New-York tribune., 1907-09-18
AHEARN CASE DELAY.
ADJOURNED TO FRIDAY.
Three Witnesses Heard Yesterday-
amusing automobile Ride.

Albany. Sept I7.-Goverrlor Hughes adjourned at
s p m. to-day until Friday at S p. m the hearing
of the charges of the City Club of New York
against John F. Ahearn. President of the Borough
of Manhattan. The Governor will leave here to
morrow morning to attend the Otseso and Tomp-
kins county fairs. and will he away from Albany
until Friday
Thus fa~ all the evidence taken has related to
the first and principal charge, that President
Ahearn negligent in the matter of repair of
streets Three witnesses were heard to-day-Fred-
erick r. De Berard. statstician of the Merchants
Association of New York. who began his testimony
last night: Klein. chief engineer the Com
mission Of Accounts. and Henry G. Opdke. a
civil engineer employed by automobile or
ganization-all of whom testified to examina-
tons of the conditions Of the streets made by
them.
The amusing feature Of the day the &C
by Klein Of a whirIwind automobile trip
which he swore he made last April in eight hours
through all the streets Of the city between the
North River at 5ath street, the East River. at
22d street Martin ". Lttleton. Of counsel for
President Ahearn. figured IT ont as totalling l'S
miles.
Mr.. Klein the streets through which he
made the trip were so rough that he unable
70 make notes Of his observations paper pad.
but had TO make them with broad pencil dashes on
a newspaper Except for a halt for luncheon at
noon. he swore that he made only one stop. 70
secure a sample Of asphalt for analysis He said
was very weary after the trip
Did you strike every hoe7" asked Mr.. Tittleton.
Well no maybe there each side
Of the street that I missed" replied the witness.
and Governor Hughes Joined IN the general laugh
Mr Klein swore that hi. department employed
eight inspectors and that in eleven years ne had
reported about twenty-five cases where the as
phalt being laid in Manhattan did not come NJ to
the specification in the contract.
Charles H Strong. Of counsel for the City Club.
TIT,
defects in the specifications for work when inter
rupted by Governor Hughes The Governor said he
desired information. not to matters about which
experts might differ but to instances OF failure
the part Of President Ahearn as 70 Whist rea-
sonable man in his Office ought rightly TO be ex-
pected TO do.
Mr.. Klein. in answer To a question by MIR Strong
said that inspections Of asphalt by his department
had been ordered stopped recently. but he gave no
reason for tho action. and there were no fuFther
questions asked about that. He gave II rs his
opinion that the Trinidad asphalt was durable ard
gave good service. and he believed It should be
permitted in the specifications. which now forbid
its use. well that Of asphalt made from oils
Mt Opdike was the last witness to-day. He
testified 10 making a survey OF large territory
In the vicinity Of 23d street between Seventh
and Eleventh avenues. He said that he found
merous holes in the pavements IN November Of
last year. and again IN April Of this year, and be-
lieved that many Of the holes found this year
the those found when he made his inspec-
tion in November He characterized the condition
Of the pavements Of the borough generally as de
cidedy abnormay bad"
The examination OF Mr. De Bcrard was CON
tinued at length to-day. first by MIR. Litleton. in
continued cross-examnaton. and then by Nelson
S. Spencer. for the City Club. in redirect eIamna-
ton To MI Littleton- Mr. DE Berard said that
the examination of the streets In July. 1906. was
the most thorough made by him. and that the sub
sequent examination in November showed ma
terial Improvement" Another examination last
April showed great deterioration during the win
ter. Mr.. De Berard examined minutely as TO
the method of his inspections
on redirect examination by Mr.. Spencer. Mr.. De
Berard said that while he had reported that Presi-
dent Ahearn and other officials Of the department
had evinced a friendly disposition toward him and
had tried to improve the conditions. he had no
intention modifying his criticism Of the machin-
ery, especially that OF inspection in the highway
department of the Borough Presidents Office
Mr. De Berard swore that in his opinion the
streets of Manhattan In condition in
July 1906. than in April 1905. August 1904. The
witness cited the Of Leonard street one
in which the granite block pavement disturbed for
pipe laying, in bad condition after the n
tractors responsibility had censed The witness
said that two gangs of men. without efficient in
spection took month 70 repair a short distance;
1t bad ever. and was no better now.
Mr.. De Berard disputed the statement OF ex-
Chief Engineer Olney- that the streets were in
fair repair in the fall Of 1906
Mr. De Berard also testified tha. the commission
on street control. a quasi official body appointed
by Mayor Mcclellan last fall recommendation
of tho Merchants Association, had reported in
favor of curtailment OF the powers Of the Depart
nent of Water Supply Gas and Electricity OF New
York City and increase of those of the Borough
President necessary to a solution of the problem
conflicting jurisdiction street openings. and
that the Mayor had not accepted this report. a
second report was prepared. it appeared. omitting
recommendation, the
hands of the Mayor Mr.. De Berard gave this tes-
mony somewhat reluctantly. He secretary OF
the commission, and when Mr. Littleton asked for
information about its proceedings. said;
You will have to excuse from answering the
question Mr. Litteton. I have not been authorized
to make that public"
That makes no difference" broke in Governor
Hughes, with emphasis. I'VE want all the infor
nation about this matter. You must give us any
facts known TO you
It also brought out that the second report
of Mr.. De Berard the condition of the streets
and the series OF photographs illustrating and
the report. which were submitted TO |
the Mayor, never referred TO President |
Ahearn. and had been by him prior
fed. referred by the Mayor to President |
Ahearn and was promptly acted on by him. He |
said the Improvement in the streets after this first
report marked that the Merchants. AssOcia |
tion suspended for time It's pressure in the mat
ter