New-York tribune., 1907-03-02
ASPHALTREPAIR EXCESS
Martins Counsel Says Ahearn Or
dered 1sphaIt Repairs.

John C. Waite a lawyer and civil engineer rep
resenting Wisner Martin. who until a few weeks
ago held a responsible engineering position in
the borough government. says that Borough Presi-
dent Ahearn and his secretary, Bernard Downing.
forced Wisner Martin of the city's employment
shield the office of the Borough President from
criticism on account of the excessive cost of as
phalt repair work authorized by Mr. Ahearn.
Assistant Corporation Counsel F. Martin has been
investigating the bills. He says that bills for more
than 100000 worth Of repair work will not be paid
because il was not done according to law. As Wis
ner Martin. principal assistant engineer OF the Bu-
reau Of Highways. in charge. the Borough
President holds him responsible for IT, Mr. Martin
ceased working for the city two or three months
ago.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Martin found that
$4,000 worth of repair work charged for by
the contractors IN one month. Heretofore Slo'VOO
year has covered the repair bill. Mr.. Martin had
fifteen inspectors up for trial and asserts that he
discovered that they had not done their duty These
inspectors were marked for dismissal In nearly
every instance Tammany district leader is oack-
ing inspector. and there have been no dlsmis-
sails. Wisner Martin seems to be the only one who
has been punished on account of the alleged bad
Management. if it was not worse than that. When
Mr.. Waite Wisne: Martins counsel was seen yes
terday he said
This attempt TO besmirch the character and
standing of Wisner Martin is due 20 aninus IN the
part of Bernard Downing Borough President
made il hot for Ahearn on account of the detectNe
condition OF the asphalt pavements. In when many
holes had been burned by bonlres. Mr. Ahearn
grew restive under the criticism and finally created
a repairs bureau. and told Mr.. Martin 10 repair the
holes. He gave Mr.. Martin full authority Mr.
Martin implicitly followed instructions Now it
seems that there was bad work done by some one'
and Ahearn lays it Martin.
Mr.. Martin continued Mr.. Waite was COM
PEELED to take the reports of the thirty inspectors
under him. He could not in every instance follow
them around and for himself that they were
doing their work properly. When the bills came in
for this great volume OF repairs they were so large
that they scared Mr.. AheaTn. He had no approprla-
ton To the cost. and he was in something of
a hole. So he blamed it on Martin Downing al
legged that Martin never had received carte banche
orders to go ahead with the repair work. ana
Martin says he had.
As soon as the controversy sprung Mr..
Martins desk taken away and there was no
work for him 10 do. 1t is ridiculous for Ahaarn
and Downing to talk about Martin being TO blame
for the asphalt bills They found themselves in
a hole and made him the scapegoat"
Secretary Downing said that he would make a fuil
statemen: little later He said that the dereict
inspectors had not been dismissed as they were
TO have another trial
IT was testified at an investigation held by the
Corporation Counsel and Secretary Downing that
claims had been put in by asphalt companies Tor
repairs OF pavements on large number of blocks
also sent through for authorization for repairs or
streets for asphalt which had been paved with
granite, and nearly the whole block in front OF
Police Headquarters, In Mulberry street. Il was
claimed had been damaged by bonhres. CoInpa-
nies laying asphalt on streets have TO keep it I'm
repair. but the city has pay the companies for
repairing asphalt injured by bonfres. Something
like 10000 in claims has beer put ir-