The evening world., 1908-02-26
HAFFEN ADMITS
HE'S BEEN M|SLED
BY CONTRACTORS
But Bronx Borough President
! Tells ProberS He IS "Onto
the Game" Now.
COMPLAINS OF ONE FIRM
Says He Has Referred the
Williams Sewer Contract to
the Corporation Counsel.
COMPLAINS OF ONE FIRM

When the investigation of the admin
istration of Louis lIaffen. President OF
Bronx Borough. was resumed to-day by
the Commissioners of Accounts. Mr..
Hafen again took the stand. He was
closely questioned by Commissioner
Mitchell as to the cost of various classes
OF public work in the Bronx.
1--WE minimize cost by demanding
full days work from each man" said
the witness II am satisfied that our
people are doing their duty But want
this understooi-thc man who works
for the city does not work as hard as
the italian laborer for a contractor. The
city of New York does not expect TO
enslave its employees"
Does that apply to every official in
the Bronx"
Yes. from the head down-only that
the head sometimes works harder even
than the Italian laborer. But we do
not drive our men with a pick held over
their head. You know as well as ! DO
what the reasons are FOR that. In my
twenty-five years public service never
saw slave in the city's employ. and
We don't want slaves"
Why Net? Asks Mitchell.
"Why do not city employees give the
city their best efforts? What is the
reason?" asked Commissioner Mitchell.
I'VE do get the best, and it is more
Intelligent return than common con-
tract laoorers can give" answered the
witness.
President Haffcn was required to tell
In detail the method of contract awards
from the inception Of an Improvement |
10 its completion. The proceedings he
came as Greary as the weather itself
Admits Being Fooled.
Haffon admitted that he had been
fooled" several times in awarding con- |
tracts to irresponsible contractors.
IT am on to their games now" he
added. and don't propose being fooled |
any more. l don't mind saving that |
the Williams Contracting Company, |
which got a $4,000 sewer contract. tried
certain tactics and / had them hauled
up. The Corporation Counsel has the |
case now"
The Williams Contracting Company is |
the concern which got a Manhattan !
bridge jc5 involving about $5,00),oe1. |
Shortly after the award was made |
Tammany Leader James A. Frawley |
blossomed out as a partner in the con- |
cern.
DO you inquire into associations, |
business and other relations of contrac-
tors to whom you make awards of con- !
tracts
"Oh, sometimes" said Haffen. "of
course, we do not search every side. l |
have rejected contracts for various rea- ,
sons"
q. Are the same contractors favored
repeatedly? a Not favored Certain
contractors make a business of getting
city work. but it's their hid and their
reliability to perform work that gets
contracts Cor them"
President Haren suggested that
cnanga of method IN the purchase Of
certain supplies should be made. He
said hat adequate purchases--coal. for
instances -saould he mad. in bulk for
future delivery at periods when the
market prices are low. BY this system.
on a small scale he had been enabled
lie said to bay coal and oil cheaper
Than any other city department.
Power Over Conractors.
Commissioner Mitchell obtained an ad-
mission from President Haffen to the
effect that by reason of Il clause in GER
tain contracts he mas the contractors At
his mercy change In contract spell
fcauons age'lug sewers was made in
1906, the result of which is that CON
tract time is measured by the number
Of days an Inspector Is on the, JOB,
watch the conrr7ct-allAough the work
may be progressing-the contractor can