Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
ROCUES ARE TOLERATED:
HONEST MEN ARE TRUSTED
This Is What Cleveland Proved by His
Work as Municipal Reform
Pioneer

w yer Cleveland did for municipal re-
form is fully appreciated the anniver-
sary Of his birth is likely to be cele-
brated more widely than is the present
custom.
1t was observed at the Cleveland
School, at Nineteenth and Butler streets,
yesterday and company of Democrats
got together in New York and in some
other cities and did honor to the memory
of the man as a sturdy Democrat.
But it was as municipal reformer
that Mr.. Cleveland first dawned upon
the consciousness of the nation. He was
elected Mayor of Buffalo in 1881 on the
Democratic ticket, it is true, but he as
sumed office not as Democrat, but as
citizen of Buffalo determined to admin
lister its affairs on business principles.
There was neither Republicanism nor
Democracy, according to his view, in the
laying of pavements or in the building
of sewers or in the cleaning of the
streets.
In his inaugural address he laid down
the principles which he intended to apply
when he said, eve hold the money of
the people in our hands, to be used for
their purposes and to further their inter-
csts as members of the municipality, and
it is quite apparent that when any part
of the funds which the taxpayers have
thus intrusted to US are diverted to other
purposes, or when by design or neglect
we allow greater sum to be applied to
any municipal purpose than is necessary,
we have to that extent violated our duty.
There surely is no difference in his duties
and obligations whether a person is in
trusted with the money Of one or many"
Mr.. Cleveland was a reform Mayor
compelled to work through a City Coun-
Gil controlled by the politicians, who were
interested in personal profit rather than
in economy and efficiency. He scrutin-
lied with care every appropriation that
was made and vetoed those which were
cxtravagant or without warrant of law.
For example, the Council tried to divert
$500 from a legal fund for the public
celebration of the Fourth of July to a
company of citizens for the celebration
of Decoration Day. He vetoed the ap-
preparation on the ground that the Coun
Gil had no power to make it and said: II
cannot rid myself of the idea that this
city government in its relation to the
taxpayers is a business establishment
and that it is put in our hands to be
conducted on business principles. This
theory does not permit of our donating
public funds in the manner contemplated
by your honorable body"
The press of the city, without regard
to party. commended this action, which
less courageous man would have been
afraid to take for fear of offending the
soldier vote.
Again when the Council authorized a
contract for public work at an excessive
figure he blocked the project by his veto.
"This is a time for plain speech" he
wrote, "and my objection to the action Of
your honorable body, now under con-
sideration, shall be plainly stated.
withhold my assent from the same be-
cause | regard it as the elimination of a
most barefaced, impudent and shameless
scheme to bctray the interests of the
people, and worse than to squander the
public money"
And when it was necessary to build
new main sewer he secured against the
opposition of the Council, the passage of
a law authorizing him to appoint COM
mission to make contracts and issue
Ia annpipfol ha
but the Council refused to confirm it.
The next week he sent message to the
Council calling its attention to the char
acter and fitness of the men he had
selected and to the Importance of the
work and to the needless delay if the
Council should adjourn for the summer
without action. 81 am convinced" said
he, "that your honorable body do not
care to be chargeable with this result"
He put the responsibility where it be-
longed and the Councilmen were forced
to confirm his appointees.
Here was a man whos was not afraid
of the political organization of, his party,
but was afraid of betraying the inter
eStS Oh tlie People VI Iho CITY ol Duilalo.
It was novel and inspiring spectacle.
He took Office on January /, 1882, and
by the middle of the summer he had a
national reputation. The plain people of
other cities began to wish that Cleve-
land would arise where they lived and
take the lead in rescuing them from the
political groups which throve on mu-
nicipal patronage and cared little or
nothing for the efficient conduct of pub
lie business. They felt instinctively that
an honest man had emerged from COM
parative obscuHty.