New-York tribune., 1908-02-20
HISTORY OF HAFFEN INQUIRY.
Difficulties Encountered In the Institution of Present
investigation.
WORK OF BRONX CIVIC LEAGUE.
Appealed Year Ago Suggested
Take Matter Up-Serous Allegations Made Under Oath
Against Borough President Of the Bronx.

there Is a. interesting history in connection with
Tie Official investigation into the administration of
the oHsoe OF the Borough President of The Bronx
b. the Commissioners Of Accounts, which, stated
n Yesterdays Tribune. will begin on Monday.
Charges against Borough President Haffen were
made upon the public platform and in the press
.a- back 1902 \ business mems committee Of
sue hundred was appointed in the borough across
ne Harlem 10 carry a investigation into the
administration OF the Borough Presidents depart
Insnt. This body IN 1906 induced Mayor Mcclellan
10 direct the Commissioners OF Accounts 70 hold
a inquiry into the charges against Nj Hafen's
administration About The end OF the same year
the committee Of one hundred merged into a
permanent organization. known the Civic League
q The Bronx. Al active campaign followed the
formation OF this league and It publicly an
liounced at the time that list OF charges would
b formulated and request made for d legislative
investigation
Before this plan was carried into effect however,
she Civic League decided 10 adopt a quicker method
Iv proceeding under the section Of the city charter
which permits tve taxpayers or any borough, UQon
sworn statement Of charges 10 petition justice
q the Supreme Court Jo held judicial inquiry.
= petition prepared ard duly sworn TO by five
1sxpayers OF The Bronx. Application made 70
.our different justices of the Supreme Court for a
judicial inquiry, but without success IN Novem-
Der OF 1906 the Commissioners OF Accounts com
pe1ed their investigations begun in the early part
of the year and reported 10 Mayor Mcclellan that
none OF the charges made against the Borough
President Of The Bronx had been sustained
The Civic League decided in February Of last
year 10 appeal direct TO Governor Hughes A depu-
ta-ion representing the organization had previously
had & conference with the Governor. petition
vas prepared reciti2g the efforts Of the league 10
5udicial inquiry and giving the afhdaVlts
stating the charges upon which that inquiry had
been sought This petition was presented to Gov
ernor Hughes Albany IN February last by q
s54putation composed Of members OF The Civic
league The Governor after listening TO the dele
Ez-ior- promised 10 give the petition his careful
hTr-c -f71r in
curry would have 3 broader scope
i about this time that charges made
against Borough President John 2 -Ahearn of
Manhattan were referred 70 the Commissioners OF
Accounts 70 be inquired into. the personnel Of the
commission having been changed since its last
report In letter 10 the secretary of the Civic
league o. The Bronx Governor Hughes returned
tLe Ez1fel petition and iT7T-maJeG -la5 tlaSTnuCh
IS charges against Borough President AheaTn had
been referred 70 the Commissioners Of Accounts
he Of the opinion that similar course should
be followed with respect 10 the charges made in the
petition against Borough President T5affen
MAYOR TAKES ACTION
The league had in the mean time forwarded the
rsrftiCn 70 Commissioner John ? Mitchell with
request that ne should take steps 70 have the
charges therein contained taken up BY the CornIns
EioneEs Of Accounts. In August OF .ast year Mayor
Mcclellan also instructed the Commissioners Of
Accounts TO make q thorough Investigation into the
administration Of the Office Of the Borough Presl-
Gent OF The Bronx 10 ascertain # there was any
ground for 1ne accusations OF vrOngdOiug
tained in the Charges. For nearly six months the
examiners and special accountants Of the Office CT
the Commissioners Of Accounts have been al work
The EaEIo-s bureaus Of the department. Of Eor-
cug1 President Eanen. As STATED II The Tribune
yesterday TIE preliminary inquiry mas been IN
ished and pUlltc hearings vii be begun Monday
The Communication presented 70 Governor Hughes
n February AS, containing the Supreme Court
petition formulating the charges which led up 10
Ire present investigation, IS q follows
-o7rs OF TIE 2'eT -5Zff 4erh, Ess5ss5 z : 1874 F
&fzRGs AlzflsT fiE Il I'D sDllfN1s
TRALIeE or LOUIS 7. aAEEEN,
6GGH 17s5I3--15 Of TfIz III BE- BFo83S 55si'
E52H Gaa1les Z Hughes, ,5ovsrn9r A.bany
rrg Fr sssei5t r. go S--o '.=y G-ts @ tis
Borough CT The Bronx in l915. numerous and grave
- go5. @ a-ss DS- 80 i-@s r,-55 -iI ~ s siy s rs e
3 me man relate 10 dishonesty IN the execution
& pI2c work Tor EFEica d territory as large and
se-s extensive OPPORTUNITIES; ana tney aleEe mat
end have aided ana abetled IL the violation and
t-eslo5 % Numerous EtotIs-CLs Of Le S.tattl Ne"
r,rons1ui diversion and nlisaIpllcatlon OF pub-lc
a cu-vz appointment 10 positions N the cc-o45h
--t % t-SyL-z 'JI I@l-I -
Edlli--stration OF tle government who are Iaefti-
people Tor 1he salaries paid them: the extrava
sall expenditure Of public funds for Unnecessary
public works and various other violations OF ghe
eu-les and obligations OF public officer, vel
I'D cazens TneetHgs called 10 protest against on
suppress The facts. AID the bribery q Republi-
leaders 70 secure the election Of Democratic
officials Dy the betrayal o. the Republican candl-
as result Of these charges the Civic League Of
End z petition for a legislative investigation
:5-T-lr-ated A. this 51.ictuTe :. 9 NacNuty. the
attorney for arthur g. BedeH publisher Of The
ast Be8e} for libel. suggested that quicker mode
tsxavs+s IS p-ovided bv Charter Section 1854
@l 1e vas retained aS 1LtoI- 70 El'l,1Ls ms
petition. copy of when Is slpll'l leG t3eEeVIi4!.
ihe requisite judicial signature and under date OF
--Eis petft55r was originally brought 70 the
1ttencioa Of Justice Gaynor. tGroHg5, CFarles 29f
asked 70 be excused from its discrimination
thel presented il in open court, Fart II. " De
or6er for the inquiry hui subsequently cancelled
IS signature as 1he papers show because or 1-I-
trablity 70 conduct the investiEat0. inc paIela Pc,
were next rendered 10 Justice Blarcnarc, VINO VINO
evinced interest, but could not have ms xaSallGn
yeaIed 10 lie fnterposed technical objection
silo CO not aeeEI1 y ~ ;5y,astiga+fon ~ Wa
Ter before him may tLe i-'r a. -oe,,i-
-FEed upon Justice NeTbIlrgeT win l-t TesLl-
serted the case 70 four justices = the supreme
21rt ane .srog sz,e M eei tFst have done all
-hst could reasonably be expected or an atlor-
We therefore formally present these charges
uPsinst the administration of 5orou;sa
c6sTte- 90 Of the laws Of 1866. which provides:
Section l IN ali cases nhe1e @ - 1,,e ei,srf ~
o. o:Ser oecerg he may direct 1hat the testimony
5e@y be taken s1a @ re tiIF or before coIanis-
Eioaer appointed by him. -, ,.os~,.o- NAV, sf-
ref fS I5istrict attorney Of the county wnere re
oe7cer sought 70 be removed may Le.te LeS-e IA @
Attorrey General. 20 conoucl 'i'e ii-e
" b1Iie,,e this course IS dictated by SOUND
$500 30 - c9ie rr5o-aIfty SO that the truth o.
falsifT q the charges may he aesei eJt-ayra
Bcroggh % The Bronx be pgrgf,a of oficsI y have
r-r7rfg