He was Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, participated in the corrupt proceedings of the Tweed Ring, and received bribes, for example a check for 2200 USD in June 1870.
On January 3, the State Senate convened and, on motion of Jacobs, suspended Rule 3 which gave the Lieutenant Governor the right to appoint the standing committees.
Thereafter, the elections of the Clerk and the President pro tempore of the State Senate were deadlocked, with the majority of the Democrats holding on to Jacobs, the Tammany men voting for John G. Boyd, and the Republicans for Dennis McCarthy.
The deadlock was broken on February 15 when the Republicans and the Tammany men voted to restore Rule 3, and rumors of a bargain appeared.
George G. Hoskins announced the members of the committees, giving 5 out of 15 chairmanships to the three Tammany men, and no President pro tempore was chosen for this session.