New-York tribune., 1907-12-20
,eaderp were OF hand 10 see that their aldermen
ct,$


the Borough of Manhattan Will please retire to
the rear of the chamber the Mayor said as MS
esvel called the session TO order
,rh. rollcaII showed every Manhattan member
OF deck
Alderman Tim" Sullivan moved that the
aldermen proceed to the election OF Borough
President. He said:
I'VE come here to-day 20 select a successor 10
Borough President Ahearn. 1t is drawing the
line too fine TO hold that the head of depart
rnent or an elected Official is accountable for all
of the misdeeds OF the subordinates uncer him
1 have received only one letter against Borough
President Ahearn. and 1 am ashamed to say
who sent that letter. 1t comes from the head
of an organization known as the Citizens Union
fCity Club. and one W. Payne Cutting. or what
ever his name, is the president Of that organiza-
ton The head OF this organization has been
attacking public officials every year for the
last ten years with one exception. That one ex-
ception was the year that he was trying to un-
load a gold brick on the city. That year ne
was quiet. He once for alderman. and out
Of 1900 or 1900 votes polled he got about 10
Der cent. I appeal TO the loyalty Of the Board
Of Aldermen in behalf Of our colleague The
punishment proposed is out Of all proportion to
the alleged offence
HEARST MEN IN LINE
Sullivan then nominated Ahearn- Inc crleefs
etarted for Sullivan he took his seat were
checked by the Mayor, who requested that no
demonstration be made by the spectators. The
Mayor who was closely listened to, read
statement, as follows:
After affording the accused officer an oppor-
sunity to be heard in his cwn defence Governor
Fsgfes by an order on December 9. found John
T. Ahearn guilty of the charges MADE against
him. and ordered that the public interests re-
Uutred that said John F. Ahearn be removed
from Office Of these facts the chair must take
ccgnzance. The removal proceedings and the
order made by Governor Hughes Were not
merely for the purpose Of temporarily ousting
John f Ahearn from Office They We're not
brought and neither was the order maze py Iile
Governor to remove John r Ahearl Tor a oaS
or a week or a month of his term, but TO sep
erate him from the remainder of his term. Ncth
ing less is involved in the removal proceedings,
and they cannot be Ilullified or reversed by his
immediate election thereafter by this body
Whether the voters at the polls would condone
the offence by which John f. Ahearn forfeited
his office II is not necessary for US TO decide.
The chair however. does rule that John F.
TO the office of President Of the Borough of Man
haitian for the balance of the unexpired term
fer which he was elected in November. 1905, and
from which term he was separated by the order
of the Chief Executive Of the state La view OF
the Importance of this ruling the chair is willing
TO entertain an appeal from his decision
Alderman Sullivan at once appealed, and the
Mayor ordered rollcal on the question whether
the chair should be sustained Cronin. Hearst
man. near the top Of the list caused a murnur
of surprise and applause by voting with Tam
snany not to sustain the chair Leverett. another
Hearst man, fell into line with Tammany, and
80 did Noonan and Torpey, thus giving line
on what the final vote would be. The Mayor
announced that he had been oyerruled by 4
vote Of q to i, and then announced that Mr.
Ahearn had been regularly nominated.
There is one form OF battle In which the
majority do not always rule" said James Cow
din Meyers the Republican leader. "and that
IS the law. The Chair stated a selfSvieent fact
when he ruled that Mr.. Ahearn had been re-
moved for his entire term, and no action Of
this board to-day will change the ultimate re-
suit
The lire is drawn here to-day between Tam
many Hall and Charles z. Hughes. Governor of
the State of New York The Republicans In
. this board will stand by the Governor. I have
Nthe nonor TO place in nomination for Borough
Z$President Max S. Grifenhagen-"
On the rollcan Alderman Cronin again fell
into line for Ahearn. When Alderman Doull's
name called every one craned to see him.
He comes from the district where William Dali
ton is the district leader. Ahearn removed Dali
ton for alleged neglect Of duty. Douli has
been fighting mad about II ever since.
Alderman Douilt" said Clerk ScuIly.
With red face and wicked sleam in his
eyes Doull. who was born in England and
started In life as architect, said:
II do not subscribe 10 ali that is said and done
here to-day. Ii is through the generosity, mag
nanilnlty and the personal request Of one
upon whom Mr.. Ahearn attempted to foist the
alleged msdeeds Of his department that cast
my vote for him to-day"
"Does the chair understood that the gentle |
man votes for John 2. Ahearn,' said the Mayor,
icny.
AT the request OF the man he removed from
Office / vote for John F. Ahearn'' said Doul
This was another ticklish place safely crossed
for the Ahearn men. and a hoarse chuckle went
around the room. The shock came when Hat
ton. Republican, said John r. Atearn" in an
swer to his name
Hes a Parsons man" said Colonel Padden
TO Larry Mulliean.
Another shock came when DR.. Jacobson who
n 90 The ol.s'' with both Lexow and Lantry
in his district, voted for Ahea-n
soUELcHING AN ORATOR
Harry Leverett voted for Ahearn. The crowd
was prepared for this. but fl got another shock
when Mcfitt. Republican, from the old 7th !
District, voted for Ahearn.
..I have always found Ahearn honest and con-
scientious. [ vote for him for social and per-
scnai reasons said Mofitt
Alderman Fried. from Ahearn's district. was
cooked and primed for long speech Fried is
not a silver tongued orator. Barring his ideas
and voice, he is fairly intelligible but that is
giving him the best OF it. AS he was saving
away at his task Alderman Frank Downing who
has beautiful gift of gab' and does not like
to hear the atmosphere niangied, wandered down
the aisle and lurched into Fried
Take a drop to yourself growied Dowling
What's that?' yelled Fried, excitedly. for
getting his speech and whirling upon DowIing
The crowd roared The tally showed long be-
fore the end was reached that IL was xalkover