New-York tribune., 1883-06-07
4 DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR on 4 DEM
OCR1TIC LEGISLATURE

OthHIIC LLUtoiS.i thb"
Not few scathing criticisms have been
passed upon the character end achievements of
the late Legislature. But it was reserved for
Governor Cleveland to pronounce the severest
Judgment upon them. Faithful are the
wounds OF friend" The wounds which the
Governor, in his Supply bill vetoes inilicts upon
n co. coordinate branch of the State Government,
the responsibility for whose administration
rests upon Democratic Senators and Assembly
men. may be faithful as old dog Tray, but
they certainly are as deep as n well.
How came the Governor to veto about half
the amount of the entire Supply bill Be-
cause.r proclaim his ardent but inconsiderate
Democratic admirers because he is intelli-
gent, economical and trustworthy" Very
good. But does it not then follow that the
reason why the bill came to need so much
prunine at his hands was because the DEM
ocratic Legislature was not intelligent, was
not economical, was not trustworthy 7 Your
Democratic editor who is now en- gagged in
praising the Supply bill vetoes to the skies.
seems to lose sight of the fact that the exercise
in which he is engaged, although exceedingly
pleasant to Mr.. Cleveland, must be exceed
inplv painful to SO much OF Democratic states
manship as was included in the late Senate aud
Assembly. Here is The Albany Argus, for
instance, asserting that the yetoes Hall bear
evidence of faithful study, conscientious en-
@deavor and resolute purpose to sec and do
srightr The,inference is unavoidable that the
Supply bill would not have needed the Govern
or's rigorous and depicting attention had it not
been tor the fact that the Legislature that
nassed il failed to give it faithful study
failed to be inspired by "a conscientious en-
adeavor and resolute purpose to see and do
@right."
The truth is that in striking out OF the
Supplv bill seventy-seven items calling for
$3.50, ,704 80, Governor Cleveland condemned
in the most emphatic manner both the character
and the capacity of the Legislature of 1888.
The Supply bill was originally prepared by the
Finance Committee of the Senate, of which
John C.. Jacobs is chairman, and the Ways and
Means Committee of the Assembly, of which
Erastus Brooks was chairman. Of course it
was amended and revised by the committees Of
the whole of the two houses and the confer
ence committees, but still as it went to the
Governor it was, in large sense, the bill OF
these two sagacious and experienced legisla-
tors who are TO be presumed to know what Is
and is not fit and proper Supply bill. 1t must
be notifying in the extreme to Jacobs, premier
of the Senate, and to Brooks, premier of the
House. TO read this veto message. One sot of
items is objected to because the compensation
named was clearly disproportioned to the
| value of services rendered; another because
the great bulk of the claims arc for eIprndi-
| lures ain plain violation of the law" third
because no service has been rendered; fourth
because the expenditure at this time of public
money for such pupose is @entirely unjust
ifable and improper; ffth on constitu-
tional grounds; a ,ixth because "publc Off
u acials having the money of the people in their
skeeping are solemnly charged with the duty
u of expending the same with due regard to
sbusiness principles y; a seventh because ap-
preparations should bo confined to the purpose
for which they are granted; an eighth because
q the State ought not to pay twice for the same
services"
Senator Jacobs. Assemblyman Brooks and