The morning call., 1893-07-19
HALEY'S REPORT.
County Clerks Annua
Statement.
He Predicts That the Office VIII Be
Made Self Sustaining During
His Term of Office.

NJ c. Haley. County Clerk, filed his an
nual report with the Board of Supervls-
ors yesterday, showing the transactions of
the several departments of the office for
the fiscal year ending June 30.
A summary of the business for the year
is given as follows Number of civil ac-
tions commenced. 4l5S; appeals and ab-
stracts from the justices Court, 404; in
solvency proceedings, 17S; marriage
licenses issued, 341l; medical certifica tes
received, IS; Coroner's inauests filed. $50
auctioneers' bonds. II; notarial bonds, q :;
articles OF incorporation, 419; certificates
of naturalization Issued, 404S; declarations
of intention. 2l0S; estates commenced in
probate, 1884, letters issued. 1923; claims
filed, 1858; DEGREES Of distribution, 6iS
informations, indictments and appeals
from the Police Courts filed, 763; examina-
tiOnS of the insane, 4l9.
The receipts for the year were SS5, ,296 90.
apportioned as follows: Office fees,
$685. ,077 90; fines, S11, $40; law library tax,
$500
The disbursements were: Salary OF
County Clerk, $4,000; salaries Of deputies
and copyistS, S99. 656 80; total. sos. CSC 30.
In a supplemental report the large ex-
penditures for salaries in the County
Clerks Office are referred to. The fact Is
recited that by lawIeighty -four:deputies and
one chief deputy are allowed. Their ag-
gregate monthly salaries allowed are
| S10.S58. Reference is made TO the pied ges
exacted OF nominees Tor the clerkShip by
political conventions. limiting the monthly
| expenditure Of the Office to $1,000 for sala-
res. The report says that at no time since
1878 has this pledge been kept. and adds
| that, without lmparing the efficiency OF
| hn a.
could not have been conducted for an
amount less than that named, S39, 504. The
! Clerk thinks that in the new Office he will
be able to keep within the $4,000 limit.
The report refers to the Oft-repeated
statement that the office is n OF selt-sustaiD-
ing. This he ascribes TO the great expen Sc
attached to the filing and copying In the
records Of this Office papers for which the
| county received inadequate returns. lie
! refers 10 cases which have dragged through
! the courts for years. in which thousands
| of documents have been filed and copied,
costing the county vast sums for labor and
returning comparatively nothing.
County Clerk Haley tn en- refers to the
| fee bill and says that if it had been In ade
| operative Immediately upon its passage in
stead OF in January, 1895, there would on
| the latter date have been 10 the credit OF
the Office from $4,000 to $4,000 over and
above the amount received under the ex-
lStlnS c0DQltlOn OIL tDlEgS. In reference
to the frequent charge, that fees for copy
ing have not been paid to the county and
the excuse for withholding the money that
the work was not performed during office
hours, the report states that all fees for
such work, under the present admlnistra-
ton of the office. have been turned into the
county treasury, whether the labor was
performed during or after Office hours.
In discussing the new quarters, the
County Clerk laments the lack OF book
room as also cabinets to hold the blanks
used and place for the storage Of sta
tionery 10 bulk. These conveniences can
not be furnished until after the next tax
levy. The criminal department Of the
office will remain on the lower floor until
further accommodation is provided in the
new offices.
To prevent the disappearance Of papers
of which the County Clerk was made Gus
todian Clerk Haley reports that he has
given positive Instructions to his deputies
that the papers cannot now be compared
or copied ty parties desirOus OF so using
them, even in the office. without receipt
therefor.
The report concludes that during the
present administration this office will be
made self-sustainiDR. for the following
reasons: First-The large reduction in the
force OF employees. Second-The proper
collection and placing of fees. Third-The
economical distribution and care of sta