New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-25
M'DERMOTT'S BIG FEES.
THE FAT PICKINGs OF A DEMOCRATIC
MACHINE BOSS.

VOORHEES, INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
IN rRENToN-NEED OF RENE
DIAL LEGISLATION.
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Trenton, May 24.-Tht last session Of the Voor-
hees Investigating Committee prior to the meet
ing Of the Legislature in June was held to-day.
and Mr. Corbin. It's counsel. devoted the time
more particularly IT, obtaining Information upon
which to base remedial legislation than to the
exposure CT tn frauds and irregularities and
misconduct OF state officials which are yet to be
laid before the people. The Legislature will meet
June l. and the interim will he spent in preparing
the committees report and drafting bills to he
recommended by the committee for the correction
OF the known existing evils The evil of the In
cidenta expenses Mr. Corbin discussed to-day.
instancng numerous abuses and extravagahces
possible under the system. If the committee had
done nothing more, their work to-day In showing
the fat pickings of Allan McDermott chairman
Of the Democratic State Committee, counsel To
the pardoned Guttenburg racetrack Big Four
and clerk Of the Court OF Chancery, ana the IN
come from the fee system of the clerk or 'the
Eupreme Court, the State would have been amply
maid for the expenses incurred by it, OF course
Mopermott's pickings come from the 'hah'e'S
office, For years the people have endeaVored ~
hut the effort 10 DO So always resulted w fa''a'e
MIR Lees annual income 40 clerk ~ tho supreme
Court exceeds The salaries ~ three ~ ffes'hrn'
rleveand's Cabinet oliieefs, ana MI Mepefho'''
that Of two Cabinet officers
rbe serslon opened with Allan Mei'ermott on
the stand. lie has been chahcery Cleth sine"
March a. tss6 with the remark that the clerk
IN Chancery had made proper returns M required
at the end Of each term. MIR Corbln submitted
the following table showing the fees returned
to the state during Mr.. McDermotts incumbency'
1856 sso6a ~: 1897. s73o 70; 1855 s6sab 81 1889,
s7Oss 4s; $780, s7.47O 81; 1891. &.i42 22 1892. S-
l05 7b: 1so3 s9.b0A o5; 1894 sio.sso ~. These did
not include the clerks fecs. and Mr.. McDermott
proceeded 70 explain the law as ne Interpreted
II. His principal income. he said, was from
copies OF petitions made for lawyers. The ices
belonging 70 him. he made no return OF them to
the Controller although Mr. Corbn holds that
the law requires that statement OF all fees
collected snail be filed with that officer In order
that the Legislature might know the amount
each official Is paid for his services. The net
proceeds OF the office to Mr.. McDermott for 1881
was SIS. .2s5: for 1892 ss.22s for 1899. N7S5S The
value OF the office to Mr. McDermott for 1894 was
not shown, the last quarterly report OF 1874 not
being in Mr.. Corbin's possession
Does that include all that you received!
asked Mr.. Corbin.
AN that I received for my own use." replied
Mr.. McDermott.
"Mr. McDermott the committee is desirous OF
ascertaining the exact amount OF the income OF
your Office with view. possibly, to changing the
fee system" remarked Mr.. Corbin.
During the nine years have filled the office
the actual amount Of money received by me for
my own use has ranged from $4,000 to $lo,oVo a
year. II has never been less than the former ana
never more than the latter
THAT does no. ,ncirde what you paid your
clerical force?"
1T does not"
what does the latter amount tor
well, / should say about the same as re-
tain.d myself-Sl6, 500 When assumed charge
OF the ONCE determined 10 about divide the re-
eeipts with the employees Of the ofhce and always
did So"
Wasn't the bulk OF the money paid for copy
ing. Mr.. McDermot,?" asked Senator skirm
About 70 per cent OF 1t was"
Then YOU didn't divide. by large Odds Tor the
copying was paid for under the statute
"Oh. you don't know what you are talking
about" the witness answered.: "they are not paid
by statute but are paid out OF the fees allowed by
statute"
"rhen. Mr.. McDermott. your Office is worth
about $500 a year." said Mr. Corbin-
Eyes. sir" replied the witness.
That Is pretty liberal compensation. is 1t not'
"Well. 1t is"
And II the Legislature were to appropriate
sum annually for this office. $4,000 would about
cover it?"
81 believe It would. but ! do not think an annual
appropriation could be made to cover the expenses
Of the office. had recommended TO the Constitu-
tional Commission that the Office be made a saia-
ried one. and that the twenty assistants en-
pioyed be paid out OF fees collected by the clerk
with the approval OF me Controller THIS sug-
gestion was not adopted. -.
followed Mr.. McDermott 10 the stand lie mas
been clerk since 1872. There were no irreguiatl-
ties In his method OF conaSs,ns ",s H. on,. fsss col.
lectcd since 1850 were shown to be about soo'Voo.
while the average net Income OF me c'e,x TOT .ns
last Ave years was $4,000 annually. Mr' iFe
gross income for Ave years. he showed. was so as
follows: 1890. N2.o54; 1891. sA|Ss: 1872. sS"a'o'
is9a. s%,so5 1894. $4,000 ).
idea OF your income during the twenty-three
years you have held the o'hceF MI 'o'''"
~ think II was about $4,000 year. That Is the
average; some years II was much less and Others
greater. -,.,,.. o. Tho vary
lssss 1ssss difference 'F'"sS" the years 1870 anu
1T was because OF large payment OF ute
company whose bill had run for four years, o.o
you said your expenses were between sl2'o~
and $4,000 annualiy?'
"Yes, sir. This. Of course. includes the station
cry and all the postage stamps used In my ONCE
The postage costs about $500. and pay Tor all
this myself. while IT is used for both my personal
b,isiness and the States business l also pay for
all stationery used for my own part OF the office
work."
Mr. Lee explained at great length the condition
In which he found the records OF the court, which
date back to Revolutionary times. when as
suming Office. and. promising to supply the com
mittec VITA detailed statement OF the receipts
OF the ONCE, he was excused
Mr.. Corbln submitted for the committees bene-
ft q tabulated statement showing that the ex-
QAoA1 haA H. LIZ aasad1