New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-03
STILL SEEKING REFORM.
FIVE BILLS FAvORABLY CONSIDERED.
ALL THE MEASURES ORDERED TO THIRD READs
ING WITH LITTLE 0ppngIrIoN

ALL THE MEASURES ORDERED TO THIRD READs
ING WITH LITTLE OPPOSITION.
[FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRmUssl
ALBANY, April 2-The Assembly ordered to
third reading to-day FIVE Of the New-York reform
bills introduced blythe Roosevelt investigator COM
mittee Two Of the bills were ordered 10 a third
reading yesterday and third will be dropped, 20
that practically the Assembly has finished its con-
sderaton of them.
The first bill considered was that giving
the Board Of Estimate and AppOrtionment
the control of the Sheriff7s expenditures and espe-
cialy those for the conveyance of prisoners from
the ias to the courts in New-York and for the sup
port of prisoners In other words the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment is to have the
auditing of the Sheriff7s bills instead Of the Board
of Aldermen Mr.. Roosevelt informed the Assem-
bly, that the county of New-York had paid the
Sheriff 500 900 for the transportation of prisoners
last year. service which cost seven times too much.
Moreover, it singular fact that IL cost twice
as much to support prisoner in Ludlow Street
Jail than it did in the Tombs There was only one
objection made in the bill, and that offered by
Mr. Van Cott, Democrat, of New-Y0rk, who
thought the bill impractcable. The bill was ordered
to third reading.
HOW THE SHERIFF MAKES FAT BILLS.
The second bill also was in relation 70
the Sheriff. IL repeals that law of 1888 which
was ostensbly passed to prevent the overcrowdDg
of the Tombs. Mr. Roosevelt said that the effect OF
the law had been 10 give the Sheriff an excuse TO
transfer prisoners from the Tombs to Ludlow Street
Jail, where the charge for supporting them was
doubled. -Four prisoners put in single cell
in Ludlow Street Jail, whereas only two were inn
prsOned in cell at the "overcrowded' y Tombs.
Rich had every comfort in Ludlow
| Street Jail, while poor not
okaI xr.lI n lima had ham cold
| ses The bill was then ordered to a third reading.
| CHANGES IN TIE sURROGATE's OFFICE.
| Next there was taken up the bill in relation to
the Surrogate This measure deprives the Board
of Aldermen of all authority TO appoint a successor
| to the Surrogate in case of vacancy, comforting
this power on the Governor, aud also deprives tho
| Board of Aldermen of all power in regard to the
| number and salaries of the Surrogate's
| sistants, transferring it TO the Surrogate
himself subject to the approval of the Board of Es-
| innate and Apportionment There are also proyis-
ions in the bill which will make it impossible for
| any of the SurrOgates clerks to take illegal
fees. Some New-fork Republicans seized the
opportunity 70 defend the character OF Sur
! rogate Rollins arguing that there was
| evidence taken before the investigating committee
| which warranted its members in their report 10
| charge that no WAS either lin connlvance" with
his clerks in the eXactlOn of illegal fees guilty
Of "grcss negligence
| THE ILLEGAL FEES.
| Mr. Welch member of the investigating
| mittee, said that Mr.. Roosevelt not the
! author of the expressions 10 which objection
was made. Mr.. Roosevelt read letter from
| Wheeler II. Peckham and Charles T. Miller,
counsel of tie committee, stating that Mr. Rollins
| had thoroughly reformed his office. Mr. Erwin,
member of the investigating committee, said that
the first day evidence was taken iii regard to tho
| SurrOgate's Office tine testimony favorable to
| the department but that the Democratic members
OF the committee insisted that there was something
wrong Then hundreds of letters poured in npon the
committee asserting that illegal fees were exacied
were true that illegal fees were obtained by the
| clerks. II. ID Nelson, a Democratic member OF
the investigating committee said that the evidence
| showed that $i0000 had been taken in illegal
! fees in the SurrOgate's office in 1888 But II was
| to the interest OF the persons who gave testimony
| think that 5000 yearly in illegal fees had been
obtained by the clerks. The bill was then ordered
| to Il third reading
ALL THE BILLS DISPOSED Of
The bill to abolish imprisonment for debt in
! civil actions" which is another measure To cut
off the emOuments of the Sheriff received support
| from ex-Speaker Hustled. The bill was ordered to
a third reading.
The bill abolishing the present Board of Park
| Commissioncrs and substituting for it one Com
missioner Oh January l, 1885, after only five
minutes consideration was ordered 10 a third read
! ing The Park Commissioner Is TO be- appointed by
! the Mayor, and is - hold office for two years.
| Mr. ROOs welt then announced that he would
| not push the bill i'm regard 20 a searchcr 10Y
| liens III the Finance Department.
=