New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
New York to Have No More Re
corders-Some Famous
Names.

By the passage Ct a bill by the Legislature
,,hich the Governor IS expected TO approve, the
old and honorable Office Of Recorder Of the city
OF New York viii be abolished, and after
January next this position. long held IN Veher-
alton by the people, viii be no more. The Recoroer
becomes one OF the judges OF General sessions
Some Of the most notable men in the history OF
the city have held the post of Recorder and have
been graduated from the Recorders court. Such
names as Livingston Kent Varick and Hoffman
stand out brilliantly in the annals Of this coun-
try's struggle for independence and the estan-
Iish.lent Of just laws. In the Capitol at WASH
ington stands the statue Of Livingston ana
similar memorials are TO be seen in New York
and other cities in honor Of Kent. Watts and
Varick, who occupied the Office.
Justice John W. Golf, who wore with distinc-
ton the mantle that fell from such shoulders as
these, tells an interesting history of the incep-
ton of the Office of Recorder, which is Of Eng
ush origin.
In the reign OF King John the Recorder Of
London was only a recorder Of criminal courts.
with no powers which did not then belong to
that Office The King was In great straits for
money He had on his hands an expensive war
with the Netherlands, and found himself short
Of funds with which 10 continue it. In this
emergency he appealed to the city Of London for
financial aid. His appeal had to be passed upon
by the IiVeries of London, q council made up
Of representatives Of the four great trades Of
that city, whose duty It also to elect the
Lord Mayor. The Liverles refused the Kings
appeal, which infuriated him that bitter
quarrel ensued between himself and the city Of
London in which he cut of the city of London
and declared that he would have nothing more
70 do with it.
The Recorder of London was a friend of King
John, and man noted for diplomacy. He
what we could call "a clever politician" He
remained friendly to the King, notwithstanding
the position taken by his fellow citizens against
that monarch.
AS the need of funds for carrying on the war
became more urgent the Kings advisers urged
him 70 make another appeal to London for aid.
AT this jJIncture he angrily declared that the
Recorder was the only in London that he
would speak to- The Recorder was approac ched
and eventually made peace between the King
and the people Of London and secured TO the
former the help he required The Recorder was
then held to be the intermediary between the
people and the Crown, Office which he has
held in certain ways. ever since.
After this the people of London. who hated the
Crown judges. insisted upon having Judge of
their own, TO be elected by themselves. King
John granted this request upon condition that
they would elect TO Office the Recorder of Lon
don who had so successfully adjusted matters
between them This was done and the Recorder
became the only judge elected by the peopIe
and also exercised peculiar powers besides those
OF his judicial Office. The survival Of his
medieval functions was illustrated at the dIa
mond jubilee OF Queen Victoria and again at
the coronation Of King Edward when the Re
coroer OF London-not the Mayor-delivered the
address to the Crown.