New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-03
THE INDEXES TAKEN BACK
A COMPROMISE WITH MR. LEAYCRAFr.
VIE ACCEPTS THIRTY THOUSAND DOiLARs-lllS


sFARCiiEES TO BE RETAINED.
The trouble between Robert j. Leay-
craft formerly chief of the searchers in the
County Clerks Office, and the new County Clerk
Mr. Fiack. has been amicaOy settled Mr. Leay-
craft demanded $4,000 the price OF his 200 vol
umes of indexes OF rccords IN the County Clerks ONCE
which he claimed his private property The Board y
Estimate would only allow $4,000 In addition 10
this Mr. Fiack wanted to appoint
seventeen scarchers. Heretofore the search
egs consisted OF Mr. Leaycraft and ten assistants III
Guiding index clerk The Board OF Estimate "o"eu
tn. sum Of $57 600 for scarchcrs. If MI FlacK "P
,oiuted the number proposed by him the slay OF each
would be from 81 6OO $l700. They have maze mere
toforc by dividing their fees with the County CLERK,
from $4,000 to $500 year. The old searchcTs de-
cared that they wOud not accept the salaries Oherei
and went with Mr. LeLycran intending to enter MS en-
ploy The 200 volumes OF indexes were removed 10
room No. 2O2 in the Stewart Building on Thurs lay
afternoon
Since then friends OF Mr.. Flack and Mr.. Leaycrait
have been trying to harmOnze matters. Prominent
among these President Coleman, who Is
member of the Board OF Estimate and iuity
conversan with all the details He is also an oG friend
OF Mr.. Leaycraft lie the latter OH New Years Day
and they discussed the matter thoroughly. Mr. Leay-
craft said that he thought the offer made by MIN OiH
nally was fair II would cost the city three times
$4,000 to prepare new set OF indexes from INC Icc
oris lie had been willing. however to reduce his de-
nsked to do Moreover he was not willing to abandon the
searohers who had been with him in the County
Clerks office from seventeen TO thirtyone yearS FieS
cent TO icinan urged that the Board OF Estimate had
taken the figure of $4,000 compromise. Some OF
the members of the Board thought that $4,000 would
he sufficient, while others favored $4,000 MI Leay-
craft said that would consider the matter lie met
President Coleman yesterday and they called on Mayor
Grace aud the Controller and had long discussions MI
Leaycrart used the arguments that lie
In his frSti In.
man He finally agreed that he would accept the $4,000
and turn the indexes to the County Clerk Oh certain
conditions of these that his former assistants
should DO reinstated at fair salaries. lie ana not suu-
late that himself should be retained Mr. Faek de-
sired this however saying THAI be appreciated MI Leay
crafts services and that wished 10 retain him as the
head OF the Soarcher's Bureau.
Soon after4 D. IN. Mr. Lcaycran and MI Flack came
TO an understanding. Mr.. Lraycrats terms were ac-
ccued These were thai no should receive $4,000 for
the indexes: that the nine seaTchers ana the index
clerk should be taken back salaries of $1,000 each
with guarantee that they should not be dismissed dur
ing Mr. Facks term Of Office. except for just cause This
would not use up all Of the Appropriation made for the
scarchers bureau and Mr.. Fack could appoint one or
two clerks OH the suIpiu. Of the appropriations
one reason for the delay on the part OF Mr. Faek in
agreeing II ycratS terms is understood TO be that
nc WAS harasscd by for place by Tammany a.
hr,nis while tho demand Mr.. Leaycrait tina, all his
corps searcher> shodi bo rcSt2ei irrlrrtu s1'hy
wlat with the plans certain district leaders !or OBJ
tanning patronage. Mr.. Fhck j. business man how
ever. and understands the necessity o! enP'o lns ~
prrts m work of tins kind. lhe work OF searching
The records during YESTERDAY was otousnS IT, siam
sth by the absence VI tho indexes auu me I"Itc %
clerks who had prepared them anu 9epehde on hem 10
facilitate their aborS. lie decided That even Win the
in ms possession would take new men long
time 10 become AGO tainted with the work au the con
liens against piece OF property would be a
serious thing for the ety. wnien would nave 10 maze
pood ANY ucca-lOued thereby heretofore any loss
OF kind would have to be made good by tAc County
NJ Fiack said that he wished also to reinstate Mr..
Jo,ycraf ana the latter accepted his ola place win
In made the work of returning the books
containing the Indexes was begun, ana in shCrt TINE
the volumes were back IN thelr old places. MgssIS'
FacS ana Lcaycra looked pleased that the matter vac
finally settled and the force OF Seaicses % ME
opinion that their cher ia0 won VICTORY i'' mem VI.
Ieayerait said that he wished to express hs oeEauons
10 President Coleman for his eNerlohS III bringing ABOUT
an amicaJlc undeiSt5ndnG A.,
by writ OF fepeVih, ~ stat Cornoration Counsel
Sntt aid no. wish without the advice OF his
chief. and this OF course MAS mpoSsoe unuer 'hc CIT
Tpe business of the Registers Office is to certain OK
tent connected with that Jf the County CLERK person
h hee 10 have Searchr both olcc In the County
Clerks office searches ade Tor LEES III ine SalS Vi
Judgments neehan ,ns etc. In me KeS,'ers , once
search is made Mortgages, cOnyeyances oil 81 knGs,
SHG roSsrced With tie Registers oce for
thirty years They consist Of Charles W. Mack, H. J.
Nelson am son, IT, William H. H. Ahbott NJ Clman'
\ W G. Brinkerho. p. H. McDonouEh, s NJ Ander'9n D.
nan Register Reilly explained yesterday 10 reporter
OF TuE TRlpINE the WORKING of his Office There are
y.rai Thousand hcTs containing III iull the WOrd& OF
ali aud cOnveyauces OF real estate ana powers
or Attorney the entries 20 back ar as the year 1920
some uf them are entered in the DuCh language. Law
yers and others there and employ any one o! the
corus of searchcIs whom they please TO make
the search against the pieces OF property III
Which iEey are interested. All Of the searchers
have their particular customers VINO
will intrnst the search to 10 one else The searchers
are maid by fees they taking ouehaf and the Register
oue-haIf Several years the CITY PAID cOhsldetple
amounts OF money dt Is asserted that II was about
$500 GUO to index the conveyance IN tne heSlstcf
ONCE This WAS brOn-ht up u lS16. Copies OF thls
inex were printed and for sale. since tat nne no
effort has been made 10 bring up the convey aces 10
date. A., ID. a,.o. q, ,,o
Registers Office, employed nine men Tor one year
aud two men ever that time 10 prepare
aud bring his index up to date The lndcN 10 CON
Xcvnnces which was printed has been much improved
uuon that what would merry take PROBABLY TWO "ys
~ md can now done IN ten minutes. Inc muck
of names beginning with the letter - ana references
10 certain fills nine volumes Inc searchers nave
tain each LETTER Of the alphabet and the names begin
ming with that particular LITTER they have so cass"u
Inv t letters succeeding the initial leter as 10 make lhc
xrl NJ finding the trans sought for an easy one
m. Smiths Browns JOncses ETC., are DISTINGUISHED ny
game manner the surnnmes OF lhc less common
ones The visitor whom the system is shown cInho
fail 10 admire the simplicity ana dlrc''htSs Oh
tho systeln But Ii has taken these seHcheis many
xears IN prepare their lists of them would Ill! many
large volumes and u has been done at good zeal 0i
oYnensp The searchPrs claim thrm "a thclf personal
Yrnnery III they 10 take the lists away Inc WORK
al ihc Registers Office for time would ne pr"cucaIIy
stonned 10 duplicate these indexes would cost several
real estate lawyers asserted sum vastly beyond what
the city will probably have 10 pay for them soIre day
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