New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-05
SOME OF ORESTES CLEYELAND'S JOBS.
rHE SHAMEFUL TRICKEHY or A SHAMELESS


The pubuc was treated on Wednesday by The Irib-
une to a chapter Of the private life of Mayor oTeSe'
Cleveland who been put in nomination by the jersey
CITY Democrats TO succeed himself for the sixth time
M defence has ever been made can be mace DN N.Y.
Cleveland or any IF his friends that VIII lessen the
blackness Of his record wrcckor o. the DNoh
Crucible Company, of which he was the president
rhe history of Mr. Cleveands relations to the people
and taxpayers Of jersey City, as part OF It's Demo
cratic ring and as ono who has fattencd at the pubic
vrib in the characters Of contractor and paid Official
for thirty years. fully in keeping with his private
business transactions.
About tho time that the honest people Of this city
we're engaged in the work of driving ont the horde OF
rascals that were stealing millions under rweed ring
rule a gang every whit bad as Tweed'S was
punderng Jersey City in much the same way Leaders
in it were Orestes Cleveland and his brother Jerry
now the Treasurer Of Jersey CITY, some Of their work
Is still fresh in the minds Ct taApa' crs Of jersey Guy
who refer to it as the Nicholson Paving Job" oTeste
procured the sole right put down his patent pave
ment in Hudson County. Brother jerry was con-
tractor. Both men We're politicians and part OF the
ring that took in the jersey City Board Of Public
Works and the authorities Of the old town ot ber-cl
OF which william rumsted was Ho.s.' In 1870
Bergen consolidated with jersey CIV. ana By the
manipulation Of the ringsters Bumstcd was mHdc
chairman Of the DoaId Of Public Works. Then the
pluckng of the city proceeded apacc. BIDS to pave
the streets were advertised for by the Board Of Pub
lie Works. and the stipulation was inserted that the
paving was TO be done with Nicholson blocks As Mr.
Cleveland was the only who had the right to put
down this style Of pavement, of course he got all the
contracts, as intended.
Street after street was paved in Jersey CITY
with Mr.. Clevelands pavement. The oil town OF
Bergen was plastcred all with the wooden blocks
The average price 10 the city for this paving was
81 80 10 81 10 a square yard The cost 10 the con
tractors about 81 a square yard The profits Is
is easy to see enormous. Nj Cleveland wac
free-handcd like Tweed ana he shared The profits with
the men who gave him the WORK, contributing heavily
10 the political corruption funds that kept them in
Office. Jer,ey-ave. paved; Montgomery It. wa
paved, and Grand-st. for nearly mile was paved
They even widencd the street by cutting down The
sidewalks in order TO get more space to pave.
But the thing becoming inolcrdblc to the tax
poyers who were assessed to pay for the jobs
The retained a lawyer. ;. j.. Ransom, and procufci
"a writ Of certlolaii, which stopped the wholesale
having of the streets and took the to the state
supreme Court. The Court. Judge Bcdle writing tho
opinion, decided that the contracts, inasmuch a.
there was no competitive bidding allow were void and
Illegal That stopped the whole business. But Mr
Cleveland has never been accused of a lack oi
enrontcry. IIo put in claim against The ci;y 70;
damages for breach OF contract, and manipulated thing
i'm such a way as to get the Legislature t. pas, bill
authorizing Jersey CITY to pay him about $4,000
for damages.
Tic paving job having been worked for all 1t was
worth and at q cost of nearly 100000 b the public
The next appearance of the Clevelands was in
the "Eescrvoir job" Brother "Jeriy' hell
the bag this time. Orestes heepng In the
secuson of the Dixon Cmcble Company's factory.
but as everybody believed still WORKING through
brother "Jcrry." The city needed a rvois
and the Board of Public Works paid for site ad-
Joining the old reservoir and the contract to build
IT, after passing through several hands awarded
10 "Jcrry, Then rumors OF corrupt work began
10 be nosed about. and again the citizens rose.
They indicted Chairman BumSted and Commissioner
WEIGH OF the Board OF Public Works. and Garry
Nrecand a real estate agent. for conspiracy Nrc-
lands son was ccr Of tue Board, and through him.
il was alleged his fatlcr became posted a, 10 the
price the Board would pay 10. the reservoir site
Garry" Vrocand bought up the land and sold il
10 the city. his knowledge of the intention 81 the
board netting him $4,000. Bumstcd and VrcItnd
were sent 10 states Prison. On a writ OF cfruOIar
The case went TO the supreme Court. and the whole
proceeding was characterized IS iilrtai anu inc ooh
tract 10 build the reservoir was declared void
Thus Brother Jerry" was Out ~ the c0ld lie
and his hackers set up "a claim ior aahae.s aFan
and secured the passage Of another Diil perm'un-
the claim 10 go to arbitratOrs-0ne arbitrator 10 nc
chosen by Mr.. Cleveland. by the city, and these
Two TO choose third. Cleveland chose hi, arbitrator
the Democratic ring governing ,,, u'e ch lay
third Of course all were iricnds ol
the CIevcancs. and they promptly awarded to Clcve-
land $4,000 damages. Again the ciIcis pio,'siel
uhc Board Of Finance composed OF ASieS. men , re-
fused 10 pay the award. The ccvclands went 70 IN.
snprcme Court for a mandamua. Leon A,bett ~
that time Corporation CounS Tor jersey ci,i ana =
namber OF the ring. had officially told the EoaId ol
rioance Thai they must pay the award but the
Supreme Conrt decided that the Boad was Tght anu
n the CIcvelands had any case they should Driiu
suit. H., o,,. ,ba 7 so,s,atura and cot