The Detroit times., 1908-03-30
WANTS
TO GET CONTROL.
Of D. P. ".
W ~. }. HAARER.
COMMISSIONER SAYS MAYOR
ATTACKS HIM PERSONALLY,
AND ISN'T INTERESTED IN RE.
FoRMs-REPoRT CRITICISED.


ing up my department" said Commits
sioner Haarer Monday He has
braced up nothing since he became
mayor. All his efforts have been to
disrupt, destroy and tear to pieces.
'"His. attacks are principally direct
ed at individuals, not at departments
or systems. When he investigated
the sidewalks, he could not be In
duced to look at any but Garner
walks, because he had grudgc
against the Gamers. When he went
after the park board, his attack was
directed at Secretary Hurlbut, per-
sonally, trying 10 make him out
crook. In this department his attacks
are directed against me personally,
ousted from my job and get control
OF the department.
He knows perfectly we'll that | did
not originate the bookkeeping system
In this Office, but took It. as- found
| II two years ago. just as Ii had been
used for 30 years or more. and In
| just the same shape that Maybury.
my predecessor, handed Il over to
me. 1t served his purpose well. he
says, and 1t has served mine.
Has Made improvements.
Like Maybury, l can always find
out whatever | want to from the
books. I have made several changes
and improvements, on account or
changing conditions, and shall prob
ably make more-not on Thompson's
suggestions, because he knows moth
ing about this department or Its
workings. and he cares less--what he
wants Is to keep the papers full or
abusive criticisms OF me and of my
department, believing that he will
eventually convince the public that
we are all knaves or fools In this
office.
"He says he Is giving me an oppor-
tunity to explain, when, as a matter
OF fact, his questions. criticisms and
accusations are all given out to the
papers before they come to me, so
that whether true or false he accom-
plishes his object-publicity, and be.
fore an opportunity Is given me to
explain. Does Thompson ever stop
to think of the injury the credit OF
the city Is likely to suffer through his
III anu aCtuooT
tons against other public officials?"
Now that the mayor has made pub
lie the report of his accountants into
the bookkeeping OF the department
of public works, the question that Is
of most interest In the city hall Is
as to what he will do with 1t.
IL Is understood that the mayor
will have 10000 copies OF the report
printed for distribution. as he did
with his annual message. To this
there may be objection from the
council, which almost baked at the
bill for the message. Some OF the
aldermen then alleged that the mayor
was using city funds to circulate a
campaign document.
VIII Wait for Haarer's Answer.
II shall wait until Haarer's answer
Is In before sending the report to the
council and getting 1t printed" stated
Mayor Thompson. Monday. THE In
vestigation has been a good thing
for the department. The clerks have
spruced up and are doing their work
better"
Commissioner Haarer spent about
an hour Saturday In going over items
In the report and found errors In
lunches, enough to cast serious doubt
on tha credibility OF the entire re-
port, he says. He will make thor.
ough examination OF the report In
detail before replying In communica-
ton to the council.
Mayor Thompson has issued state
ment In which he says that Haarer Is
ungrateful In not approaching his
action In apprising him of charges of
duplicate vouchers, ETC., before send
ing them to. the council. He adds
that the report Of N. Hawkins & Co.
must stand for Itself as he hired the
accountants by request OF the council.
ut Is up TO Mr.. Haarer to discredit
It.; II is up to NJ Hawkins & Co. to
vindicate It," he says.
,Haarer's Plant.
II do not know why I should be
grateful to the mayor" said Haarer
Monday. "He gave the charges and
the report out to the press before he
notified me of them. The aim was TO
hurt me and he has used every means
to do that.
II have replied to these charges so
often that am getting tired of doing