The evening world., 1894-05-04
SHERIFF BILL SIGNED.
Gov. Flower Says 1t Is a Measure
Sound in Principle
And that It Should Be Applied to
All Counties.
1t Gives New York's Sheriff $40 900
q Year and No Fees.

ALBANY, May 4.-Gov. Flower has
approved the bill cutting off the fees
OF the Sheriff of New York and giving
him a salary only.
1t gives the New York Sheriff 5000
a year..
The Governor says: 1.-THE enactment Of
that under the present law the Sheriff
of New York receives fees largely in
excess of what is a reasonable amount
for the services performed. and that the
county rather han the Sheriff should
be the recipient Of this excess Of
moneys.
This Is a sound principal int heory.
and I I'M surprised that the Legislature,
In indorsing 1t, did not apply 1t to other
counties Of the State. If the principle
is good for New York, 1t ought to be
good for Kings County and other coun-
ties where the incumbent of the office
of Sheriff belongs to the same political
party as Is represented by the majority
Of the Legislature. BY extending so
saluta1y a principle to Sheriffs of Re-
publican counties, the Legislature would
have escaped the charge which has been
made against 1t, that the chief object of
the bill was a political attack on a Dem
ocratic officer and a Democratic county.
However sou.Id in principle the argu-
ment In favor of the bill may be. l am
disposed to think, even while approving
the measure. that its effect will not be
as salutary as some friends of the bill
imagine. 1t will be remembered hat the
present statute governing the fees and
York was the outcome OF the so-called
Fassett Legislative investigating Com
mittee of 1890, and under its provisions
half of the fees collected goes to the
CIV. 40 that tho marc faaQ tho ShartH
collects, the greater the revenue to the
city. This bill would deprive the Sheriff
OF any share Of these fees and to that
extent withhold from him the stimulus
which he would otherwise have to in
crease the amount to be divided between
himself and the city.
THE experience with Offices, which
have been made salaried in the name
If reform. has not been particularly
encouraging In the county of New York.
can not do better IN discussing, this
so-called Fassett Committee upon the
Registers Office of New York. This
office was made a salaried one in re-
similar to that which is said to exist
towards the bill before me. AS to the
effect of this change. the Fassett Com
mittee said:
"It was urged at the time Of this
particular so-called reform that 1t would
put an end to great evils In the ad,
ministration Of the office. That 1t would
Jake tle oilce out o. polltics ny reuuSiIk
Its value as a political prize and Yield
large returns to the treasury of the city.
The extent to which these expectations
have failed OF realization may be seen
lative to the administration of the Office
which we submit herewith. The city
not only to-day pays the entire expenses
Of the office, but the office has become
a burden upon the city instead Of show
Ing. as was expected, a balance to Its
credit through the collection OF the fees
for the performance Of the functions OF
the office
There is no assurance that this ex-
perience will not be repeated in the case
OF the Sheriff's Office; but inasmuch as
the bill is sound in principle and in
wolves merely n question of policy, l am
induced to give the advocates of the bill
the benefit Of any doubt and append
my signature"