New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-18
SHERIFF CLEVELANDS GAINS
AN EXTRAORDINARY RECORD.

PROM STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE rRrBuvrI
BUFFALO, Aug. 15.-It is a well-known fact hero
that Grover Cleveland, while charging EXCESSIVE
rates for his services Sheriff. allowed others To
do nearly all the work. He had private business
to occupy his attention. But when he afterwa rd
became Mayor his first act an attempt TO
lengthen the hours of service Of the city employees
In message to the Board of Aldermen he de.
nounced the custom of closing the public Offices at
o'clock. and said that the city employees were
leased too early from their work
There was one part Of his duties. however, to
which Grover Cleveland paid dligcnt attention. Hs
careful to soc that he got every cent possible
ont of the county This thrifty habit hHs always
stuck 10 him After he had been elected 10 the nl.
portant Office of Governor Of this great state. aud
had resigned his office of Mayor of the city. tho
Common Council called upon to authorize the
payment to him of f2o - for incidental er.
penses. which he had apparently forgotten to
charge. Tho message he addressed to tho Council
on this matter VIA NJ followai
Dufins tho lat year fspended fnr post 90 sna
h't acdeai"l esp psea coeeeotd Win ny osie9 the
spec ry that aaoh expenditures be- approved sni
,hAi warrant he daw" IA nay favor or enc an"an u
Eagalo, Nov ~ lsss
LOOKING oCT ron 40 /,
When the few remaining vouchers of his term as
Sheriff are examined this oharactef thrift 10
more clearly made apparent IL should be borne in
mind that he charged more and was in receipt of
much higher income from his office than his
predecessors and that five months at.
ter he had entered upon his duties
a law was passed increasing his pay Under tho
amended constitution such act would be void,
but this was one of the things that brought about
that needed change. At that time the Legislature
and the supervisors were forbidden To grant any
e. con IN m Inc offig but hat "A
not prevent Grover Cleveland from charging more
than the law allowed, and getting in cases
what he asked. Some of the charges he made TO
the county, considering the swollen income he was
receipt of, simply amazing, and would put
Sheriff Davidson, of New York, to shame. On New
Years Day, 1872 the carrier boys the daily papers
brought around their customary annual addresses.
Sheriff Cleveland opened his heart in munihcent
way to these hard worked little fellows will ap-
pear by the following bill rendered to the county
and generously allowed by the supervisors
ia 1uary 1, 1872 Pad carrier boys or Tie Courier
Commercial ana Post 25 cents h.............. rs
The following charge 10 the county indicates
that the Sheriff although without much hair was
still careful about the appearance OF his head
May :. Brush and comb .75
HIS CERTIFICATE WORTHLESS.
All supplies for the jail, which was under the
Sherfrs care excepting food paid for by the
county. The bills Of dealers and other persons Of
whom the Sheriff made purchases for the county
were made out directly to the county, the Sheriff
attesting 20 their correctness But the autograph
Of Grover Cleveland under the words g ! certify
that the above bill is correct did not have much
weight with any of the Boards Of Supervisors that
audited his bills. In very many instances the
Supervisors found that these bills excessive
and cut them down. 1t is perhaps significant that
while Mr.. Cievelands later vouchers have dis
NJ
him as correct are still in the archives of the
county. But the Sheriff had TO purchase
some things for his office and was sup
posed to pay for them ont of his fees. There
Is no law which provides for the payment Of such
things, As for instance gratuties TO clrrier-boys
by the county, but Mr. Cleveland put them all in
his bill and made affidavit to their correctn =.
Hence it Is found that IN one year he used eight
boxes Of Matches and these are charged 10 the
at 10 cents a box. Probably having IN
mind the Presidency aud the need of a careful
knowledge of the geography the country will ac.
count for his making the following charge:
April Snap 4 ;he United stat s............S2 so
But at a later date he probably d.scerued that
the Goyeuorship would come first hence this
charge
October 12-Atas OF New-York.............8l2
SEEKING KNOWLEDGE Al PUBLIC EXPENSE.
1t was his duty to himself to see
that he lost nothing by lack Of
knowledge as TO what was good money. the
county charged three dollars fOi counterfeit
1ctectOr' lhe city newspapers were delivered AZ
his office, and they charged to the county.
Desiring 70 improve his store Of legal knowledge
he purchased Tor SIX dollars "C-Orker on SheUtts."
and charged II 20 the county. The expense of send
ng telegram To Senator Lewis and receiving
reply, eighty cents, also charged 10 the county
These illustrations OF what may bc found in the
way of small If not illegal, charges IN the bills st
)n he.
brought sheriff Cleveland one shilling. besides q
urnkeys fee Of scyentyhye cents on each prisoner.
md every time a prisoner was taken across tne
street 10 court he got one shilling for 10, aud
)ther shilling when he returned. These charges,
according TO the allowance OF the supervisors for
,ue year, were as follows:
raking into custody on mittimus from October
l, 1871, TO September 80, 1872 l,0Js prison.
ers at rs. eae9 tsa io cot n IL sIe3 -
Seturnng 274 to jail at Is each l59 IS
'uruAey I'd
On the question of boarding prisoners the Sheriff
again went for all he could get. The county paid
or everything even to the washing of the bed
clothes aud towels the Sheriff merely furnishing
he food. For this formerly 81 80 a week was al
owed by the county. In New-York City 1t costs
MY about two dollars a week to maintain prison.
rs, including all expenses, at the City Prison.
iere in Buffalo there was probably margin Of
roft at 81 80 for food. Mr.. Cleyeland's prede-
essor put in bill to the county at SO per
week for each prisoner The Supervisors. however,
lot having authorized such a price, did not allow
he bill in full This had no effect on sheriff Ceye-
and, however for he still further increased th he
ate charging the county in his first bill 50 80 a
week for each prisoner. Ii was Democratic Board
I Supervisors, but IL would not allow such
essve charge, and therefore Sheriff Cleyelanps
rst bill for boarding. prisoners, covering few
months time, was cut down nearly 500.
EXTRAORDINARY INCREASE IN CHARGES.
For transnor+ing women prisoners 10 the House
# Refuge. RandaPs Island. Mr.. Cleveland in his
rst bill charged the same his predecessor at the
ate of 500 90 each. In his second bill he Increased
=. L.. h,aL l. Il