The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-21
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QUO WARRANTO
Governor Werts Takes the
Senate Middle Into the
Supreme Court.
PETITION HEARD BY TIE FULL BENCH
Both Presidents, Adrain and
Rogers, Summoned to Make 5
Good Their Claims,
JUDGE BEAEEt GRANTS THE WRIT.
Hearing Set for Monday, March 5,
Dispositions to Be Taken
in the Meantime.
JUDGE BEAaEY GRANTS 7HE WRIT.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
Special to the Jersey City Ne,cs.

SpeciQt 10 tHt JcIetS Guy &'SeSos
TRENTON, Feb. 81, 1S94-A few minutes
before two o'clock today Attorney General
Stockton, Ex-Judge Stevens and Richard V.
Lindabury appeared before the Supreme
Court and on the relation of Geo. T. Werts,
Governor, asked for rule to show cause
why writs of gao leaaTanto should not be
issued against Senator Adrain and Senator
Rogers.
On the bench were Chief Justice Beasley,
Justice Depew, Van Syckle, Garrison. Lip
pincott, Reid and Magee.
The Attorney General briefly reviewed
the facts in the Senatorial muddle, and said
that all good citizens were anxious to have
it settled.
The Chief Justice said that the usual way
was to have such motions heard by the
Branch Court, but in case like this he
thought it well to have the full bench of
nine judges to hear the matter.
This was declared satisfactory to the
counsel
sThe writ will issue as matter of course,
the Chief Justice said.
After some discussion, Monday, March 5,
was fixed as the day for argument
Counsel for the Governor gave notice late
this afternoon that depositions in the case
would be taken by them Saturday morning
before s. Meredith Dickinson, Supreme
Court Commissioner at Trenton.
THE PETITION
The petition spoken of by the Attorney
General cites the facts connected with the
organization of the Democratic Senate as
they appear by the Journal of that body. 1t
describes the preliminary organi-
cation by the nine hold-over
Democratic Senators and also the organlza-
tion effected by the eleven Republicans. The
petition goes on to say that said Robert
Adrain and Maurice A. Rogers have each,
ever since the organization of the
bodies by which they were respec-
lively elected, claimed to be the Presi
dent of the State of New Jersey
and as such possessed of all the rights powers
and privileges of that office. including the
right to sit in the various boards constituted
by the laws of this State, of which the Pres
ident of the Senate, also is member ex-
office, and also claims the right, in case of
death, resignation or removal from Office of
the Governor. to exercise the powers and
duties and recover the competency of the
office of Governor. That the interests of the
people of this State being greatly impeded
by the conflicting claims of the said Maurice
A. Rogers and Robert Adrain to the
office of President of the Senate, and that
speedy termination thereof is imperatively
demanded in the interest of good govern
ment and public order.
The petition concluded :-"Your petitioner
therefore prays that this honorable court
will grant to him leave to exhibit
an information in the nature
of quo aoarranto in the name
of the Attorney General on the relation of
your petitioner against the said Maurice A
Rogers and Robert Adrain, to inquire by
what warrant they and each of them claim
to have, use and enjoy the said office of
President of the Senate of the State of New
Jersey"
The affidavit as to the facts of the petition
is made by Governor Werts on knowledge,
information and belief.