Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-05
Cleveland's Record.

For man who was nominated sole
ly because be was without . record,
Mr.. Cleveland shows up well. He
never omitted . good chance to favor
first-class steal, when 1t 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 red
ecessor was 81, 6S9.S1, Cleveland's
thrifty management footed up . total
of $39 ,9O6 .36-an access of over 4lS,-
600! 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 q scheme to increase
the emoluments of Sheriff, 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 prof
ligate in the handling of public mon
eys, whenever he or his friends could
be benefited by Q lavish expendi-
ture.
When he became Governor. the
same methods were followed, bat with
more care. In certain matters be pro-
posed as q 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 doubt as to whether ex-
soldiers are constitutional at all. At
least he tecame certain that to erect
monuments TO the memory of those
who died in defense of the Union was
not constitutional; and he 80 ruled in
bill passed by the legislature in Feb
ruary, 1888, authorizing Chautauqua
county to erect one. He promptly
vetoed it.
His whole course, whenever Q 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 bill to
allow posts of the G. A. II. to use
state muskets. provided they gave
bonds for their safe keeping and re-
turh.
A one-armed veteran, James Young
while working on the Capitol building
st Albany, was rendered helpless by
an accident. The &. A. r. petitiOned
the legislature in his behalf, and a bill
for his relief was passed. Cleveland
vetoed it.
Every q. A. Il. post in the stale
sent up petition favoring the bill
which made it misdemeanor for any
person to wear q Grand Army badge
unless he was honorably discharged
from service, military or naval. The
bill passed the observation-disclosures
vetoed it.
The New York legislature passed n
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 .
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
buildings at the Elmira reformatory.
The commissioners made the contracts,
which were unwise, wasteful and i'm
provident, aud the legislature in 1875
rescinded them. In 1879 Donalds and
WorthingtOn, assignees of some of
these contracts, asked the legislature
to pay them damages, not for work
done, but on account of the "copjec-
tural profits" they would have made
had the contracts been completed.
Gov Robinson "a Democracy vetoed
the bill. In 1882 the same thing came
up and Gov. Cornell (Republican) also
vetoed it. In 1883 the Democratic leg
islature passed the claims again, and
Cleveland approved them. The total
of the two claims, with costs and in
terests, was Sill ,sS337-a sum that
would have paid a dozen times oil ex.
penses incurred by the bills for SOL
diers, given above, which he vetoed.
This is "reform" with a vengeance, -
Toledo Blade. Aug 26.