Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-09-23
Judges Martin and
Osborne Declare
Redistricting to Be
Wrong Under Law.
DECISION ON PLEA
OF NEWARK VOTER
Many Voters Unable to Get
Their Names on Polling
Lists, Owing to Provisions
of Geran Act.

Judges William p Martin and Harry
r. Osborne today declare the redis-
tricting of the city of Newark recent
ly made by the Common Council to
be Illegal.
The provisions of the Geran law,
their opinion recites, makes 1t impos-
sible for a municipality to change its
ward or district lines between the
20th of April and the general elections
OF any year
The opinion was handed down on
application of Charles Edward Soffetr
for a transfer from the district in
which he is registered to the district
In which he lives, according to the re-
districtng of the city.
Polls for the primary election will
open tomorrow morning at O'Clock
and close at in the evening
Much confusion has been caused by
the various provisions of the Geran
act, although interest in the election
has been keen. One hundred citizens
fumed and fretted for two hours at
the Court House today waiting to OBJ
tain transfers. Judge Martin was de-
tained in his chambers by unfinished
routine business and did not open
court until noon. The transfers were
then quickly granted
These apply, however, to the old
city districts, although the election Is
expected to take place according to
the new lines. This may cause some
confusion.
Judge Martin al noon sent to As
sistant City Clerk Martin G. Bross for
a list of the election officers appointed
In the thirty-two new districts by the
citizens of those districts. 1t was not
known for what purpose he required
the list.
Judge Could Do Nothing.
Congressman Edward w. Town
send, of Montclair, appeared before
the Judge in behalf of twenty-one
voters stricken from the list of the
Second district, Third ward. Mont
clair. These names were removed be-
cause the man who had registered
them by affidavit lived in another
district.
Judge Martin said that he could do
nothing under the Geran law.
DIR. Henry H Rusby. of 776 De
Graw avenue, who was a principal
In the famous Wilson Wiley con-
troversy. was among the local
voters stricken from the registry list
because he had registered in the
wrong district. He explained that
he had been directed by the officers
of the right district to the wrong
one and had there been accepted.
II am very sorry" said the judge,
'hut Isee no way of changing the
ruling of the election board. I shall
look further into the provisions of
the act. however"
Election Material Distributed.
City Counsel Nugent said today
that no citizen of Newark otherwise
entitled to vote could be prohibited
from so doing by reason of the redis-
tricting of the city. If voter finds
that he has registered in the wrong
district, Mr.. Nugent said. due to his
ignorance of the district lines. all he
need do is to apply to one of the
county judges for a transfer to his
proper voting place.
The election material was dis
tributed to the election officers at
the City Hall today. The Democratic
ballot boxes, books of 1911 and 1912,
and ballots were given to the Demo-
cratic officers, and the Republican
boxes and supplies to the Republic
can.
The officers were all instructed not
10 put the primary books or state
ment of the results in the ballot
boxes. The clerk will refuse to re-
ceive boxes which have them inside.
This practise of sealing up the rec
ords has caused much confusion in
former years
Lively Scenes at PostOffice.
There were lively scenes at the
Court House and the city Hall, but
the liveliest. scene of all was at the
postoffice. There Postmaster Frank
J. Book was tearing his hair in des-
pair.
His full staff was working fren-
ziedly to make some inroads into
100000 extra pieces of mail.
Between the Sunday closing law,
the election and Louis v. Aronson, the
poor postmaster was badly squeezed. |
While battling with the enormous
amount Of mali 1t is said that he
found time to try to get Mr.. Aronson
on the telephone.
1t seems that several trucks rolled
M TO the postoffice about midnight
with $4,000 letters containing Aronson
circulars. This, with $4,000 other
pieces of campaign literature, sufficed
TO keep the postoffice force working
all night.
OF chief and Statewide interest is
the Democratic Senatorial contest, |
which has now narrowed down to the
expression of preference between
former United States Senator James
Smith. jr of ,his city, and Congress
man William Hughes, of Paterson,
who was left In the race when former
Judge John w. Wescott was elimi- |
mated by 1.-The National Democratic
Committee Another contest which /
promises to be hot is that for the
Republican nomination for Mayor Of |