SAMUEL SEABURY

Ability and fitness for the office, where they exist, are as a rule, purely accidental. The selection is made primarily to strengthen the power of the party. This explains the principle by which appointments are parceled out to meet the alleged claims of particular political districts; it also explains the even more vicious principle by which race, nationality and creed often dictate the selection of Magistrates.

He has demonstrated his incompetence to hold the said office of Sheriff, by reason of his ignorance of the duties of his office and the laws of this State pertaining to the same, and by reason of the appointment to and retention in office under him of incompetent and unworthy persons; that he has sworn falsely under oath at public hearings before the Joint Legislative Committee; that he has failed to account for or to explain the receipt and possession of large sums of money in excess of his salary as a public officer or income received from any admitted occupation or from investments, upon all of which grounds and by reason of any and all the charges hereinabove enumerated, it is respect fully submitted that said Thomas M. Farley should cease to be an incumbent of the office of Sheriff of New York County.

He has demonstrated his incompetence to hold the said office of Sheriff, by reason of his ignorance of the duties of his office and the laws of this State pertaining to the same, and by reason of the appointment to and retention in office under him of incompetent and unworthy persons; that he has sworn falsely under oath at public hearings before the Joint Legislative Committee; that he has failed to account for or to explain the receipt and possession of large sums of money in excess of his salary as a public officer or income received from any admitted occupation or from investments, upon all of which grounds and by reason of any and all the charges hereinabove enumerated, it is respect fully submitted that said Thomas M. Farley should cease to be an incumbent of the office of Sheriff of New York County.

Ability and fitness for the office, where they exist, are as a rule, purely accidental. The selection is made primarily to strengthen the power of the party. This explains the principle by which appointments are parceled out to meet the alleged claims of particular political districts; it also explains the even more vicious principle by which race, nationality and creed often dictate the selection of Magistrates.