The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-21
LIARANDLOAFER, HAFFENSAYS
BOROUGH PRESIDENT SAYS HE
ALONE FOUGHT "HOUSE MOVING"

ALVAN To GMOL VT
And Has Refused o Permit I'm the Teeth OF
the supreme Court. while the COrpera-
tion Counsel's once Has Failed TO Help
-HAnen Hot at Aldermen's Meeting.
There was a row in the Board OF Alder
men yesterday over the opinion sent by
Corporation Counsel Ellison 20 President
Haffen OF The Bronx concerning a request
of Harold Swain for permission to move a
house in that borough. The Corporation
Counsel wrote some pretty sharp things
to the Borough President, among them
that there was apparently a new industry
in The Bronx. which consists OF buying
houses on property taken by the city and
then removing these houses to vacant
property about to be bought by the city.
. that the city might have the privilege
of paying several times over for the same
Improvement"
Mr.. Hsffen seemed 70 be very angry
when he arose TO speak about the opinion.
your honorable President has been at
tackled and I have been attacked he
shouted. Il want to brand tho indi vidual
who inspired these stories as a liar and a
~loafer."
Clamor arose aud President MCGOWAN
banged away with his gavel.
THAT language IL supplementary and I
cannot permit it, said he. THE words
must he withdrawn
Haffen at first refused TO take back what
he had said. but President MCGOWAN in
sisted. Finally Haffen said: We'll, l wit h.
draw Il. but IL Is true. The man who gave
the information did not tell tho truth. l
nave tried to prevent this practice in The
Bronx. The Superintendent of Buildings
there was mandamused to grant this per-
init, and II he had not obeyed the order
Of the court he would o be in jail"
Conciliatory speeches were then made
by Aldermen Sullivan and Goodman. and
the matter was settled by the adoption
of an amendment to the ordinance, which
amendment gives the Borough President
discretion in the matter of granting per-
mits to move buildings.
After the meeting Mr.. Hafen came down
to the reporters room and made a heated
speech. He said that the responsibility
rested not on him but upon the Corporation
Counsels Office.
Mind you" said he, II don't blame Mr..
Ellison. but the responsibility rests on two
men in his Office"
Mr.. Haffen declined 70 give their names.
why" said he, Il have been after this
mar Swain for many months to stop him
from moving. that building, aud at this
moment the Superintendent Of Buildings
in my Office, Patrick j. Revelle, is in danger
OF going to Jail for disobeying a peremptory
mandamus of the Supreme Court issued bv
Justice Bowling, The permit has been
revoked in spite Of this order, and Ravelle
may be in Jail now for all | know. He j.
willing to go to jail. and 40 am ! il we ran
prevent this outrage. II we can keep the
house from being moved until November
70, when the city takes title to the property
where Swain wants TO put the house, we
will have won the battle, as the permit
.stipulates that no house shall be placed
on the ground after the city gains the
title"
Mr. Hahen finally said he had begged
the Corporation Counsel's Office to get a
stay and appeal the case but that nothing
was done about il as far as he knew and
when the mandamus was served on Revelle
he had TO obey the order of the court.
Mind you" continued the Borough
President, this letter, which was given
TO the newspaper yesterday. was sent to
me on October 10. My answer will be found
in the records of the Board of Aldermen
I did exactly as directed. ! introduced or
October ne the amendment advised and
tried my best TO get it through, but il was
not pissed until to-day. In the meantime
the Corporation Counsel's Office did nothing
apparently either TO get a stay or to urge
the quick passage OF the amendment. In
stead of helping Swan TO move the house
my Office has lone all in its power to
prevent it."
Mr. Ellison refused to discuss the state
ment of Mr.. Haffen. but minated that he
might have someth ng further 10 say to-day.
President Haffen sent a letter last night
to Corporation Counsel Ellison giving a his
tory Of the attempt TO move the house and
saying that IF the city is being mulcted In
this proceeding the responsibility rests
elsewhere than in my Office or in any bureau
under nv jurisdiction"