Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-09-02
CleveIand'S Record.

For man who was nominated sole
~ because he was without record.
Mr.. Cleveland shows up well. He
never omitted a good chance to favor
a tirst-class steal, when ii benefited
himself, his party, or his monopolist
masters. As Sheriff of Erie county.
lie was energetic in making bills that
would put money in his pocket. While
the aggregate OF the bills of his pred
ccessor was $50, 639.S1, Cleveland's
thrifty management footed up total
of S39 900 .36-an access of over $l3.-
900. 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 a scheme to increase
The cmoluments of Sheriff, and thus
largely Increased his own fees. lie
was not playing the role of reform"
in those DAYS. He was occupied in
ieathering his own nest. He was prof
ligate in the handling of public mon
eys, whenever he or his friends could
be benefited by lavish expendi-
ture.
When he became Governor. the
same methods were followed, but with
more care. In certain matters he pro-
posed as great constitutional eX-
Founder. This was especially true
whenever the intests of eX soldiers. or
of workingmen came before him
officially. AS to the former, he seemed
TO have Il doubt AS TO whether ex-
soldiers are constitutional at all AT
least he lccame 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
Il bill passed by the legislature ia Feb
ruary, 1888, authorizing Chaulauqua
count, 10 erect one. lie promptly
vetoed il.
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 observance OF
memorial day.
AS governor he vetoed bin TO
allow posts of the G.. A II. to use
state muskefs. provided they gave
bonds for their safe keeping and re-
turn.
A one-armcd veteran, James Young
while working on the Capitol building
at Albany, was rendered helpless by
an accident. The q. A. r. petitloned
the legislature in his behalf, and a bill
for his relief was passed. Cleveland
vetoed it,
Every G.. A. r. post in the state
sent up a petition favoring the bill
which made il a misdemeanor for any
person To wear a Grand Army badge
unless he was honorably discharged
from service, military or naval. The
bill passed the legislaturc-Cleveland
vetoed il.
The New York legislature passed
bill providing that every soldier or
sailor from that State should be fur
nished with an engraved certificate of
discharge. Cleveland vetoed it.
The New York legislature passed a
bill to provide headstones for ex-sol-
diers of the Rebellion who have died
in the state. Cleveland wanted the
bill amended SO as TO permit him to
designate what kind of headstones
should be used, but did not succeed.
While thus critical in such matter,
his record goes to the opposite ex-
IRENE in others. In 1871 contracts
were made for the erection of certain
at the Elmira reformatory !
The commissioners made the contracts,
which were unwise, wasteful and i'm
provident, aud the legislature in 1875 |
r.scinded them. in 1879 Donaids and |
assiguees of some of |
these contracts, asked the legislature |
to pay them damages, not for work |
done, but on account of the "conjec- |
tural profits" they would have made |
had the contracts been completed. |
Gov. Robinson Ga Democracy vetoed |
the bill. In 1882 the same thing came |
up and Gov. Cornell (Republican) also 1
vetoed it. In 1883 the Democratic leg (!
passed the claims again, and /
Cleveland approved them. he total
Of the two claims, with costs and in !
Ierests. was Sill. 1888 37--a sum that |
would have paid dozen times all ex-
Denses incurred by the bills for SOL |
Tiers. given above, which he vetoed. |
This is "refnrm" with vengeance,
Toledo Blade, Aug &c.