New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-26
ROOSEVELT'S OWN VIEW.
LOOKS UPON HIMSELF AS A CITIZEN OF
OYSTER BAY.

But. UNKNOWN TO THE COLO
MEL HAD BEEN PREVENT
ED BY DEATH
Colonel Roosevelts friends in oyster Bay salts.
fed themselves perfectly yesterday that the
Colonel has clear case to present in defence Of
his right to be considered a legal resident Of
New-fork State. Elihu Root has in his possess
sion the documentary evidence which will prove
the case, they say beyond the possibility OF
doubt. 1t was known yesterday that Colonel
Roosevelt was exceedingly anxious that the let
ters and other documents upon which he relied
to prove his eligibility for the nomination for
Governor should be printed this morning in the
newspapers. He and his friends made every
effort to find Mr.. Root. in order that the publica-
ton might be made without delay. but they were
unsuccessful Colonel Roosevelt is calmly con-
fident that Mr.. Roots presentation Of the case
will clear up all doubt although he will not
make personal statement for publication.
Colonel Roosevet's view Of the case 1t was
learned yesterday from friend. Is as follows:
The Colonel cast his first vote in 1880 at
Oyster Bay. Then he became resident OF
New-York for term of years, was voter
there. and member Of the Legislature from q
New-York Assembly district. While he was
Civil Service Commissioner from 1889 to 1894.
he had his Office in Washington but he voted
in Oyster Bay. In 1895 he made Police
Commissioner Of New-York City, and he hen
lived and voted in New-York City in the
XXIXth Assembly District. On April g. 1897.
while resident Of New-York, at No. 6S9 Madi-
son-ave.. he resigned his Police Commissioner
ship to become Assistant Secretary o. the Navy.
and moved to Washington. but the lease OF his
Madison-ave. house did not expire until Octo-
in oyster Bay and he informed the assessors
OF the village that he was resident OF New
York City. and paid his taxes there.
PAID THE TAX HERE.
In 1895 and 1896, while in New-York. he had
paid his personal tax here. though he need not
have done So On october 1. 1897. when the
lease Of his house expired, he once more be-
came a legal resident Of oyster Bay and he 50
considers himself at the present time.
He considers it significant that while Civil
Serv,ce Commissioner with his Office in Wash
ington. he voted in oyster Bay. He recalls incl
dents Of the elections Of 1893 and 1884 In oyster
Bay He remembers how in '93 he heard AT
oyster Bay Of John Y. McKane's high-handed
proceedings at Gravesend. and how the results
| OF NcKanes work were talked Of before the bal
loting was over.
It was hen that he made out the affidavit which
Louis F. Payn made public. signing II only
after receiving the positive assurance OF John
r. Roosevelt. his lawyer that the affidavit would
not Interfere with his domicie in New-York
State ard after giving explicit instructions to
John E. Roosevelt, and also to his brother-in-
law Douglas Robinson, who had charge OF MS
property not to have the affidavit filed II 1t In
terfered in any degree with the question OF his
legal residence. He wrote letter stating that
II there was any doubt on the point he desired
to pay the NcwYork tax. even though he did
not consider that he could he held for 1t, rather
than have it jeopardize his domcile He had
lost his vote in 1897 by moving his legal resi-
| dence from New-York to Oyster Bay in October.
only month before election, and when he wrote
TO his lawyer he instructed him emphatically to
take no action that would make him lose his
vote for the second consecutive year
| At the time of his sending on the affidavit he
was exceedingly busy finishing up his work In
the Navy Department preparing for the war
! and arranging for the raising of his regiment OF
Rough Riders He was so busy that he did not
have time to visit oyster Bay to look after his
personal affairs Immediately after this he
Joined his regiment. and then spent the summer
| in Cuba Meanwhile James A. Roosevelt had
|
put on the books OF oyster Bay for his taxes.
but James A. Roosevelt died before he had 1t
done
When the Colonel came back from Cuba he
| made no inquiry on the subject, supposing that
! the matter had been adjusted as he had d.
rected and he did not know until Saturday that
his name had not been put on the books Of
| Oyster Bay for the personal tax.
QUIET SUNDAY.
! Colonel Roosevelt passed Sunday quietly with
his family at Oyster Bay. When asked for an
interview he said that Mr.. Root had his case
and he did not care 10 discuss it. He had sew
eral callers who visited him to express their
| kind wishes for him. When asked about his
| plans for to-day. he said he expected to s
in Oyster Bay. bit that he might go to the city
| for a few hours
The Colonel does not deny that he sent from
! Washington to the oyster Bay assessors the
affidavit referred to in yesterdays Tribune an
nouncing that in 1897 he a resident OF
! New-York He says. however. that he made
out the affidavit in July and not in September.
as James c. Waldron. the asses or lid The
neople of oyster Bay say he was justified In
doing this inasmuch he was peyirg his per-
sonal tax in New-work, especially as the asses
sors had raised his assessment from $1,000 to
$1,000 It is we'll known in Oyster Bay and
the neighboring towns that the ColonePs taxes
have been exceedingly high. Although his Oys-
ter Bay property cost him $4,000 ne assessors
valued 1t at $4,000 >;r 1897 Through James
A. Roosevelt he had the assessment reduced to
$40 600 but this Is still $4,000 more than II
cost him.
Colonel Roosevelt said he was not certain
whether he would remain N oyster Bay to-day
or go to New York He might do either. He had
a lot OF work he ought TO do at home, and II he
went to the city this would have to suffer. He