December 1882
HISTORY
Harmon S. Cutting
was born in England in 1830. He emigrated to the United States
in 1836 with his family. He began studying law in 1845 and
opened a practice in Buffalo
in 1853. He led a successful practice for many years, eventually
entering into public service.
In 1862 and 1863 Cutting served as City attorney
under Mayor William Fargo
In 1864 Cutting was elected to serve a term in the
New York State legislature.
He was appointed to serve on the board of police
commissioners in 1870 - 1872.
In 1882 he was appointed the mayor"s clerk by Mayor
Grover Cleveland
LIFE AS A MAYOR
On December 29, 1882 Cutting was appointed Mayor
pro-tem, after interim Mayor Marcus Drake resigned, until
the special election on January 9, 1883.
Cutting seemed to continue an unstoppable string
of vetoes made by his two successors, Grover Cleveland
and Marcus Drake.
On January 1, 1883 the new Common Council
met. The committee appointed to wait upon his Honor returned
with his annual message, which was of a different sort.
"In making what may seem to be a departure from
established precedents, I deem it proper to address to you
at this first meeting of the year, a few words of explanation.
"The Charter provides that the Mayor, among
other duties, shall recommend to the Common Council
such measures as he shall deem expedient. Under the authority
of this clause, and from a period before any such provision
existed it has been the uniform custom for the Mayor to
transmit to the Council at its first meeting in each year
what is termed his "Annual Message." I need not
say that these papers, almost without exception, have been
of the most elaborate character containing much laboriously
collected statistical and other information, and have been
such papers as alone subserve of laying before the people
of the city the condition of their municipal affairs. Anything
else than this would fail to accomplish the object of an
"annual message." It cannot therefore be necessary
to do more than to refer to these considerations for the
satisfying of your honorable body how unavoidable it is
that, on this occasion, long usage must yield to the demands
of a situation which I believe to be entirely unprecedented.
The recent succession to the Mayoralty is altogether exceptional.
I think there is no other example of three Executives in
one year. As you know, the honor conferred upon me (for
which I tender my grateful acknowledgment) was so conferred
only one secular day before the time for submitting a message.
It was, therefore, an imperative necessity that the actual
communication should be postponed to a time beyond that
of your first meeting. This is entirely in accord with the
above mentioned provision of the charter. The duty imposed
is to recommend, but neither the time nor manner of such
recommendation is prescribed.
"But had time and opportunity been afforded
me to prepare the proper communication I should still have
been reluctant to transmit it to your honorable body. The
term of my appointment will be of such brief duration that,
in recommending to you any measure of municipal policy,
I could not but regard
myself as unduly interfering with the duties properly
belonging to the officer who shall be chosen at the approaching
special election. I am justified, therefore, in assuming
that no annual message will be expected until after such
election shall have been held and the person chosen duly
placed in authority.
"I trust, gentlemen, that, on this advent of
the new year, I may be allowed to extend to you the salutations
appropriate to such a season. I beg to assure you how sincerely
I hope that the year may be to each and every member of
your body all that could be deared and that when it shall
have sped onward to its close you may find in the retrospect
such satisfaction as will attend upon the consciousness
that you have well and faithfully executed the important
trusts committed to your care.
"H. S. Cutting, Mayor."
Cutting gave up his short term as Mayor when John
Baker Manning was sworn in on January 16, 1883.
Cutting was kept as clerk under Mayor Manning
during 1883, and served as city clerk until his death in 1884.
PERSONAL LIFE
Cutting was never married. He died of pneumonia on
April 25, 1884. A large contingent of lawyers met two days
later to draft resolutions of regret to his passing. Included
was Governor Cleveland, Mayor Scoville
, Assemblyman Clinton, Hon. E. C. Sprague, and many, many
more.
Governor Cleveland delivered an earnest tribute to
Mr. Cutting's worth.
"It is a sad errand which has brought me from
official duties to my home. And at this moment all my thoughts
are turned to the days and to the scenes which connect me
with the friend who now lies dead.
"When I first came to the city, nearly thirty
years ago, Mr. Cutting's prominence in his profession soon
made him to me a familiar figure.
"When a short time ago, I assumed the duties
of chief executive of this city Mr. Cutting consented to
come to my aid and to associate himself with my administration.
I know that in him I had secured an advisor thoroughly acquainted
with municipal law, and in whose character care and caution
were distinguished features. ...I confess today that I did
not expect to find...so near to me nor in any man such pure
devotion to the public interests which we had in charge;
such unflinching and unwavering loyalty to his chief, and
such a complete and unreserved identification with all my
plans and purposes.
"I wish that the word 'gentlemen' always conveyed
to the mind, as it ought, a modest and unconscientious regard
for all the wants and comfort of others, an avoidance of
all that which irritates...our fellows; a sympathy and kindness...[that]
binds up the wounds of the sorrowing.
"As the word is thus defined, I sum up my estimation
of the personal traits of the friend whose death I mourn,
by saying of him that he was a true gentlemen."
The Bar Association was to attend the funeral as
a body. Harmon S. Cutting
is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
