-The committee will be the
Judge of what questOusit will ask, and counsel Will
nne himself to his proper duties.
scrbng the names prisoners hooks police
the Court OF Special Sessions the General Sessions
Mr. DayId;on-Ihree; the names and other data are
State For each name with accompanying information,
fifty cents is charged.
Mr.. Miler-What yOnr duties in summoning panel
Mr. Davidson-To sit and see that they are drawn.
Under Sheriff Stevcn5-iOu also send ont notices 10
fifty Jurors: ,Ts. am o,,.,,o, .,,o 60. ,,.
court aud ohcu service attending the execution Of
Michael L: McGloin: what does that inrmdei
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures AT court during the rial and
the execution.
Mr Mlier-Do you attend in court personally on such
Mr. Dayidson-Either or the Under Sheriff and two or
three 1epuries are present. .
Mr.. R0Osevet1hc committee expect yOu 10 know some
thing Of the details Of your office without being cOntnu
ally prompted by counsel and the Under Sheriff.
Mr. Miller asked the Sheriff concerning the feeding OF
prisoners under sentence death; whether they
not given an undue quantity Of uxuries Mr. Davidson
replied that he thou ht not and that the bills rendered
were correct Mr.. Miller called attention to an item OF
1896 81 for erecting the gallOws which Pasquae Ma
lone was hanged and for cutting the rope time
ton Hethought the charge excessveand asked who
cut rope MrDayidsOn objected TO giving the and
the objection was sustained by the chairman Mr. Miller
then read various items In connection with the hanging of
Edward Hovey. OF these $50 in Quarterwas for shay
ing and S92 for food furnished by Mrs Finn, the
OF the Tombs, He asked If these items
siyWe: nor,,son--1 Thin. not d,d mot o,,o,uo ,.
mind with these things. The memory Of hanging not
Mr.. ROosevet-what the public want know is wheth-
er the charges for these delicate substances are not
three or four times what they should be!
Mr. DavidsOn-I do not think so. Humanity suggests
making the last hours OF the condemned man comfort
Mr. Rooscy elt-To go back little. Here are bills for
which "a two horses and three employed,
and in addition small amount for hack hire. You are
allowed by law TO charge this, but do you not think 1--we
Mr. Dayidson-You have not stated IL CORRECTLY Out
side OF the three with the there employed
eight ten twelve men. the may be- They are
employed to take prisoners 20 the pententiary,
various courts TO State PRISONS TO unac sylums.
Mr.. Miller-Ihere II separate charge for lunatics
THE LUDLOW STREET JAIL.
In regard TO the Ludlow Street JAIL Mr. Davidson said
that the pay Of the Warden, James Bowe, $4,000
year. The average payroll of the Jail about 81 200
monthly AS matter Of fact he had lost about 1900
month the prison during ss3 prior to the passage Of
the allowing the oyeplus OF the prisoners In the
Tombs to be transferred 10 the jail This could only 10
done when the number Of prisoners in the TOmbs
great 10 compel placing two In cell unless
removed.
Mr. Miler-Are there not some who are given better |
board and lodging than others by paying for NJ
Mr. Davidson-We have bOarders at present and |