New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
DEPARTMENT OF LAW


general somnolence like TO ;hat Of Rip Van
-,-,,-le marked the Law Department Of this city
Scr tho Tsr1nlafly regime. Hand in hand
- this duierude went neglect Of the city's
,-..-rs-s y hich permitted affairs like the Dock
-os-s scandals. the notorious lodging Of per
"a taxes and the assessment Of the property
- -ar-rary leaders at about one-third Of its
-,-ket value. The Law Department would not
.,,,se the power % Tammany Hall. as exempt
sss IN ihe workings 81 tho various other
.-g,.bes or the city administration SO q calmly
-s,t or into the corner and dozed while law
sri.s accumulated against the city. judgments
-,r-sse7tine millions were being confessed. and
-. -itv was being 'buncoed~ all along the line
~ Tsrruauy braves Incorporating as real es-
.s-e dealers or auctioneers. who sold property
vbich early information had enabled them to
,.,,- ,-of7tably. Speculation OF this kind made
-soh many leaders.
Because Of this feeling OF incompetencv the
,--e-ral economy of the department was rusty
,,5 disused. There was little pretence to sys-
.s-, in the transaction Of such business a. was
done II the bureau which was supposed to at
.s,s 70 The collection OF arrears OF personal
axes affairs were q cnaos. Such money as Was
collected was deposited whenever the clerks
hsruened TO think o. it, Some Of il was not de-
posted. one clerk took a fancy TO some sI.SeO
Il the cftv's money ana vas not able TO re-
rf-7.ffsr =. This discovered when The fusion
s5ni-fsr alton undertook 10 untangle the snsrl.
led 10 his dismissal and arrest On criminal
CHARGES The money was afterward refunded.
I- Brooklyn conditions were much worse than
n TIE main bureau. Before consolidation no
fs-sl steps were ever taken 20 enforce the pay
r-ert Of personal taxes. and the same principle
was followed after consolidation Notices were
sem cut and il the persons chose TO pay the
money they were not sent away. but no suits
were ever begun TO cause payment
Although LITTLE work was done. a STAFF Of 132
men was employed. and the annual salaries list
mounted up 10 SOB % - A place in the Law
DEPARTMENT was a nice reward Tor faithful ser
-fras 20 Tauuany. The Office OF Junior As
s.s-art Corporate Counsel had been put IN the
competitive class Ct The Municipal Civil Service.
ar- until The end OF the Tammauy rule no ex-
existence no eligible list There were. too.
----- exempt places which offered cOnsidera bic
--t~tcrion for the faithful
The DEPARTMENT was deluEed under a mass Of
suits fC- damages. 70 recover wages due TO en-
force the payment Of bills. Many Of these
-lrd on rest cases. which. il they had been
.--iL-6. would have left room for the others 20
ZONE 20 trial They were not pushed. however
md. q result when the fusion administration
anne into power. there were more than five
-roUSanl su--s brought against the city FOR ad-
aitionol wages The bureau which handled
condemnation proceedings was over its head in
unfinished business, which was still unfinished
~ the last OF 1901. Delay might have been
he wztchword q the department.
The department seemed 20 think that Queens
needed branch Office. Il had one-at No 80
f-os6Esv, IL Manhattan