New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-17
REPORT HITS AHEARN.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Borough Government Scathingly
Denounced by Investigators.

pages Of testimony taken in the recent investi
cation. The Mayor will send the findings with
letter to the Governor this afternoon. The Bor-
ough President is not directly accountable to
the Mayor. The Governor is his superior and is
obliged give him hearing any pro-
ceedng for removal If the Governor re-
moves the Borough President the election of a
successor is in the power of the aldermen of
Manhattan Borough. There thirty-eight OF
these. divided follows Republicans. IL; Tam
many 16 and Municipal Ownership League. o.
The Mayor must preside at the election. and In
case OF tie vote he can cast the deciding ballot
Not only is President Ahearn condemned by
the Investigators. but there is also strong CEN
sure of the heads of the Bureau OF Highways
Bureau of Public Buildings and Offices, Bureau
of Sewers Bureau OF Membranes, the aboli-
tion of which Is recommended and the Bureau
of Buildings. Mr.. Ahearn dismissed Commits
soner Dalton OF the Bureau of Public Works.
Superintendent Walker of the Bureau of Public
Buildings and Offices and accepted the reslgna-
ton Of George X. Olney, chief engineer of the
Bureau of Highways. George F. Scannell. the
head of the Bureau of Highways, and William
J. Boyhan, head OF the Bureau of Sewers. Tam
many district leaders, were not removed.
The summary OF the findings of the investl-
gators starts out follows:
While have been embarrassed in placing the
responsibility for the acts OF misfeasance and the
ineffiCeDCy revealed by inquiry, by reason OF
the refusal of President Ahearn and several of his
chief subordinates to testify before u.s. we have
ascertaned that
/ The president delegated no executive discretion
TO the Commissioner of Public Works or the heads
OF bureaus.
. lie personally appointed and alone assigned or
transferred all his subOrdinates
g. He required the chief engineers of the bureaus
OF and highways TO report to him on all
matters requiring executive determination.
4 He exercised personal control over the prepara-
ton specifications for. and the letting Of CON
g. He personally authorized additional payments
TO contractors in Of per cent OF the con-
tract amount the limit fixed by Section +l9 OF the
charter
6 He personally selected the contractors TO whom
orders for supplies and repairs were given
Z He personally signed all such orders for repairs
and supplies
s. He personally signed and certified TO tho pro-
pricty OF payroll charges.
O. He signed orders for supplies and repairs which
should have been contracted for.
10 He personally controlled the issue OF permits
to corporations 10 open streets
IL He personally issued all orders 70 paving COM
panies 10 mako repairs.
BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS FAULTY.
Then the bureaus, beginning with the Bureau
of Highways. are tackled. The report on the
highways has It thus:
/ The pavements In extraordinary condition
OF disrepair.
2. specifications for paving work seriously de-
fective
3 Recommendations of experts employed by the
borough President TO advise on matters relating
to pnvements ignored.
/ No system OF inspection and report IN tho
bureau TO prevent the deterioration OF pavcments
. Retention OF incompetent inspectors
6 Failure to repair holes recorded In lSo4 1895 and
1gO6.
Z Paving companies not required 10 comply with
the of their contracts with respect 70 main
teEance.
s. Funds available FOR repaying not utilized
g. Trust fund for repaving plumbers cuts di-
verted 10 general payroll purposes
10 Unbalanced bidding on wood block paving, be-
cause Of inefficient engineers.
Il Excesses paid 10 paving contractor without
proper investigation OF causes.
u. Contract specifications not enforced
I3 Irregularities IN payrols.
or the Bureau OF Public Buildings and Offices
the report
/ Inaccurate and unkept records
2 Excessive expenditure of funds without con-
tract.
3 Illicit connection between superintendent and
contractors
4 Exorbltant prices paid favored contractors.
3 Supplies purchased through brokers and mid
dlemen.
the purchase of supplies or making of repairs
costing IN excess of $1,000
Z Total absence Of business methods in eXpen-
diture OF money without contract.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS CRITICISED.
Thereafter the departments treated as fol-
lows:
Findings with respect to the Bureau OF Sewers:
-Incompetent and useless superintendent Sec
ond-No executive supervision Of work. Third
Repeated evasons OF Section 4l9 OF the charter.
tent inspectors An efficient chief engineer.
Findings with respect 20 the Bureau OF lncum-
brnnces: First-NO Systematic method OF WORK
Second-Lack OF executive supervision; lhrd-
Gubordnaton OF bureau functions to political pur.
poses. Fourth-Abscnce of control over WORK OF
favored contractor.
First-No supervision exercised over favored con-
tractor Second-EXorbtant charges allowed con
tractor T'hird-Evidence OF corruption OF bureaus
inspectors Fourth-Abrogaton of Building Code
by the use of official discretion. Fifth-trequent
viola Of endauRerlnB
property Contradictory rulings of superin-
;endent IN similar cases.
NEGLECT, WASTE AND CORRUPTION.
The Investigators conclusion is as follows
In conclusion, we desire point out TO your
honor that In our opinion, the ineciency, neglect,
waste and corruption disclosed in the course of
this inquiry afford striking example of what may
be expected in greater or less degree In any de-
partmant Of the city government. when, as In the
oflcy of the President of the Borough OF Manhat-
tar there is an unscentihc distribution OF gov
ernmentaI functions and q lack OF controlling
and informing system of accounts and periodic
reports We believe that the suggestions which
we have embodied in this our final report, while
not attempting to provide complete mechanism
for an efficient administration OF the department,
will nevertheless. If adopted, far toward insur-
ing to the borough tolerabe administration OF It's
affairs
In submitting the foregoing for your consldera-
ton we are mindful of the fact that the Borough
President being an elected official and responsible
only 20 public and to the Governor of tho state
# is not within your power TO compel the reforms
outlined herein. We point out to you that the
character OF the future government of this borough
depends upon the readiness of the incumbent OF the
office of Presdeat TO protect the borough and its
citizens these means from such abuses those
| disclosed by our inquiry.
STREET PAVING FUNDS DIVERTED.
with reference to the Borough Presidents su-
| peryision of the repaving of streets. tie report
says
Notwithstanding the facility with which all the
items of cost may be determined the Borough
I 1.ar .afr rpFonr do