The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-16

The Governor has written a very sensible
letter to the Hon. WILLIAM j. GAYNoR OF
Brooklyn. in answer to his communication
concerning the recent election outrages at
| Gravesend.
Instead OF appointing special prosecuting
officers himself. as suggested in Mr.. GAY
NoRs letter. tho Governor announces that
he has concluded to comply with the re-
quest OF the District Attorney OF Kings
county to recommend to him the names
OF one or more suitable persons to whom he
may give official standing as Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys. with full power and facili-
ties for representing himself. both before
the Grand Jury and on the trial. in all Grim
inal matters arising out Of the recent cleo
ton troubles"
The Governor has accordingly recon-
| mended for appointment as such assist
ants the Hon. GEORGE G.. REYNOLDS, who
was formerly Chief Judge of the City Court
OF Brooklyn. and Mr.. EDWARD NJ. SHEPARD,
the well-known lawyer. whose father. the
late LORENZO b. SHEPARD. sterling Dem
| ocrat, and leader OF the New York bar,
was once Corporation Counsel Of this city.
We do not quite understand what method
Is to be pursued in comforting the requisite
official status upon these gentlemen. There
are now four Assistant District Attorneys
in Kings county: Messrs. JOHN U. SHORTER,
JOHN f. CLARKE. J. MCGUIRE. and PATRICK
E. CALLAHAN, as we learn from the Eagle
Almanac for the present year. The appoint
ment OF the fourth Of these assistants was
authorized by chapter 1913 OF the Laws of
1891. which declared that the District At
torney in tho county OF Kings might ap-
point an additional assistant for said county.
whose compensation should be fixed and de-
termined by the Board of Supervisors.
The enactment Of this statute indicates
that without it the District Attorney pos
sesscd no power to add to the number of his
assistants. and unless there has been some
other or later legislation comforting upon
him tho power to appoint n larger number
of assistants, it is difficult to perceive how
Messrs. REYNOLDS and SHEPARD can go into
Office unless two OF the four assistants who
are now in Office shall go out In order to au-
thorize Messrs. REYNOLDS and SHEPARD to
conduct any proceedings before the Grand
Jury it would seem to be indispensable that
they shall become sworn public officers.
AS we pointed out Immediately upon the
publication OF Mr.. GAYNoRs letter. the
Governor has no power to remove the JUS
tees OF the Peace OF Gravesend. and he SO
informs Mr.. GAYNoR. The Constitution and
the law on that subject are so clear that it
was not necessary to refer the question to
tho Acknowledgement for his opinion.
AS to the alleged neglect OF duty by the
Sheriff OF Kings county and the imputa-
ton OF bad faith to the District Attorney.
Governor FLOWER states that no specific
charge OF misconduct in Office has been filed
with him against either officer. and truly
says that he is bound to assume that public
officers are discharging their duties until
specific charges are laid before him or until
he has specific Information OF some viola
tion Of duty. Arbitrary and unlawful
acts" says the Governor. ION the part OF
tho Executive would be even more repre-
hensible than lawloSsncss on the part of
his subordnates." Nevertheless. he as
sures Mr.. GAYNoR and all good citizens that
they may rely upon his hearty support and
cooperation in any cause which has for its
object an honest ballot and pure govern
ment. Let there be no mistake about
this" are his words.
There is no mistake about the fact that
thus far Governor FLOWER has dealt with
the Gravesend matter with discretion.
sagacity, and vigor.