New-York tribune., 1908-02-25
HAFFEN INQUIRY BEGUN
BRCCKNER CASE RETITED.
Borough President asked H'hy For
mer Hasn't ReaDpointed.

touched on the reasons underlying the failure Of
Borough President Haffen to reappoint Henry
Bruckner Commissioner of Public Works in
his second term He intinated in general
way that Information that number of laborers
had been receiving fun pay when they were en-
titled TO only part time had something 10 do With
IL Mr Bruckner has been out Of town, but It
was said last night had returned because he
learned the Commissioners of Accounts wished
70 subpoena him a witness.
Regarding the absence OF Martin Geszler Su-
perintendent Of Highways who is also desired as
e witness President Hafen said that he
away on sick leave without pay. 4 wish 70
deny that his absence has anything TO do with
this investigation" said President Hafen. He
did not know. however. what Superintendent
Geiszler was suffering from where he
In opening the investigation al 10: 80 O'Clock
g. Commissioner Mitchell made the following
statement:
This Is special inxestigatien Of the ACCOUNTS CO t
sorouEh Of The Bronxl Tli'e 0i 'is u 'i''
This exanlination Is made as part 81 and Pur- @
ton formulated by the Commissioners Of Accounts;
the important departments OF the city govern
For the last several months. have been en-
gagged in an examination Of the records Of the rhe
Bronx and in the investigation of certain charges
FLED with US by the Civic League of The Bronx.
and that examination had developed conal1ons s
be made only through the eXannination % & Of wit
may be either established disproved. We have
accordingly in the exercise of the discretion ve{ed
n by law. ordered these public hearings, pe-
lieving have heretofore believed that the
public entitled 10 the fullest knoWleaGe 9' AZ
ssirlinstrato1 of the various departments Of the
We have requested the President Of the Borough
of The Bronx TO attend as the first witness
Louis O. Van Doren. counsel for President
Fanen. asked whether the hearing had been
on
initiative Of the commissioners
WHO STARTED INVESTIGATION.
Both on our own initiative and by the
Mayors direction. replied Commissioner
Mitchell He communicated verbally with Us
some time in August.
Ir. Van Doren said that nothing in the papers
which the comm issioners had sent 10 the Presi
dent Of the Borough OF The Bronx had indi-
Gated what branch of the government or Of the
Presidents Office they intended 10 investigate
IF you will indicate your intentions along TINS
line 70 him." he said. and give reasonable
time 70 prepare answers TO al questions l
think that an adjournment will be for the best
interests Of all concerned
This hearing at first" said Commissioner
Mitchell wifi be il the nature Of general in
curry into the duties of the local officials and
the organization Of President Hanen's office
That Of course. ne is familiar with Later on
the investigation will undertake the analysis
Of the organization and the functions Of The
various bureaus. II will cover ali phases of de-
partmenJ work
ON The plea Of NJ. Van Doren that 1t was
recesser- for the Borough President TO sign his
1avroIls in order that his employees might get
their money promptly Commissioner Mitchell
rhan adjourned the investigation until O'Clock.
first having sworn the Borough President MI
Var Doren wanted & placed on the record tnat
il was an ex-parte investigation, and that the
Borough President vas not allowed 20 nave
counsel for the examination or cross-exaTTalra-
ton Of witnesses. anu that the Commissioners
OF Accounts had power To 60 no further than re
port their findings
While We have used the term ex-parte IN
ves4igation.~ replied Commissioner Mitchell. it
would be more correct 10 describe these pro
ceaiirrs as an administrative inquiry We have
,,o- r,rera7r..I charges against President Haffen
He is merely our witness He may not examine
or croes-exarine witnesses through counsel
but he may make suggestions regarding Wit
-,esses to the commissioners Any questions his
counsel may wish TO ask must be submitted
70 US
EXAMINATION OPENS
r- ore7fng the examination ef President Hat
fe7 COMMISSIONS Mitchell brought out the facts
tta- prior to lSas the witness had been Com
missioner Of Street improvements IN the ia
end o4-h wards for four years. and prior 10 that
hsd rean IN engineer III the Department Of
Parks In MS first term as Borough President,
he said MS duties had heen comparatively few,
although he had sat as chairman of the local
boards of rub,ic Improvement Since January
1ano however his powers had been increased
81 that he had sole Jurisdiction over streets ana
sewers.
.Yol therefore. have entire charge Of laying
~,,- new streets and paving said Commissioner
rircheI when the Borough President had re-
rljed IN the affirmative ne mas asked IN detail
rezs-ding- the various steps in such works
President Hanen testified that he had re-
c@5,re6 degrees o. 4 b 3. l. and NJ 4. from
Fo-dham University and had been graduated
as Cjxn engineer from the Columbia School
of Mines
IN s-,esl.ir= of 7vork THAI had been done and
v-se contemplated President HafTen said that
i-,r-,y-e-~r1tS u cost s7o00.o00 had been passed
r. bis loc9l BOARDS but were being held UP by
-, t,,s-d 81 Estimate II might be necessary.
D.. said To decrease his force Of employees if the
Tso.-7 of Estimate continued To hold UP these
iy,rr.,ersents The improvements last year had
beer laid oui II an estimated cost OF S35eo'oeO-
-.7-,,a, means broke in Commissioner Mitchell
.,;,.- The frr7crovene cost Ssooooo more than
tAs. estimated amount
-0h no, oh. no" exclaimed me Borough
President The variations from the estimated
COS, 10 no, amount 10 more Than per cent one
So. ~, tb.. other The $s00ooo was FOR I'M
,,ro,,sn,ents previously projected, but not PAID
for"
After \ series Of questions regarding The
,--s,,,,e classes OF employees 10 whom they re-