New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-08
THE BLOCK INDEXING BILL.
A DEFENCE OF IT'S MAIN PROVISIONS.
DWIGHT n. oLMsTEAD, WHOSE IDEAS IT Ell
BODIES, DISCUSSES THE NEED OF

BODIES, DISCUSSES THE NEED OF
SUCH REFORM.
Dwight II. olmstead, the wel-known lawyer, was
seen BY Tribune reporter at b., Office. No 30 Nassau
st. on Monday afternoon Just nc was about " start
for Albany where the Block Indexing bill was about 10
be reported 10 the Senate by the judiciary Committee
Mr. Olmstead has studied the subject OF
real estate transfers for long time and one Of the
pioncers In the proposed REFORM tho bill having been
drawn for the most part, in accordance with his ideas
lie was going TO Albany TO look after its interests.
|, and said in reference 10 II:
"An attempt Is being made to defeat tho Block
lprex.ng BILL Mr. Hamllton's Assembly BIZ, No. o33,
provdc for tho use o. block indexes in tho Registers
ufloc Iu New.Yorh. This bill has passed tho As.
s.mbly. and IS now before the judiciary Committee
OF tho Senate. The Register Of Nrw-Hork' or MS
deputy defeated u similar bill last wear ana " Is
probable that they will repeat their ta''cs now
The bill has tho unanimous support OF inc oar am
business men OF NcwYork. For several wears th'r"
has been contest as whether the !ndcXng should
10 by block or BY lot. II finally settled by stature
in 1887 that the indexng should be by blocFS. No
one favored larger division than block While many
favored the smaller division OF the lot b0 since IN
satnts OF 1897 there has been an almost uEaNinou"
sentiment in favor OF the block system
IT'S INTRODUCTION DELAYED.
"The Block bin passed IN 1887 established tn"
block system Of indexing. The inauguration OF i@H
1882 because over 5000 books would b" required to
nut II In operation. clear TO all that the legs
lnturr would and should provide fOr decreasing this
large number Of books By thr provisions OF IN" act
u 1897 two books required for each Of the 3ooo
blocks below the Harlem River, in NcwYork CITY. ore
for deeds and for mortgag In each book h"T"
was 10 be an index OF grantors and grantees for ma
book The present bill before the s"rac amends that
plan and establishes tho original IDEAS Of the adv0-
Gates OF the block system. II preserves the plan. but
decreases the number Of books required II provides
for index boos separate from III" lc"nrl books. each
book to contain indexes for several blocks but each
block index 20 he separate IN that book. NOT more
than from 200 to 400 books Will be thus required t""
.ndexng and the number Of books Will vary arooihe
TO the number 0f'blocks clud"d In ca book
by this plan registration be begun July l@Io.
with from 800 10 400 book, Of ud'xc, NJ other books
t.>ng required except the few which ar" necessary FOR
recording deeds and mortgage such T"c"7i beng
marie in books separate from the indexes a. present
"If the bill now before tho scnsc Is not sopt"i The
rity OF New-YOrk wal have pay for over 5000 No"
registration books at expens" Of probably S-Ooooo
These books ar, not needed. In blocks In New
Yurk there arr no .Iantfcrs Of real estate for years
anil It Is estimated THAT the average number OF trans
fers ny both deed and mortgage In each BLOCK earn
year is not over ten. Moreover the siau" oil 1867
rcpc ais all prt<ent rooDrng laws for RAJ ca's" IN
| NewYork such repeal to take effect July /, 1889
system on July /. 1859, rot prrparei. II the bill
now before the Senae fails Ncw-YOrk will be without
facilities FOR ra stration of deeds and mortgages aftcl
July l. 1882.
| THE RFGISTER'S AMENDMENTS.
"Thc Register OF NewSYOrk has proposed certain
amendments u the bill now before the Senate. One
Of the amendments which he proposed last year wa
designed 70 and does totally subvert the principle and
| purposes Of block Indexng II allows the Register
I,la EgNnka nc tina
instead Of indexing by blocks the indexIng would be
By wards Se"tions OF tho city, 80 as % have a,
! index FIR each section instead Of an index nor "scl
system, and would not furnish the relief desired II
would abolish the present system OF searching
m n@ IS not proposed in good faith, and has neyo'
boon proposed by any one except the Register Lin
why Is this amendment proposed, and who will be
benefited by III II this amendment Of the Register
Assembly, The Lesislature IS about adjourn, and
the whole BIN Win then probably fan to pas pas ,h
pleasant duty of obtaining SOME 5000 costly books
| for New-YOrk II, on the other hand, the Register
amendment adopted b. both Senate and A, o,G
tenn OF complicated registration and costly oftcis
Indignation OF the real estate owners Of NcwYorls
at Is estimated that the peopie OF New iork Iiy
"arious Offices This is an incubus on zeal estate" tn.
,,erem Itself originated with New-lork rial e%tatc
lawyers. 1t is an Imperative necessity. and IS de-
| transactions OF this great city. TIE system has
! been adopted elsewhere. On May l. 1850, by act OF
The N. Jersey Legislature, tho plan involved ia tho
bill before the Senate IS TO 90 into force for Jersey
| city.
Tho bin should pass II now stands before the
! Judiciary Committee OF the Senate 1t Is not 10 GO
into effect until July !, 1880. II any changes are
needed they be made by tho next Legislature. Tie
present situation demands that the present bill be
! passed At AMI without change"
Those who IN search Of real estate or sedv ants
! board rooms who want 10 buy or rent '"uSrN
should examine the many columns Of brief anroUuc"
mcnS the fourth ard fifth pages Of The Tribune to
day.