New-York tribune., 1907-12-10

e., oro.,,zation of his department and there
ha6 heen brought before him Clearly the oe
fects in its methods. particularly IN uhe ia0n 01
thorough and competent lnspecuoii-
u,;... .o tho lowest permissible standards
os of3ciaI DUTY il has been incumbent upon MN nm
in the light of his knowledge TO take an e.o neUoo
sSary steps bring the department 10 i pl0go q
state of efficiency. The remissness OF ms "
partrnent with respect TO the streets ~ N"s ~. ~
q secret matter 10 when ~the isitctrai is'y~S
of a sl,perfor officer might ne cohSldel
.,r bacausa of the supposed proprlety
of routine or the difficulty of obtaining u
formation 1t was notorious, and coulo naIu ,
" escape his attention as he Went a1ouL ,, ~
boro1,rb II nav be expected that a borough
president charged with the duty OF tneir n lh az
+enance viii be as well informed ABOUT uie
streets of his borough as the citlzens gene ~ az
= go sesociatton of citizens. Mr.. Ahearn had
had long opportunity TO become tafnlllar t VIZ. IN
the exact condition of affairs ana ne was i 1oaH @
.oeifior 10 claim surprise In the spring OF Iso'
I-nlass fhe responsibility of heads OF depart
rnents for the administration OF thelr ohcIs -
20 be made a nocllery. Mr.. Ahearn must De hsIo
directly responsible Tor the Idlluie ~ h'NP 0
streets in proper repair
.HoNEYCoMBED WITH FAvoRITISM"
Of the grave abuses which the Governor says
the evidence showed 10 exist in the Bureau OK
Public Buildings and Offices he declares the
methods employed were the reverse Of those
which proper concern for the interests OF the
city would suggest The administrator was
honeycombed with favoritism.
The Governor. continuing, says that no el1ort
WAS made 10 get the advantages of competition
for much of the work performed md supplies
furnished; that favored concerns received SUD-
stantially all the work open orders
From the evidence" continues the GoVernoi'
lit also appears 10 my satisfaction that the coi
Germ which did the carpentry work on open VI
ders was really cover for William H walker
the superintendent of the bureau OF puohc
buildings and offices. large amount OF sup
plies readily obtainable liz the market were pro-
cured through an unnecessary middleman' WHO
stvled himself the Metropolitan Equipment and
SUNNY Company and bought from dealers in
order to resell 70 the city. These methods in
evitahlv facilitated waste and extravaganza, and
It sufhciently appears that the city was actually
despoiled."
The Governor says the transactions were not
isolated and exceptional, but constituted
course Of conduct constantly within the range
Of the Borough Presidents official observation
At the outset Of the very volunlinous opinion
the Governor discusses exhaustively the question
CT his Jurisdiction and power to remove. and
quotes at length the message of Governor Til
den to the Legislature May IL. 1875. as in
support of his authority to remove.
Referring to President Ahearn's reelection
Borough President in 1905 as recording the final
Judgment Of the electors to his competency
and fitness for the office, the Governor says. in
part:
While the majority may elect the officer, they
are not entitled TO insist, nor can it be assumed
they desire TO insist. upon improper administra-
ton or upon the retention in office Of who
fails to DO his duty The power Of removal is
provided to secure accountability to the people
acting through their designated representatives
and thus TO protect the interests of all citi-
zens."
President Ahearn served as State Senator con-
tinuously from 1880 to 1902. He was elected
President Of Manhattan Borough in 1908 and re-
elected in 1905 for term of four years expir-
ing December 81 1909