The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-27
RoosEvELT,s RESIDENCE

1t is probable that Col. Roosevelt will
be nominated by the Republican party of
New York to-day for Governor, and yet it
is not admitted by his opponents in his
own party that he is eligible. The ques-
ton of his eligibility turns on the question
of his place of residence during the last
year. 1t would seem to be an easy mat
ter to settle that question, but it isn't.
Yesterday we called attention to the fact
that Col. Roosevelt made an affidavit last
year to the effect that his residence was in
Washington. He did this because he was
living with his family in that city at the
time, holding the Office of Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy, and to avoid the pay
ment of personal taxes to the amount of
81 600, which had been assessed against
him by the city of New York, the place
OF his residence before he went to WASH
ington The Importance of the question
of residence is understood when it is
known that no one is eligible to the gov
ernorship of New York who has not resid-
ed in that state for five years continuously
Immediately prior to his election to that
office
The lawyers ought to have no difficulty
in agreeing as to whether or not Col
Roosevelt is eligible to the office of Gov
ernor, but they have. The president Of the
New York Civil Service Commission says
that he knows the constitution of the
state thoroughly, and that Col. Roosevelt
cannot legally hold the office of Governor
at this time. Mr.. Nelson Smith, one of
the great. constitutional lawyers of the
state and who was a member of the con-
vention which framed the present state
constitution, says that Col Roosevelt is
ineligible, principally because he made an
affidavit that he was not resident of the
state Other lawyers take the same view,
saying that as residence is largely a ques-
ton of intention, Col. Roosevelt's affidavit
shows that at the time he made it he did
not regard himself as a citizen of New
York. The colonel says that he was a
resident of Oyster Bay during the time
he was living in Washington-Oyster Bay
being his country place on Long Island.
But did he pay personal taxes at Oyster
Bay? If not, where did he pay his ger
sonal taxes? Did he pay them in WASH
ington?
There are plenty of Republican lawyers
who are positive that Col Roosevelt Is
eligible. They point TO the fact that john
Sherman has always held his residence
in Ohio, although he has lived continuous
" in Washington for more than twenty
years. But did Mr.. Sherman ever make
an affidavit that his residence was In
Washington? He was too shrewd TO do
that One of the ablest of the lawyers
who have given an opinion in favor of Col.
Roosevelt's eligibility says that the col
onel was mistaken when he declared that
he was a resident of Washington-that
what he meant to declare was that he was
no-longer a resident of New York city.
The majority of the lawyers are on the
! side of Col. Roosevelt, and II is probable
that he will be the Republican candidate
for Governor but in future he will be
more careful when he makes affidavits.
When he ewore that his residence was
Washington the governorship of New York
| was not within his field of vision.