The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-07-18
The Facts about Oleveland's Vetoes.

.
The grounds upon which it Is sought
to create prejudice against Governor
Cleveland are his vetoes of the Eve
cent fare bill, the mechanics lien bill
and the bill regulating the hours of la
Dor of drivers and conductors of horse
cars. .t I........-. s.. ..f. .t.,
The bill fixing the fare on the eleva
ted railways at five cents abrogated a
right vested ia the corporation by a
previous legislature. In that act the
regulation of fares was distinctly sur
rendered by the State until the net
earnings should reach given sum. In
spite of this agreement in the contract
the Legislature of 1883 passed a bill
making uniform rate of fare of FIVE
cents. The Governor vetoed it on
the ground that the Legislature could
not abrogate vssted right. There
was not the slightest doubt that the
courts of the State would have taken
the same view. ..
That the proposed reductions were
only of the slightest interest to work
ingmen is shown by the fact that the
rate had long been five cents from $50
to $50 a. m, and from 430 to 7.30 p.
m. The reduction of fares at other
hours in the day was a manifest advan-
tage to bankers, brokers, business men
and amusement seekers, but not of the
smallest interest to laboring men and
mechanics, who already had the priyi-
leges the vetoed bill conferred. Oppo-
sition to the veto was short lived and a
feeling of satisfaction followed that
one man had been found who had the
pluck and the intelligence to oppose
such futile legislation even at the risk
of incurring popular disapproval.
The Governor also interposed his
veto to the mechanics lien bill. The
original intention 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 par
ties four months after performance of
work or furnishing material to file a
lien, period ridiculously prolonged.
1t also allowed the same costs as in
foreclosures, which in the case of small
bills would have been SO onerous as to
eat them up entirely. But worst of
| all it repealed existing mechanics lien
laws, which were far more favorable
to the working people than the new
law. 1t was found to be scheme to
make increased lawyers bills and to
diminish the protection afforded the
mechanic. The Governor very proper.
ly accepted the lesser evil and vetoed
the defective bill. .. 10. I.....
The bill making twelve hours days
work for conductors and drivers or
street cars did not in any way prohibit
the making of a contract requiring any
number of hours work and, if it had
the Governor very aptly objected thai
it was an interference with the rights
Of the employees as we'll as employers
1t was plain that if the car drivers ant
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 81 cannot think this bill
is in the interest of the workingmen.
| One charge remains against Cover
nor Cleveland's vetoes. The last Leg
islature made small appropriation TO
| a charitable institution known as tn
| Westchester Catholic Protectory, TIL,
Governor struck it out and the charge
has been made that he was hostile Il
the Catholic church as such. Mr.. Hen
ry L. Hoguet, president of the Protec
tory, says on this question , F.
"We meyer doubted the sincerity 0
the motive which induced Governo
| Cleveland to withhold his signature t,
the appropriation to the Protectory
I'VE thought then and think now tina
he was not actuated by any feeling o
bigotry or hostility to Catholics or tn
| Catholic institutions. On the Contra
ry, Governor Cleveland is liberal in tn
extreme, and we are aware of the firm
belief that he was led to withholdin,
his approval of the appropriation solel
by sense of public duty as he viewe'
| it, /
| Upon these facts are based all tn
charges made against Grover Clevt
land by which it is sought to raise oh
| lection to him among the laboring an
religious elements.- Times.
| -.