New-York tribune., 1908-06-23
MAY ACCUSE HAFFEN
CIVIC LEAGUE TO act.
ro~maI Charges to GoUernor Likelu
N FoUosr Com missioners' Findings.

There is every reason to believe that formal
,s-ees against Borough President Haffen will he
s-t 70 Governor Hughes result Of the find
,-rs Of the Commissioners of accounts In their
,o-- on the investigation Of his office SYNOPSIS
:, which was published in The Tribune yesterday
A 2 Davis presi~ent OF the Civic League of
-he Bronx which made the first charges against
~. administration Of President Haffen said yes
.,,ssv that his organization would follow the sub
d. NJ Some time ago the City Club which pre-
.e--e6 the charges which President Ahearn was
-s-oved after trial by Governor Hughes was
,xkes - take the same part in the Hanen case
Sothins was done at that time. the proceedings
,ss been started by another organization The
.ec-e.arv OF the club said yesterday that the ex-
s,,tfve committee Of the club its meeting to
morrow night would probably consider the ques-
ton further.
league Of The Bronx would push the case
srsirst President Haren. In default of any
5e@nife action on their part or that Of any other
organization. there is reason TO believe that Mayor
Mcclellan viii take up the himself and direct
RS Commissioners Of Accounts 10 act prosecu-
tors before the Governor
The Mayor would discuss any action which
=. might take yesterday. He said he had not had
zine 20 g through the report and until he had
6,re so and had had chance to confer, with the
-o-rorrtion Counsel he would reach decision.
I-niE such a time he will not act on the recon-
-rs-5a.ior Of the Commissioners Of Accounts that
certain acts Of MI. Haffen be referred TO the Dis
trict Attorney
District Attorney Jerome would not talk about
ne case yesterday. The case has not been put
before him and unless il is he Will not interest
himself in il. i is believed
I think +fe Commissioners Of Accounts made a
,-st-y strong case against President Haffen," said
President Davis. commenting on the report MI
Davis of the impression that the report Of the
commissioners OF Accounts constituted charges and
,s- formal charges on the part Of the league would
mn he necessary. When informed that the report
vss one Of findings only, he said: You may state
thz- Ne are prepared 10 follow the matter up and
n -e-esssrv prepare formal charges. based on
+he erdi-cs 10 be forwarded TO the Governor
NJ Davis explained that year ago in February
committee from the league had gone to the
Governor with petition for legislative investiga-
,or or the Office Of Porough President Haffen
Accorparying the petition was long series OF
sTdzvits containing charges against the admins
--ario7 az President Fiaffen Governor Hughes re-
oues,ed the committee to await the report OF the
Commissioners Of Accounts. who rad just been
ordered make such an investigation
T-uis q Van Doren, counsel for President fiaf-
zen said yesterday that all he and his client colo
% vas 10 wait and what was going 10 be done
- --e Mayor or civic organizations. We expect 20
1Err the case in the usual way. Il necessary
szf5 NJ Van Doren- If Il is matter OF evidence
re have no fear of the result of any trial on
charges. II it is going TO be political game we
The -e.ereDces 10 the Penal Code haven't alarmed
~ Ha~en They have simply made him laugh
All a his acts have been covered by the courts
z,5 opinions Of the Corporation Counsel Whlch the
Commissioners Of Accounts apparently have not
read
corporation Counsel Pendleton said he had not
ts5 = chance 10 read the report. Regarding the
ssren,ent in the report that the alleged excessive
ru-s-d for the Hunts Point Park property had
been submitted 10 the Corporation Counsel for ac
son Mr.. PendIeton said that the awards OF the
condemnation commissioners were confirmed some
49,, 80 there was nothing that could be done IN
This >.
..r--oue.ttonablv those awards are excessive
he ssi5 but believe il TO be due TO the system
which is defective and entirely unsatisfactory Inc
charter Revision Commission Is considering an IN
r-over1ert Of the present system or the aooP'4ol
y another system Of condemnation
I have been doing great deal OF thinking Oh
TIE subject and purpose submitting my conclusi7
10 the commission II seems to me me pest INNS
10 do IS TO place The duty Of conducting coIuellLo
tio- proceedings on the courts. OF course such a
pls1 would require the addition OF more Jusuces T"
re f4nch but we could easily pay their salaries
with z part OF the money We would save N liie
condemnation proceedings l think IL WouIo De
-.osssarz, IN have q constitutional amendment 10
a5o-r This system but that ought not TO be oln-
cult.
Attaches Of the Office Of the Commissioners O.
j. ,,c-,-s we're busy yesterday preparing analyses
=. - testimony Of the various witnesses ana gath-
80 -oze-ber the evidence on particular subjects
= s7,,1 : way that il may be readily aVallaDle
in case il is decided 10 prosecute charges asa-st
President Fs4en.