The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-04-10
Unseated Sheriff of Mon
mouth Has a Bill Intro
dunod to Keep Him In Of
flee Pending Quo War
ranto Proceedings
COLBY AND MIaTURN FIGHT
THEY SUCCEED IN DEFEATING
THE VICIOUS MEASURE IN THE
SENATE. BUT AssEAIBLYMAN
REED GETS IT THROUGH THE
HOUSE.
Special to s.The Jersey city News

Special to ..The Jersey city News.'9
TRENTON, April 10, 1906-Former
Senator 0. Asa Francis, the Republican
@boss' of Monmouth County, who was
unseated as Sheriff Of that county yes
terday by decision given by Supreme
Court Justice Hendrickson, at Freehold,
that Charles E. Close, Democrat, was
elected by six votes, as shown by a re
count of the votes polled, is making a
game fight to retain his office, He has
appealed to his Republicans friends in
the Legislature to pass law which will
enable him to retain his office pending a
decision in quo warrantos proceedings
which he intends TO institute and in
which the Court of Errors will review
Justice Hendrickson's decision.
While the Monmouth Shrieyalty re-
count was in progress Mr.. Francis proud
ly boasted that he would not give up his
office, regardless of Justice Hendrick.
sons decision. He declared the Repub-
lcan Legislature would pass a law
which would enable him to hold the Of
fee until his term expired.
Under the present law defeated can
didate. so declared by Supreme Court
Justice, has no option but to surrender
his office and then if he desires TO APP
peal he can do so by quo warranto pro-
ceedings. Pending the decision of the
Court. he would not be entitled to the
fees of his office This was something
that Francis did not care to lose. The
Monmouth Sheriff's office pays about
$4,000 year in fees.
Senator Brown, of Monmouth, came
to Mr.. Francis's rescue by introducing
a bill which, it it be enacted into law,
will enable Mr.. Francis to retain the
office of Sheriff pending a decision in quo
warranto proceedings, thus preventing
Mr. Close from taking possession. The
Democrats of Monmouth discovered the
colored gentleman in the bill and appeal
ed to Senators Minturn and Colby for re
dress. They claimed that the intent of
the bill was to deprive Mr.. Close of the
Sheriff's office
Both Senators Minturn and Colby saw
through the scheme and they fought the
bill when it was taken up in the Senate
last Thursday as strongly as they knew
how They claimed that it was vicious
legislation intended to forestall and frus-
trate the decision of the Supreme Court.
They made such a severe attack on the
bill that its advocates We're forced to lay
it over until last night, when Senator
Brown offered several amendments which
We're so framed as to make its provisions
only apply to the Monmouth situation
In Senator Mintur1's absence Senator
Colby strongly opposed the amend
ments. He termed them inexcusable and
said that if they were intended to keep
a Republican Sheriff in office in defiance
Of the decision of the Supreme Court he,
as Republican, would vote against
them Mr.. Colby's attack was so sting
ing that not even the administration Sen
ators who had promised Senator Francis
to support the Brown amendments had
the required nerve to stand by their
promise. The Brown amendments were
defeated by vote of II to 5.
Senator Colby then offered several
amendments to the Brown bill which will
enable Mr. Francis to carry on his con-
test for the Sheriff by squo warranto
proceedings, but which stipulate that he
must give up the office to his Democratic
opponent pending the courts final de
cision These amendments were adopt
ed and will to all purposes leave the law
in its present shape.
Former Senator Francis, who was
present, was so chagrined that the SEN
ate refused to adopt the Brown amend
ment but sanctioned those offered by NJ.
Colby, that he appealed to the Monmouth
Assemblymen in the House for redress.
He induced Mr.. Reed. of Monmouth, to
propose the amendments which the SEN
ate had defeated to Assembly 513, which
is identical to the Brown bill and which
is still IN committee.
Assemblyman Martin, the Colby lead
er, strenuousiy opposed them. saying that
II was the most iniquitous legislation
ever attempted since the days Of Demo-
lcsatic ring rule, and that Il It was adopt