The evening world., 1894-05-04
SHERIFF BILL SIGNED.
Gov. Flower Says l. Is a Measure
Sound in Principle.
And that It Should Be Applied to
All Counties.
New York Dock Also Receives Ex-
ecutive Approval.

~ tlVNs
ALBANY, May 4.-Gov. Flower has
of the Sheriff of New York and giving
him a salary only.
1t gives the New York Sheriff 500, oO1
a year.
The Governor says: THE enactment of
this bill is urged chiefly on the ground
that under the present law the Sheriff
of New York receives fees largely in
excess of what is n reasonable amount
for the services performed. and that the
county rather than the Sheriff shoul
be the recipient of this excess Of
moneys
This ia n sound principle In theory.
and l am surprised that the Legislature.
in indorsing 1t. did not apply 1t to other
counties of the State. II the principle
is good for New York, II ought to be
good for Kings County and other oun
ties where the incumbent of the Office
of SheriH belongs to the same political
party as Is represented by the majority
of the Legislature. BY extending so
%salutaIy 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..d In principle the argu-
ment In favor OF the bill may be. l am
disposed to think, ever while approving
the measure, that It's effect viii not be
az salutary as some friends Of the bill
imagine. 1t will be remembered that the
compensation of the Sheriff of New
York was the outcome of the so-called
Fassett Legislative investigating Com
mittee OF 1880, and under It's provisions
! half nf the faas rplloctai zoos ., Tho
county; 80 that the more fees the Sheriff
collects. the greater the revenue to the
county. This bill would deprive the Sher.
extent withhold from him the stimulus
which be would otherwise have 10 in.
creaae the amount to be divided between
himself and the city.
1.-THE experience with offices which
have been made salarled In the name
1t reform has not been particularly
encouraging in the county. of New York.
l cannot do better in discussing this
point than to quote the repor of the
so-called Fassett Committee upon the
Registers office of New York This
office was made a salaried one In re-
Spouse 20 a burst Of public sentiment
similar to that which is said to exist
towards the bill before me. As to the
effect of this change, the Fassett Com
"It was urged at the time of this
particular so-called reform that It would
put an end to great evils In the ad:
take the office out Of politics by reducing
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
by IN examination OF the testimony re-
iative 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
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 offioe; but !nasmuch as
the bill Is sound in principle and in
wolves merely a question Of policy, l am
induced to give the advocates of the bill
the benefit OF any doubt append
my signature"