New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-18
THE EXAMINER. EXAMINED
w,P sHEARMAN's CRUCIAL TEST.
HOW THINGS ARE DONE IN THE OFFICE Oh
COMMISSIONER OF JURORS REILLY.

HOW THINGS ARE DONE IN THE OFFICE OF
| COMMISSIONER OF JURORS REILLY.
Yesterdays rain kept away many Of the regular
attendants on the investigations Of the Fassott COM
m,ttee senator Hendricks presided. The days work
was divided between testimony Tho City Record
| ard on Juror Commissioners The examination be-
r.n with the testimony Of William p Mitchell ono OF
be largest sharers Of the ctys patronage as regards
| the supplying OF printing, stationery and bankbooks
| De Iancey Nicoll conducted the examination Mr.
Mitchell testified that he began printing for the city
:, the fall of 1885, and had received since that time
| about s92 900 for the work he had done. Tho ex
| animation went In substance as follows:
| o-when did Mr. Costigan promise to give you the
| larger part OF the city's printing! Al don't re-
member.
| Dwell, you had agreement to that effect, had
YIN mott A-No sir. In the fall OF 1850 l told Mr.
Costgan that intended TO resume the active manages.
mept Of my business, and asked him for some OF the
work. lie said he would do tho best he could
solicited every Official that was personally hchdy 70
| Inc to use his influence in my behalf
o-was there ever any competition between different
printers for tho worki Al know OF none never
competed myself L have frequently done work on
verbal acquisitions instead OF written ones during 1887
and 1888. Cost!gan and 1 very Intimate friends
and saw each other nearly every day. We did not
always talk about city printing, but frequently dis
cussci politics Whenever talked about the print
ing the subject usually introduced by some remark
OF mine.
o-And then you would suggest that inasfnuch as they
were 50 we'll satisfied might be advisable to give you
more OF that kind OF work. A.-wel, yes, suppose
would 1 sometimes did get more. This year got
considerably work account OF the general salts
faction
Odd you ever talk Mr.. Costlgan about the
prices Did YOU for example, ever tell him that the
city could obtain the work and supplies at cheaper
than being paid1 Al never discussed
prices with Mr. Costigsn
William u.
Commissioner of Accounts who identified copy OF
the Commissioners report Of their investigation OF the
Office of the Commissioner Of Jurors, and read from
the same, after defining in detail the duties Of the
Commissioner Of Jurors according to his understand
ing OF 1t. Mr. Nlcol examined him also as follows
Odd you ever read any law. defining the duties OF
the Commissioner Of Jurors except tho Consolidation act?
A.-No sir.
GID you not notice. while you studying the
Consolidation act reference there the Code OF Civil
! Procedurei Al did, but never looked It up.
Examining counsel then questioned Mr.. Shcarman
about the methods used in the Commissioners inVest
cations and proceeded TO read extracts from the seno
graphic report of Mr. shearmans investigation of the
office of the Commissioner of Jurors. Mr. Shearmans
method Of asceraining the moral condition Of the office
named like this
Witness, Deputy Commissioner OF Jurors James Z.
connor; Examiner Mr. Shearman)
Q.-what the duties OF Mr.. Doyle1 Ale Is an
enrolment clerk
o.-what are the duties Of Mr. Browni A-Ho is
my assistant.
o.-Is he honest? Ayes sir.
This series Of questions and answers went through
the entire list of employees in the oco. AS Mr. Nico
read the testimony from the notes, Mr. Shcarman's
cholcr rose higher and CHER Finally he could no
pngcr restrain himself and exclaimed, with passion
II you are going to read from that report why don't
you read 1t all?" 81 don't want to-" said Mr. NicolL
Then III not answer another question: snapped Mr.
sherman. Yet the angry Commissioner did answer
many more questions Mr.. Ncol piled him with IN
quirlcs to his for Withholding from counsel
for the committee the stcnographic report Of " The
city Record investigation. Mr.. Sherman asserted
that. In the first place. he had not known that Mr..
Ncoll counsel and, secondly, he had not consid
cred himself authorized allow transcript to be
made without the consent OF the Mayor. Mr.. Nicon
continued follows
Q-How is 1t that you refused to allow Mr.. Best, the
onclal accountant Of the committee to that
graphic reportl A-Well for the same reason 1
didn't know he tho official accountant think he
ought have hal Letter from tho chairman OF the COM
mitee identify him.
Corporation Counsel Beckman took the stand, after
Mr. Sherman had been excused, and gave his opinion
Of the present jury system lie thought that many
Improvements could be made, but that existing faults
were faults of the law, not of the Commissioner He
considered II advisable give the Commissioner fall
control Of the service of subpoenas on Jurors, aud
thus remove the present doubt whether any irregu
aritlcs TO be blamed to the Sheriff or the Com
missioner. Another advantageous change no consic-
cred would be to give delinquent iurymen chance
to defend themselves against wrongful fines by ap
peal to the Supreme Court lie also thought that the
whole management of The City Record Office should
be placed under the charge Of the Controller.
Mr. Ncoll-To return to the jury system, Mr. Beck
how do explain that though s3270O0 OF fines
imposed dellnQuents last year, only $4,000 was
enforced and collected AThe Commissioner OF Jurors
is hampered by limitations OF his power 1 suppose
such things are due the faults Of the law
Commissioner of Jurors Reilly called, and Mr..
Boartman took up tho examination as follows:
Q.-Tor what did you remit the fines OF 274
urers found satisfactorily accounted for by the Com
mlssioners Of Accounts Al don't remember the de-
tails, suppose because had received letters
responsible giving good reasons for doing
o.-By responsible persons" you good County
Democrats for instance, don't youE Al receive such
letters from men Of all parties
o-Does the Sheriff furnish you with proofs that
the subpoenas have been servedi A.-No sir.
Q.-Thcn you have evidence that they have been
servcdi A.-NO sir.
Q-Mr Beekman said he thought you had too much
power dlsposing Of the Jurors fined Do you agree
with tho Corporation Counself A.Im not speaking for
Bcekman now. I'm speaking for Reilly. L have no
powers 1 not able to exercise
Q.-Now. these 274 jurors excused by represent
RENTED amounting to s27.4o0. Have anything
in your once why amount has been RENTED
Al have not but remtted fines without
Just and sufficient Sometimes excuse jurors
on their promise that they will serve when they have
moro time
The investigation at this unctre adjourned sub
ect to the call Of the chairman, who is expected to
return in few days.
CHARGED WITH SETTING HIS HOTEL on FIRE.