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, OOC
o Year and No Fees.
(By Associated Press.)

- rs
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 $50, 900
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 a reasonable amour
for the services performed. and that the
county rather thar the Sheriff should
be the recipient of this excess of
moneys.
This Is a sound principal int heory.
and l am surprised that the Legislature.
in indorsing II, did not apply 1t to other
counties Of the State. II 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
publican counties. the Legislature would
have escaped the charge which has been
made against it, that the chief object of
the bill was a political attack on a Dem
ocratic officer and a Democratic county
However sound In principle the argu-
ment In favor Of the bill may be. l am
disposed to think. ever while approving
as salutary as some friends Of the bill
imagine. 1t Will be remembered that the
present statute GOV erning the fees and
York was the outcome OF the so-cailed
Fassett Legislative Investigating Com
mittee of 1890, and under its provisions
half OF the fees collected goes to the
| rifv. sn that tho mora faaa fha Sheriff
collects. the greater the revenue to the
city. This bill would deprive the Sheriff
which he would otherwise have to in.
crease the amount to be divided between
himself and the city. 49,.
have been made salaried in the name
Of reform. has not been particularly
encouraging in the county OF New York.
Lear l can not not do % better better IN t5s discussing Lsnnr, g this his
so-called Fassett Committee upon the
Registers office of New York. h
Spouse to q 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
TT was urged at the time Of this
particular so-called reform hat 1t would
put an end to great evils In the ad,
ministration of the office; That It would
Its value as a political prize and yield
large returns to the treasury of the city
The extent to which these expectation
have failed of realization may be seer
by IN examination of the testimony re
lative to the administration of the Office
which we submit herewith. The city
not only to-day va 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 1t:
credit through the collection of the fees
for the performance Of the functions OF
the Office
There is no assurance that this ex'
p%erience will not be repeated in the case
Of the Sherifr's office: but inasmuch As
the bill is sound in principle and in
wolves merely a question OF policy. l an
induced to give the advocates of the bill
the benefit Of any doubt and append
my signature"