New-York tribune., 1905-07-09
MEETING At NORTH SIDE

The North Side Board of Trade held a lively
meeting in its rooms in the Metropolis Theatre
Building. 3d-ave. and 142d-st.. Wednesday
night. Its chief episode was the clash between
Borough President Louis f. Haffen. who.f as
the first vice-president of the board. presided
in the absence of the president Olin j. Stephens.
and Albert e. Davis when the bitter attempt
ed to bring up for discussion the alleged reck-
less spending of money for repaving streets in
The Bronx. After the committee of street i'm
provements of the board had made a report of
progress. Mr.. Davis arose and said:
"A great deal of apparently unnecessary re-
paving of streets is going on in this borough
Good paving is being torn UP and replaced by
other stone"
Mr.. Haffen then asked Mr.. Davis if he could
name any specific instances of his charge about
repaving and the speaker said he could. Mr..
Davis named the Southern Boulevard from
Wis-ave. to Alexander~ave.; Rider-ave. and
149th-st and Lincon-ave and 13Sth- ST. as ex-
ampes of unnecessary repaving. Mr. Haffen
broke in Mr.. Davis and said.
1T is a matter of Judgment between you
and the head of the department. 1 am careful
and economical in the expenditure of the city's
money. If anybody can show that the money
has not been wisely spent will call the respon-
sible party to account and put another man in
his place. Put your complaints IN writing. and
1 will investigate.
But refuse to be investigated interrogated
or cross examined by you or anybody else.
Your action in bringing UP this matter here Is
unwarranted and unmannerly. am here as the
chairman of the board and not as the President
of the borough"
Mr. Davis started to speak and had said. "I
am addressing the acting chairman of this
board a matter Of public improvements"
when Mr. Haffen interrupted and said, We'll.
I refuse to be questioned" Mr. Davis then
said. I'm that case l have nothing further to
say"
James L. Wells and John De Hart both Joined
in the discussion. Mr.. Wells saying that the
newspapers had commented on the ,repaving
matter, and that the board had the right to
take up the subject and get at the facts. Mr..
Wells told Mr.. Haffen that Mr.. Davis was not
aiming at him Borough President in bringing
up the repaving situation for discussion.
Mr.. De Hart said that too much money
couldn't be spent for repaving, and that he fa-
to the S35O.OO0 that had already been appro-
priated for the purpose. The incident closed
without any action being taken by the board.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted
to hearing the reports of committees.
For the real estate committee James l.. Wells
gave some interesting Bronx figures for the six
months of the present year. From January
TO June "a, 1905, the number of conveyances
reached 1,4O4, as compared with :},3tS for the
same period last year. Plans filed for
buildings in The Bronx from January to June
"a. 1905 We're 1.157. with an estimated cost of
SlS,962,415. For the same period in aitHe4s the
PaRS Pa s26 tied were ''l and their cost was S.
The number of mortgages from January to
June "A. 1905, were J.S41. on which was loaned
S4S669,24f. as compared with 2.350 mortgages
filed and S12.S9SO44 loaned for the correspond
ing period IN 1904.
Resolutions by Albert E Davis asking the
Commissioner of Parks in The Bronx to estab-
lsh some Saturday afternoon concerts and By
James l.. Wells. authorizing the real estate COM
mttee to cooperate with the President of the
Borough In securing adequate system of
street signs, were approved. Nine applicants
were elected to membership in the board.