New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-14
A BILL WITH MANY FAULTS.
TOO MUCH POWER TO BE INVESTED IN
TIE REGISTER.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION AT ALBANY REaAHD-
ING THE RECORDING or REAL EerArE
coNvEYANcEs IN TELLS CITY

coNvEYANcEs IN THIS CITY
Albany, March 13.--In 1887 tho Legislature passed
an act, Chapter 49, 20 provide for recording and
ndexing of eonveyanees and instruments relating TO
lard In tho City of New-York according 20 limited
areas 1t technically called the Block system It
provided that the work should be done under tho dres
ton of the Mayor and the Register. II also pro-
sided that duplicate maps of the whole city be made
showing all tho blocks and numbering them SON
ecutivey beginning in tho southern part OF tho city,
and providing that the OF these blocks should not
hereafter be changed but that they should become and
remain areas of search IL was provided that two
sets Of Index books should be msdeone for deeds and
one for mortgages and liens. It gave power to sell
bonds TO meet the expense, to hire rooms purchase
stationery and material, to buy private maps to hlre
Surveyors draughtsnen and other expert persons a.
we'll clerks.
This act was to take effect immediately, and was to
20 Into operation, as to recording and indcxing,
January l. 1888
II was rmorcd that tho Register proposed to spend
100000 on this scheme. The Mayor had some est.
mate made Of the OF the work. and learned that
II need not exceed $4,000 to do Il in tho best and
most thorough manner, and that the ndex-boos thus
provided would last thirty years The act gave
authority extend tho time for It's going into effect
or operation six months, which the Mayor availcd
himself OF, and subsequently, on tho plea that the
Rovisions Of the bin were not complete enough to
carry out the project properly, the Legislature, n his
accommodation. passed Chapter 3aI of the Laws Of
1888, giving authority to extend the time to July,
1879
Early In the present session CT the Legislature a
bin was introduced for the same purpose, but en-
braced tho scheme Of relndexlng the old records. IL
provides for repeating Chapter us, and names as q
commission to carry out It's provisions the Mayor Cor
poraton Counsel Register, President Of the Depart
mont Of Taxes and Assessments and President Of tho
Board Of Aldermen. 1t limits the expense Of the
maps TO $4,000 and Of the reindexing to 100000
This bill mot With some opposition, and has boon
amended through the influence of the Register and his
deputy, saying they represented the Mayor The COM
mission has been struck out and the Register named
IS sole director Of tho work. The limit TO the ex-
pense for this work has been removed, and the bill
now provides no limit whichever. 1t gives all tho
powers named in the BIZ Of 1897, both as to tho
fuure system Of Indexing we'll as to the reindex'
ing, and provides no limits to tho expense Of either
While the block system as described in the bin, 10
probably an excellent measure, IL Is q great mbtaEe
TO put its execution IN tho hands Of ono man.
measure Of such importance should DO carried out oy
commission Of csty officials, of whom the Mayor ana
tho Corporation Counsel should at least be members
Tho preparation of the maps by the Department OF
Taxes and Assessments IS wise measure. because Of
the advantages OF their familiarity with property
lines and surveys, and is sufficient reason for In
cluding the president Of ns department in the com.
mission. The use Of this system Of iDdexng should
fore the reindexinE should begin. The work should
be well done and carefully considered BY an able com
MISSION but there need DO no mystery ABOUT Us coss
amount necessary 10 It's execution In tho best menner
The commission should be ono of which no DOUBT W1h
exist that the eity's interests win DO protectod
Inc work Of recording conveyanc OF real esteAo ~
this city Is one of0uch vast Importance that TOO nuch
hn fyiaa IN he II
let and Tho bill a. now offered should speedily be
cent 30 tho waste basket