The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-10
FOR NOT FILLING
HIS JOB AHEARN
IS FIRED
Gov. Hughes 0usta New York
Borough President
ABUSES IN ADMINISTRATION
Ex-senator, 1t Is Held, Neglected His
Duty In Allowing Disgraceful
State of Affairs.

ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. 10.-Governor
Hughes has removed from office Pres
iuent Ahearn of the Borough of Man
haitian, which comprises practically
New York city.
The condition of disrepair and neg
iect which President Ahearn permitted
to obtain In the streets of New York,
especially those paved with asphalt, is
the principal ground upon which Gov.
ernor Hughes bases his action, but he
alludes to grave abuses in the admin.
istration of the bureau Of public build.
ings and Offices" one Of the depart
ments under Ahearn's jurisdiction.
The governor takes pains to call at
tention to the fact that personal cor
ruption was not alleged or proved
against the borough president-"that
is" he says. ''it is not shown and it Is
not claimed that he has converted pub
lie money or property to his own use
or has personally profted in an I'M
lawful manner by his official conduct.
"Justice to Mr.. Aheam requires" the
governor continues, that this should
be stated emphatically and clearly be
understood. But that does not end the
matter A borough president as has
been said. is removable upon charges.
And without attempting to state COM
prehensIvely what conduct bearing up
on character or fitness might he re,
garded as a proper subject of charges
It is clear that a charge will lie for
breach of duty
''There may be, of course, technical
breaches of duty or omissions of such
relative inconsequence that although
public obligation may not have been
strictly 1t has been substantially per-
formed, and removal from office would
not be justified. the gravity and COM
parative Importance of the breach of
duty Is a matter for the consideration
of the officer vested with the. power of
removal. But If there has been malad-
ministration in matters seriously af-
fecting the public welfare and gross
breach of official obligation the duty of
hCDlONdl 10 Nitui. olpCit tbtlN - nv
proof of peculation or personal dis
honesty"
Taking up first the charges Of NAL
administration in the highway depart
ment, the governor says in part:
1.-THE evidence compels the conclu.
sion that Borough President Aheam
has failed to perform his duty with
reference to the streets to a degree
that is entirely inexcusable. Until re-
Gently, when the sharpness Of COM
plants and investigation led to re-
organization OF the department, the
streets of New York were permitted to
remain in a shocking condition of dis
repair.
'It Is not a case Of occasional neg
lect or Of lapses which might be over
looked, On the contrary. 1t Is a case
of continuous maladministration, re-
lievsd only by spasmodic efforts under
the pressure of criticism. 1t is not
necessary to 60 back to Mr.. Ahearn's
first term, but 1t is sufficient to con-
slider the wretched condition Of the
streets during the year 1906 and until
the spring Of this year, the RESPONSE
bility for which rests upon the bor-
eugh president"
The governor says he Is not unmind-
full Of the large amount Of disturbance
Of the streets, "due to the multitude
Of necessary openings" the damage by
bonfres or of the excuse biased upon
the confusion Of authority due to the
defects In the charter, and obvious as
may be the importance Of remedying
them In order to get the best results
there Is limit to the extent to which
they may serve as an excuse for bad
administration. And In this case, after
making full allowance for any posi-.
BILE embarrassment which they occa
stoned to the borough president and
fer the extent of interference with the
pavements by the causes above men
tened, the conclusion Is irresistible
that in the main tho bad condition Of
the streets has not been due to any
ether cause than the failure Of the
borough president to do his duty"
President Ahearn served as state
senator continuously from 1880 to 1902
He was elected president Of Manhat
tan borough In 1908 and reelected II
1906 for q term Of four years, expiring
Dec 81. 1909.
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