The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
%GRIFENHAGEN HITS
AT SHERIFF'S FEES
Reports to Governor on Man.
ner in Which He Has Con-
Quoted the office.
WAS READY FOR |. W. w.

Max :. Grifeuhagen. whose term rs
Sheriff expired on December 81, has sub
mitted n report OF the manner in which
he conducted the Office to Gov. Whitman.
In doing so he explained that although he
was not required to file a rcpor; by law
he believed the suggestions in 1t might be
useful to the Governor IN the event that
the proposition to abolish the Office of
Sheriff comes before him.
Mr.. Grlfenhagen advised the Governor
that there was no .esson why the Office
should be continued except for tho me-
cessity of having some statutory officer
to see that the mandates of the courts
are carried out FIX Sheriff Grifenhagen
believes that the sheriff as a peace Of
fcer" has outlived his usefulness be-
cause OF the present efficient condition
Of the Police Department.
The ex-SheriT believes that the fees
Of the Sheriff should be abolished and
thinks that even a salary OF $4,000.
now received by the sheriff in addition to
his fees, is more than he really earns.
Was Ready for J.. W. W.
The eS-Sherif reports as follows con-
corning the only occasion on which he
took steps to cooperate with the Police
Department, in keeping the peace:
"In the spring Of 1914 "A body known
~ the !. W. W. became active In tho
county of New York and threatened to
destroy property and do other injury.
srnnHA NJ, atfatR,t 10 tnt.farn ,sftl, ,l,a
Fork of the Police Department. believing
as ! did that that department was fully
capable OF meeting the situation. ! did.
however. keep in touch with the depart
ment and kept myself Informed as to the
efforts being made by the Police Depart
ment to prevent Injury to person and
property. and made arrangements in case
the situation got beyond the control Of
the police department to have at my
ommand an organized uniformed force.
unnecessary for me to identify in this
report. which would have quickly taken
hold Of the situation"
The retiring sheriff believes that the
duty Of transporting all prisoners TO
Sing Sing and the island penal ins;itu-
lions should he turned over to the De-
partment of Correction. lie say that
during his two years term his deputies
CViIcNltu JuuS iltltS ttHTtSdtIlk fl,VtU,-
527, less the statutory fees. He says
ne reduced the number of special deputy
sherirs appointed by the late Sheriff
Hamburger from 200 to l27, and the
appointments he made were only for the
purpose of preserving the peace and
guarding private property where the uni
formed police were not stationed.
Hits At Ludlow jail.
1fr. Grifenhagen repeats his previously
expressed opinion that Ludlow street
Jail should be abolished. and says that
rpen who refuse 20 pay alimony should
he sent to "a real jail" while impris-
ohment for debt should be abolished en-.
tlrely. He expects to continue AS a
private individual his efforts to have
Ludlow street Jail lone away with.
concerning his compensation Mr.. Grit
Gnhagen said that In 1914 he got fees
of 84%.629 in addition to his salary of
$4,000. and for the last year the fees
amounted to about the same. The re-
firing Sheriff says:
my experience of two years In the
Sherif's office has convinced ne that
even without the legislation suggested
by ME the salary allowed the sheriff of
New York is excessive. The Sheriff is
BY statute provided with the service
Of counsel to be selected by him, assis-
tant counsel and "A law clerk. Tie
counsel. assistant, counsel and law clerk
are paid by the county. Properly ad-
vised by counsel, the possible liability OF
the Sheriff is negligible. In recent years
no Sheriff has been compelled to pay any
substantial amount by way of damages.
Il strongly recommend. therefore. that
without regard to legislation proposed
by me, eliminating personal responsible
ity OF the Sheriff, the compensation
might well be substantially reduced.'