The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-07-25
Facts About CleveIand's Ve-
toes.

Philadelphia Times; The grounds upon
which it is sought to create prejudice
against Governor Cleveland are bis vetoes
of the ive-ceut- fare bill, the mechanics
lien bill and the bill regulating the hours
of labor Of drivers and conductors of horse
cars.
The bill fixing the fare on the elevated
railways at five cents sbrogated right
vested in the corporation by a previous Leg
islature. In that act the regulation Of fares
was distinctly surrendered by the State un-
til the net earnings should reach given
sum. In spite Of the agreement in the con
tract the Legislature Of 1888 passed bill
making uniform rate of fare of five cents
The Governor vetoed it on the ground tha
the Legislature could not abrogate vested
right There was not the slightest doubt
that the courts of the State would have tax
en- the same view.
That the proposed reductions were only
OF the slightest interest to workingmen is
shown by the fact that the rate had long
been five cents from half-past four to half
past eight a. m, and from half-past four to
hslf-past seven p. N. The reduction Of
fares at other hours in the day was mani
fest advantage to bankers, brokers, business
men and am usement seekers, but not Of
the smallest interest to laborng men and
mechanics, who already had the privileges
the vetoed bill conferred Opposition to the
veto was shoGt-ived, and feeling Of sat
isfacton followed that one man had been
found who had the pluck and TIE intelli-
gence to oppose such futile Legislation even
at the risk of mourning popular disapproval.
The Governor also iDterposed his veto TO
the mechanics lien bill. The original in
tention of this bill was to give mechanics
power to secure their wages by the means
of liens. But it was so amended that its
purpose was either obscured or lost. 1t
gave parties four months after performance
of work or furnishing of material to file a
lien, period ridculously prolonged. 1t
also allowed the same costs as in fore
closures, which, in the case of small bills,
would have been onerous as to eat them up
entirely. But, worst Of all, it repealed ex-
istng mechanics lien laws, which were far
more favorable to the working people than
the new law. 1t was found to be a scheme
to make increased lawyers bill and to di-
minish the protection afforded the me
chanic. The Governor very properly &C
copied the lesser evil and vetoed the de
fective bill.
The bill making twelve hours day.
work for conductors and drivers on street
cars did not, in any way, prohibit the
making ofa contract requiring any number
of hours work, and if it had the Governor
very aptly objected that it was an inter
ference with the rights of the employees as
well as employers. 1t was plain that if the
car drivers and conductors worked fewer
hours they would receive less pay, and the
bill neither did nor could prevent that
The Governor concluded his objections by
saying, II cannot think this bill is in the
interest Of the workingmen.'
One charge remains against Governor
Cleveand's vetoes. The last Legislature
made small appropriation for charitable
institution known as the Westchester Cath
Ole Protectory. The Governor struck it
out, and the charge has been made that he
was hostile to the,Catholic Church as such.
Mr.. Henry L. Hoguet, President of the
Protectory, says on this question;
1--WE never doubted the sincerity of the
motive which induced Governor Cleveland
to withhold his signature to the appropria-
| ton to the protectory. We thought then