New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-15
AHEARN TOURS CITY.
INSPECTS Bad P4TING.
Orders Repairs Made - Ordudy
Sends Suggestions.

Borough President Ahearn yesterday assumed
the role of boss payer and hammer, and ran
! his automobile through the assures and canyons
which for weary months have kept the nerves
of drivers and riders edge. AS was an
nounced on Tuesday Mr.. Ahearn not having
subordinates who able to keep the streets
in repair has turned inspector himself
About 10 o'clock yesterday the Borough Presi-
dent, accompanied by several other officials,
started out through various asphalted streets.
He went up Broadway. Madison avenue and
over to 47th street and Ninth avenue. He
stopped his touring car within a few inches Of
a large excavation the west side of Ninth
avenue where contractors are placing a mail
tube. The pavement is OF Belgian block, and
where it has been relaid the blocks rise several
inches above the former level. on seeing this,
Mr. Ahearn sent for the foreman in charge Of
the work and berated him for improper paving.
He ordered the streets again dug up and a gang
of laborers was set to work relaying the cobbes
MI Ahearn continued his inspection in the up
town districts, where hundreds of holes in the
pavement have been reported.
Samuel H. Ordway. president of the Civil Ser
vice Reform Association, yesterday suggested in
a letter TO Mr.. Ahearn that he I'LL the places of
inefficient subordinates under the regulations Of
the merit system. Mr.. Ordway says in part:
That law provides that all appointments must
be made for merit and fitness. The positions
which. according to the press statements are
to be vacated have in majority of cases
been filed by district leaders on the ground
of the Importance of the duties attaching to
them and representations by the then Bor-
ough President that II was impracticable TO get
men of sufficient capacity through the method
of competitive examination, the Civil Service
Commission placed these positions in the exempt
class.
We ask you. in view of your experience and in
view Of the recent disclosures TO request the
commission TO reclassify these positions and 70
place them In the competitive class We ask
you TO select the new appOntees as the result or
competitive examination. The results of the
other method nave clearly been shown. We eX
cept from this request the Superintendent Of
Public Works who Is. understand, your i'm
mediate deputy
The supcrintendents Of highways and sewers
are only heads of subordinate bureaus in your
department. AS such they belong in the COM
petitive class. Chiefs of divisions and heads of
bureaus have been ia the competitive class in
the United States service since President Cleve-
lands order of May S, 1895. The chiefs Of these
particular bureaus should have certain specific
and technical knowledge which be tested by
examination. Positions Of equal importance
and requiring much or greater knowledge
and experience have been successfully filled by
competitive examination in the federal service
in Philadelphia, in Chicago and elsewhere where
Civil Service laws in force.
The chiefs Of the bureaus Of highways and
sewers should not be subject 10 removal with
each change in the political aspect Of the City's
administration. That this is practically sure
to happen. however. as long as these positions
remain exempt from examination you know as
well do. Only by placing them in the
competitive class can a tenure of office during
efficiency and good behavior be obtained while
at the same time the head Of the department
tains full power Of removal for nefficiency, dis
honesty or other proper reasons.
The Mayor said he has not done anything yet
with the bill taking the borough presidents out
of the Board of Aldermen.