New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-15
WHEELER H. PECKH4M HEARD.
HE TELLS THE COMMITTEE ABOUT ASSESS
MENTs LEVIED ON JUDGES.

Mr. Moss-Mr Peckham. call Mr.. Wheeler H.
Peckham as a witness.
wheeler II. Peckham affirmed.
Mr. Moss-You are the president OF the Bar Asso-
citation are you not? A.-No. sir.
O-You have been? Al have been.
o.-And You have been lawyer in large practice
IN the city OF New-York for many years? Ayes.
o-Allow me 70 say-probably you will not have
the hardihood TO deny tive look upon you as a
leader of the Bar: you don't deny that? Al am
moi going 10 make issue OF that by either aHIm-
Q~You were interested actively in matters %, OF
eyertRSo% Of Mr. Tweed tie boss Of rammany
Hall were you not? Al was seuvs
'"o,'"mYou were exposing corruption? Al was try
'oNwm you please state some, of the causes
hat hath timey &rfsat IS kind Of broad question
Q-No enc can answer that question better than
;sat answer Al think the main cause as exist
ing a. that time. was the construction OF butnh,c
s MSIE o,s ssp 10 get part Of the punder
Q-opportunIties that came 10 them hrst, Dee
in held together in political relations, controlling
hs tons IN PUBLIC maj5ers 90 cause ws human
istute. suppose .,.,..o Tho
9HgTSn nai is5 S w}h ,S SpPO stUe
WAS not the condition then something IKE
r,.,fb r"ntroied the Offices Through which public
woik Uss done. and these mon acted together m
eSsitd tossther for the purpose of their own
,lre? AIWen. we supposed al that time that
,.ttiy Mat " they called quartet or something
O. that kind forget exactly the slang OF ,nS dSS
wtre not controlled by any especially moral person
TwEED's DAY RECALLED.
Q.-They looked upon the patronage which came
through their positions. as legitimate matters for
them TO use foi their own beneht-they came TO be-
lieve that. did they not. and they acted upon It?
A-The direct method at that time was simply this:
That bills were required and they were required to
be rendered for larger amounts than were to be
Maid 10 the men who rendered them, and the sur
plus over and above the amount that was given TO
them was given TO the people who controlled the
POLITICAL situation at that time. some OF whom were
once hoders-I guess they were all office holders
o.-But one was not? Al do not remember who
o.-wss not the man whom you prosecuted out
Of Office? Whom do you mean o,,,cs, .-yes he
wa did he hS% at tie ms ESS cf
Public Works or Commissioner Of Pubic works at
lie was a Senator Maybe he Commissioner
OF Public Works at the time. II you hsd ADVISED
S ne ssfR R"ve prepared GeT mys 70 """'
o-I think you have covered what J wanted In
Directly abou, the matter Of judicial assessment
and judicial patronage. | ask you because you are
a leader Of the Bar and are so recognized ana your
opinion and knowledge on any subject is generally
considered In the profession OF great importance
general belief and common rumor In the legal pro-
esson that judicial candidates are assessed 6 for
yes IL is generally assumed: ~
6-It il generally assumed? A.-Either for the
nomination or for the election. an assessment In
some way. quite a large sum. ,.,.u
discussed with You that very sct And protested in
conversation against the condition which made !,
ne,es,aryF No, don fact K JuSges have spoken to
me OF assessments. and the deputy
BIG JUDICIAL ASSESSMENTS
Isn't II the general rumor at the Bar, the gen.
erai belief OF members OF the Bar and the state
rnents Of judges made 10 you, as you have said-do
they not indicate the payment of large sums OF
money as judicial assessments. thousands OF dollars
at d time? Al suppose the amount of pay would
range somewhere between $4,000 and $4,000. don't
cay any money was paid; say the amount talked
o.-isn't il also well recognized fact at the Bar
70 the knowledge OF all practising members Of Inc
srm aos poiitcsi reasons TO persons whose main
qualifications won't say Quaifcations-out per,
Al know very little about references no more
shan the current talk: anybody tell 1t just as
no doubt that great many references going
On In my Office not before referees. but cases.
$ Q-You don't have any referees appointed In youI
ONCE? Al am not aware OF anybody appointed In
The ps, S DON'T h sEee %as sn BE- do yO ANo
o-Isnt /, matter Of general kIoTledse among
Cd de mainly from Political eonsdera'iOns Isn't that
n condition? A.-Let me correct my prior answer
given moment ago, Wntn SdlC tnat Olun re-
member OF anybody being appointed. 40 remem
Der tina, my nephew, who is partner OF mine
some years ago appointed referee two or three
times or half dozen times more or less; quite q
number OF cases: he had just come to New-York
and imagine II was personal matter
GA personal matter with some judge who knew
him. A.-A personal compliment. or 4 sort OF 9
courtesy OF some judge who did II either through
my brother or myself.
OWN you answer the general question which
have asked you about the whole matter OF refer
ences al understood by the Bar? A.-Wel think
that referees are 10 great degree appointed with
reference 10 the judges recognition OF the political
party or political organization that has elected him
Q-And that Is the general belief. is n not Mr.
Peckham? Al think that is the general belief.
Q.-And Is II not with reference 10 the APP
polntees OF the judges and the who are at
work In the Clerks once. that they appointed
in the same way? Al can say In word what
] suppose every knows well as do. they
have just much basis for knowledge that the
3udges OF the courts here recognize their obligation
20 The political organization which elected them.
and they have desire 70 carry out in the distri-
button OF the patronage that belongs TO them the
recognition OF that party.
DEGRADING TO THE COURTS.
o.-poes tina, tend TO the dignity OF the court In
the @; the people and in abe eyes OF the pro-
fsssien? A--wsl, don't think 81 does. and thiuk