The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-13
AHEkRN STARTLES TAMMANY
MAYBE THE AXE WILL FALL on
DALTON'S NECK TO-DAY.

--
Murphy sen Don't Know Exactly what TO
Make Of the Programme OF Wholesale
Removals bus Intimate That II Isn't
DislOyalty TO Save Your own Scalp,
The first move by President Ahearn in
his plan to remove most II not oil OF his
heads OF bureaus may possibly be made
to-day. Mr. Ahearr has been looking
around fora suitable man to succeed
William Dalton, his Superintendent OF
Public Works and head Of his cabinet, and
according to reports last night had about
made up his mind TO let the axe fall to-day.
When one Of Mr.. Ahearn's friends was
asked last night II a man had been found
to succeed Mr.. Dalton, who is likely TO be
the first victim, the reply was wait until
to-day Mr.. Ahearn was at his club all
day but declined TO discuss at all the story
OF his contemplated owe. He might
have something TO say In a day or two, he
said.
The news of the decision reached by Mr..
Ahearn and some OF his advisers TO apply
the broom to his Office caused more sur
prise yesterday than anything that has hap
pened lately in connection with the local
political situation. The most surprised
men Of all appeared TO be some OF the mem
bers Of the Borough Presidents official
family whose heads. IL is said, are to fall.
George F. Scannell. leader Of the Twenty
fifth and Mr.. Ahearn's Superintendent OF
Highways, was one OF these.
Il know absolutely nothing Of any such
purpose Of President Ahearn,' he said,
and l don't believe any such thing. ] read
It in the newspapers this morning. but
I won't believe il until l see Mr.. Ahearn to-
morrow and he confirms IL personally
William Dalton said that he hadn't heard
OF any intention to get rid OF him until he
read it in the newspapers. He, too, said
that he didn't believe ii and wouldn't his.
cuss it il he did believe it.
William H. Walker, Mr.. Ahearn's Super
intendent Of Public Buildings. whose ad-
ministration has come in for a pretty severe
raking over in the investigation being con
Quoted by the Commissioner Of Accounts.
did not express any surprise but didn't
Apparently Charles F. Murphy and mis-
friends had no idea that any such step was
even contemplated by President Ahearn.
whom they have always counted upon as
being their friend, until they. too, read the
newspapers Yesterday. The news was
received by the Murphy faction with in
President Ahearn," said one of Mr..
Murphy's friends, has always been loyal
to Mr.: Murphy, reports to the contrary
notwithstanding Mr.; Murphy mas haa
even in the last few days. II Mr.. Ahearn
has decided on any such move as the news
papers report it is news to us and cont
believe that he would a k any such step
unless some one close to him had convinced
liz AhnN hn .rna hAtnn aonEtR0nH and TINT
it was necessary in order to save himself.
That nay have been the case
II was cahdidly admitted by Mr.. Muir
phys intimstes yesterday that should
President Ahearn apply the broom to his
office in any such Wholesale manner as he is
reported to intend it would cripple Mr.. Muir
ply In the fight he has on his hands very
much. With the exception OF the Tammany
Justices Mr.. Ahearn's Office has been the
only source Of patronage FOR the Murphy
faction, out it has been a very rich one.
Not only are the heads OF all the bureaus in
Mr.. Ahearn's Office faithful Murphy men
but there are many minor berths under them
all filled by Murphy workers who might
have to go II there was any radical reorgan-
ization Of his Office by the Borough Presi-
dent,
ore thing the Murphy men Seemed to he
certain OF yesterday, and that was that Presi-
dent Ahearn was not out for the Tammany
leadership himself, Al Of them seemed TO
feel that il the Borough President had in
contemplation any such move as was re-
ported il was simply because. as they eX-
pressed it, he felt that he was up against
IT. and was trying to save his own scalp.
Mr.. Ahearn is removable by the Governor,
20 whom IL would be perfectly proper Tor the
Mayor to send the report OF his Commits
. sioners of Accounts II he felt that the evil
dence warranted such action.
Mr.. Murphy's intimates took occosion
Yesterday to reassert that Mr.. Murphy
would not retire until there had been q show
down and the votes had shown him that he
was beaten. They said hat he was more
Of a fighter in this respect than Mr.. Croker.
Scanned, Dalton, Hagan and Boyhan were
absolutely loyal to Mr.. Murphy, they said.
1t was learned that within the last few days,
in talks that he has had with some OF MIR.
Murphy's advisers, President Ahearn has
spoken with much bitterness Of the criti-
cism directed at him because Of some OF the
acts Of his s~ubordinatee. He didn't let out
Just whom he meant, and those with whom
he talked got the idea that he referred to
those filling minor places and not his bureau
heads. They reconstruct things yesterday.
Martin w. Littleton, Mr.. Ahearn's counsel
in the investigation, said yesterday that he
was no the man Mr., Ahearn had in mind
70 fill Dalton's place. Mr.. Ahearn, while he
would not talk politics, did some talking
about what he was doing to remedy, the
condition Of the streets. At his orders,
he said, gangs we're at work yesterday
repairing Broadway from Canal street TO
Forty-second and Fifth venue from WASH
ington Square TO Forty-second street. Two
weeks ago yesterday. President Ahearn
said, the men had begun work, but had
been arrested by Commissioner %Bingham's
men,
The Borough President had a talk with
the Police Commissioner then. with the
result hat the police had orders yesterday
not TO modest the street repairers. Presi-
1apN A hon rn GatH chat IN aRfANnt nf ira ffn
il was impossible to make repairs on week
days except in the hours from 4 TO 0 A. M.
He also said that Shere hadn't been a day
lately wien the asphalt companies had not
had forty gangs making repairs.