Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-09-04
C1eveland's Record.

From Toledo Blade.
For man who was nominated solely
because he was without record, Mr..
Cleveland shows up well. He never
omitted a good chance to faver q first
class steal, when it benefited himself,
his party, or his mOnOpOlist masters. AS
sheriff of Erie county, he was energetic
in making bills that would Put money
in his pocket. While the aggregate of
the bills Of his predecessor was $26, 639.81,
Clevelands thrifty management footed
up total Of $39,9C3 1886 an excess of
over $4,000! The vouchers show that
he, in many cases, charged more than the
legal allowance, and the Democratic
board which audited the bills cut them
down over $4,000.
While sheriff, he lObbied at Albany in
the interest of scheme to increase the
emoluments of sheriffs, and thus largely
increased his own fees. He was not
playing the role of reform" in those
days. He was occupied in feathering his
own nest. He was profligate in the
handling Of public moneys, whenever he
or his friends could be benefited by Law
ish expenditure.
When he became governor, the same
methods were followed, but with more
care. In certain matters he posed as a
great constitutional expouLder. This
was especially true whenever the inter
ests of ex-soldiers or of wOrkingmsn
men came before him officially. AS to
the former, he seemed to have doubt as
to whether ex-sOldiers are constitutional
at all. At least he became certain that
to erect monuments to the memory of
those who died in defense of the Union
was not CONSTITUTIONAL; and he so ruled
in bill passed by the Legislature in
February, 1883, authorizing Chautauqua
county to erect one. He promptly vetoed
| 1t.
| His whole course whenever bill came
up which concerned ex-sOldiers has been
consistent in opposition to them. When
mayor of Buffalo he vetoed an ordinance
apprOpriating $500 for the proper OBJ
servance of Memorial Day.
AS governor he vetoed bill to allow
posts of the G. A. r. to use state mus
kets, provided they gave bonds for their
safe keeping and return.
A one armed veteran, James Young,
while working on the capitol building
at Albany, was rendered helpless by an
accident. The G. A. r. petitioned the
Legislature ia his behalf, and bill fol
his relief was passed. Cleveland vetoed
it.
Every G. A. R. post in the state sent
up petition favOring the bill which
made it a misdemeanOr for any person
to wear Grand Army badge unless he
was honOrably discharged from service
military or naval. The bill passed the
re-Cleveland vetoed it.
The New York Legislature passed q
bill providing that every soldier or sailor
from that state should be furnished with
an engraved certificate of discharge
Cleveland vetoed it.
The New York Legislature passed 9
bill to provide headstOnes for ex-sOldiers
of the Rebellion who have died in thu
state. Cleveland wanted the bill amend
ed so as to permit him to designate what
kind Of headstOnes should be used, bu
did not succeed.
While thus critical in such matters
his record goes to the opposite extreme
in others. In 1871 contracts were made
for the erection of certain buildings a
the Elmira refOrmatOry. The commits
siOners made the contracts, which wer,
unwise, wasteful and imDrOvident, an(
the Legislature in 1874 rescinded them
In 1879 DOnalds and WOrthington, as
signees Of some of these contracts, asket
the Legislature to pay them damages
not for work done, but on account Of tn,
"cOnjectural profits" they would hav,
made had the contracts been completed
Gov. Robinson "a DemocraO vetoed TIT
bill. In 1882 the same claim came nj
and Gov. Cornell (Republican) also We
toed it. In 1883 the Democratic Legis
lature passed the claims again, ant
Cleveland approved them. The total o
the two claims, with costs and interests
was gill 1888 .37--a sum that would hav
paid dozen times all expenses ineurre,
by the bills for soldiers, given above
which he vetoed. This 10 reform" witt
a vengeance!