The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-11-21
HIS DUTY PERFUNCTORY.
THAT'S WHAT ASSEMBLY CLERK
1OO1BS HIMSELF THINKS


Either Passaic or Atlnntic-Aspects of
the Legislative Middle at this Time.
PATERSON, Nos.. 19.-[SPEcIAL There
was little or no interest taken in the re-
count to-day of the ballots on which Dono-
hue, the Labor candidate for Assembly in
the Second district, was declared elected.
Brown, his Republican competitor, had
asked for the recount because he had been
deceived by the figures given in the local
morning papers published here Judge
Dixon had not gone far with the recount
before Brown himself became disguised,
and asked the Cour. to abstain from prose-
cutting tie enquiry farther. The resRlt is
of course that Donohue is undisturbed in
his majority. A dispatch sent to me from
Atlanuc City this afternoon, concerning the
recount of the Senatorial and Assembly
votes in Atlantic county, which was finished
this afternoon, contains the information
that the Atlantic recount amounted to as
little as the recount here. Gardeners ma
iority for Senator is increased from 40 to
Al, and Beckwlth's majority of 10 is un-
disturbed.
Thus far twelve recounts of votes have
been ordered and with that in this city
to-day eleven have been decided. The
only effect of those thus far made has been
to confirm and strengthen the majorities
originally declared for the candidates.
except in two instances. The tie in the
Third Passaic district was broken, as an
nounced in these columns last Sunday
morning; and an apparent tie was made in
the Mercer county district, from which
Walters, Democrat, was originally granted
certificate of election. The Democrats
broke the Passaic tie in their own favor,
and gained vote there, while, notwith-
standing the tie in the Mercer district,
they do not seem to have lost an already
counted Democratic vote there. The Mer-
Ger Board of Canyas5ers had granted Walt
ers, the Democratic candidate in the con-
tested Second district of that county,
certificate of election, and Chief Justice
Beasley refused to revoke it. He had no
right, be said, to revoke one certificate of
election unless he could give it to some one
else; and the tie he declared to exist there
makes it impossible for him to give GER
tiicate to Mr.. Walters's Republican OPP
ponent. There IS yet one vote claimed by
the Democrats, but not allowed by the
Chief Justice, that should assure Mr..
Walters his seat. On this vote Jones
name had been printed. Without erssing
it the voter had written Walterss name.
Several decisions have declared that the
vote, in such contingency, should be
counted for the man whose name is written
upon it, In q recount IL the Third district
of Monmouth in 1880, Judge Scudder
made that ruling, and it is in accordance
with rulings made In other States. Walt
ers will probably claim that his certificate
entities him to the scat anyhow; and the
Assembly, if it is not particularly Repub-
lican, will count the one disputed ballot
for him and let him keep his seat. The
Republicans are getting ready to manipu-
late him by reminding him that he is a
Knight of Labor, and that the proper
thing for him to do is to stand out against
the Democratic caucus, as the Paterson
knights of Labor threaten to do. But
Mr. Walters will not forget that ne was
elected as Democrat or neglect to vote as
a Democrat
These recounts practically determine the
political complexion of the next Legisla-
ture. In order TO make ground for contest
of Democratic seats, it will now be neees-
sary for the Republicans to show that the
ascertained majorities were achieved by
frand; but of this, except possibly in
Beckwith's district = Atlantic county
where formal irregularity, but no fraud,
is charged, there has been no talk Count
ing two Labor Assemblymsn-eiect from
this county, who, | have no doubt, will act
with the Democrats eventually, the Demo-
Gratis have ~ votes on joint ballot against
80 Republican votes With Walters III a
seat they have 80 votes in the Assembly
With him and without the two Labor can
didates, they have clear majority of the
Eouse-31 votes. The organization is
therefore in their hands, unless, as took
the liberty Of suggt sting in advance Of
every body else in your columns two or
three weeks ago, Clerk Toombs attempts
some thimble-rigging with the enrolment
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr.. Toombs
the other day, and talked with him of
his prospective action at the organiza-
ton.
II am going to do nothing, he said
ssthat is not fair and honorable. am not
a member Of the new House, nor an officer
of it; and l don't see that I can do any
thing in the matter except to go to the
Secretary of State, get from him list of
the members-elect, based on the certificates
of election flied in his Office, and recognize
and. count them at the organization. 1t
Is not for me TO say that man who has
been declared elected is not entitled 70 o
seat. That is for the House itself-the
Judge of the return and election of its
own members under the Constitution-to
determine. have lawyer inquiring into
my duty In the premises. | shall do my
duty and no more; and you may rest
assured that shall lend myself to no par
tisan trieK whatever"
There are broad 'intimations that ex-
Assemblyman Pintard will contest for the
seat from the Third Monmouth district
awarded to Grover 81. Lufburrow. Mr..
Lufburrow, who is Republican, ran
against Mr.. Pintard at the late election.
and distanced him. Mr.. Lufburrow, it is
now said, is ineligible because of non-resi-
dence. GAS we understand it," says the
Monmouth Democrat.
1t is claimed that it is not enough that he
shall be resident, but that he must be an
irlhdbitdnt of the district from which he
,,oou boxa 1,acu aIaotad m ha al;o;t.Io