New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-10
CITY MONEY MISSING.
1HElRN TO BE QUIZZED.
Street Fund Di0erted-"Not Up to
p Me," Says Borough President.

Borough President Ahearn is 20 be hauled over
t.y Goals alleged diversion Of funds
which from year to year have been lodged with
'ha Borough President and credited 10 the spe-
cisl street restoring fund, and which. accord.
Eng 30 tho Citizens Unions experts. should at
the present ;irle amount to more than Sl.0O0OOO
II is alleged that Borough President Ahearn
ard his Predecessors have allowed this fund 10
be diverted. ana that The law has been violated
by such diversion.
y is expected lii2t when Borough President
Ahearn goes on The stand on Monday next. when
the investigation If his department. begins by
the Commissioners of Accounts and the Cor
pora;ion Counsel that he viii be asked 10 ac-
count fo- this fund
i was said last night that certain prominent
members of the Citizens Union are Of the opn-
ion that the acts Of Borough President Ahearn
and his predecessors should be presented to the
grand jury.
While eK-Mayor Gilroy was Commissioner OF
Public Works in 1850. an act was passed Great
ing a fund known the special street restor-
ing fund. Under the rules of the Borough
Presidents Office when # is desired to cut
through asphalt or otherwise open a hole in
tho pavement. the plumber or electrician must
pay for the opening at the rate OF from 81 10
81 % a square yard. This money the city keeps
in special fund. and it IS supposed 10 be de-
kNleG 10 FtSttilnS the breaks mace IN Inc pave
nents. This rule is a highly profitable one 10
the city. which is compelled to pay only about
s. a yard TO have the breaks repaired The re-
suit for years has been that the street restoring
fund has had an annual surplus Of something
like $4,000.
The Citizens Union, in making out a
against the Borough President. ran across the
law governing the special street restoring
fund and an inquiry showed that the fund was
a net gamer every year to the extent named.
Estimating that The annual surplus was $4,000,
the experts employed by the Citizens Union fig
ured that the fund at this time should contain
about Sl.30oOoO. When they inquired about
the cash on hand TO the credit of the fund, they
were told that the money had been spent from
year 10 year for other purposes. and that the
balance TO the credit OF the fund was incon-
siderable. This. il is held is in clear violation
suffer for il.
As nearly as could be learned last night, the
annual surplus Of this particular fund has been
used for expenditures in the Borough Presi-
dents Office.
When William NJ WINS. who is to represen.
the Citizens Union at the investigation next
week, was asked last night about the diversion
of the special street restoring fund. he said:
Whatever know in connection with the
subject l know counsel, and l must. he eX-
cused from discussing il"
Mr.. WINS seemed surprised and much
noyed that anything had leaked out regarding
The matter.
When Borough President Ahearn was seen
last night. he said: Il not the custodian Of
the citys finances. The Controller is the GUS
1Odian Ny payrolls go 20 his office as they
have been going for many years. If the Con-
troeT IN ms judgment sees fit to use an uneX-
pended balance 10 the credit Of any fund under
my jurisdiction, / am pOwerless TO prevent IL.
II has been the custom for twentv-siX years for
the Borough President. the official with anala-
Eous duties, to collect such money and turn II
over 10 the Controller and City Chamberlain 1
u there has been any diversion Of funds il has
been for the cty's benefit and enable the city
- Use the money which il owned. do not think !
ftdL the gentlemen who expect make trouble /
collected and distributed the funds Of the /
street restoring fund have been viii realize on /
their expectations