New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-11
SECOND Day, SATURDAY, ocroDER II.
u0RK or TIE coRroGAuoN CONSUL

! HIS REPORT TO THE MAYOE-AN ESTIMATE OF TIL
TXPENSIs FOR 1856
Corporation Counsel Lacombc yesterday sent
to the Mayor his report Of tie OF the Law
Department. In this report lie says
Although general comments and suggestions TO the
business of tho department may be- properly
referred to III az annual report, the rc-enI seems
fitting Occnsou TO call attention to the Suc"essfu
preparation OF accident One yea. has elapsed
perfected and ~ HAT peroc includes a court
effects Of improved methods of preparation have lnd
chance TO become apparent III the results of trials.
In the summer OF 1884, after consultation with the
Police Commissioners arrangements were made whereby
accident occurring In The streets and coming
attention Of the police reported at once "a THIS depart
mcnt. Printed blanks containing such items o nf0rml-
ton as to the character and cause 81 the accident
OF witnesses etc. IL seems desirable that this depart
ment should obtain, are furnished to each precinct
Promptly upon the receipt Of the reports this depart
mcnt they are classified aud ste taken for iuVcsta
ton into such seemed likely 10 become the foundation
of claims against tue city IN this way there * secured
sufficient amount OF preliminary Information 90 make the
examination OF the claimant, which tho charter permits
exhaustive and valuable. 1t also enables subsequent
Investigations to be pushed in the right direction Tnis
System OF course, calo FORA considerable expenditure
time and labor upon cases which do not eventually rpcn
into actions but in view of the results such cxpeudturc
hardly bc considered unremunCruIyc. lis results
very apparent when accident cases are brought 10
trial. From October /. 1854 to June 30 iss5 in those
suits there was clancd damages, TGOG.3-2 30 The
total amount paid by the city was only - $40 ~
Fifyhrce accident in all disposed Of at trial
tcrin and the recovery therein not quite aud
s-haf per cent OF the amount claimed In the wear
from OctObcr J. 1888, 10 June 30 ssI forty two similar
cases were disposed OF, and the recovery six and
One-quaTtcr per cent.
So high an average OF success cannot probably be
obtained every year but so long thr present thorough
preparation OF these il continued the city ia not
likely 10 he muctcd In damages except when it's nut0
ties bave been clearly in fault. II would uurcas
enable, however To require any who intends to sue
the city for damages resulting from an accident In the
streets, To give pOnpt notice OF snch intention aud
would recommend the passage of on act which would
fix short hiatnte of limitations against rlamans for
such DAMAGES. snch bill will be prepared by this
department and presented to the next Legislature I'm
view OF the Tact That tho cities OF OsweLo. Utica,
Rochester Rome aud Ogdensburg have already secured
this advantage, sec why the same rne should
not he extended TO this city.
Mr.. Lacombe alsO sent the Board Of Estimate and
AT portionnent yesterday the estimate OF the Law
Department for the year 1885, with which h6 said:
have.eudeavOred, far is practicable consistently
with e1cient conduct OF the business this dcnn
ncu to rcdu % tho budget low possible ask for
Sl3loO less than the original appropriation for the year
1855 for this department. aud SOL 30 less than the total
fers
The Corporation Counsel has asked for large Increase
in tile salary list for while lie brings the entire eapeud
lures Of the DEF artmcnt to smaller sum than pre,i-
Ousy lie thinks that the reductions should be made I'm
other directions and that aid Is I'm actual
trial casee TO defeat suits against the city, This "a in
accordance with the report OF Mr. Deming 'aade upon
the department last May 30 appropriation IL asked for
special counsel TO assist In aiming legislation the
regular stan Of tue Office hereafter attending 10 that
business. The total estimate OF Law Department for
1885, Including the bureaus OF the Corporation Attorney
ana Public Administrator Is Sl65.s0s The apr ropria
lions Tor 1883 as modified by transfer SI7s,O4s.