New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-01
HAEFEN SEES LIGHT
THE .M1YOR.S LETTER
LEADS HIN TO QUIT.
Says He Does Not Hish 10
EmbGfrGs Justice Davis
by Holding Place.

Louis + Haffcn. former Borough
President o. The Bronx sent d letter to
Corporation Counsel Watson last night
in which he declined his appointment by
Justice Vernon NJ Davis, % the Supreme
Court. as a commissioner OF estimate and
appraisal in the matter cf the opening
Of East 11ith street, liz The Bronx. Mr.
HarreE, through his attorney, Louis O
Van Doren. said that he was unwilling
to Inconvenience or embaTrass Justice
Davis by accepting The appointment
The appointment had aroused the indis-
nation OF Mr.. Watson and OF the Mayo.
Mr.. Haffen's letter 40 Corporation
Counsel Watson follows:
In view Of the letter Of the Hoi!. Will
lam J. Gaynor. Mayor. TO You, dated
March 81. 1910, and 10 avoid the neon
venience and embarrassment therein IN
dicated as about to be caused the Hon.
Vernon NJ Davis Justice OF the Supreme
court of the State of New York. because
of his having honored me by the ap-
pointment as commissioner OF estimate
and appraisal in the matter OF the open
ing of and extending of East ll4th street
i'm the Borough of The Bronx, ] hereDF
notify YOU that l decline the appoint
ment.
At the same time Mr.. Haffen sent this
letter to Justice Davis:
am deeply sensible of the honor you
have conferred upon me in naming me as
a commissioner OF estimate and ap-
praisal in the matter of the opening aha
extending of East 174th street Borough
of The Bronx but | am unwilling 10
allow that appointment to be MADE the
cause Of Inconvenience and embarrass-
ment to you.
I have always been willing personally
10 defend myself at any expense anu
with any amount of labor against accu-
sa tions arising from my twelve years
administered ton as President OF the Bor-
ough of The Bronx. II is my duty ana
right SO to defend myself at all tunes
and under every circumstance But 1
cannot impose this burden on others,
and especially am | unwilling 10 allow
nv appointment as a commissioners Oh
estimate and appraisal in street open
ing proceeding TO interrupt the orderly
transaction by the Supreme Court or
anv Of it's justices of the great puoitc
duties with which it and they are IN
trusted
For these rea sons | now decline the
arnointment and inclose TO you copy Of
a letter declining il. which snali cause
90 he delivered 10 the Corpora ton Coun-
sci on April /. 1910
When Justice Davis saw a copy or the
MAYORS letter he read II through care
fully. but declined to comment on II dl-
Tectlv. Later, however. he 1ntirnateo
thaf the gage Of thus offered was TO
he accepted II. e Davis said that
Haffen'sr fee would only amount TO about
500 anyhow as the amount involved
In the condemnation proceedings was
only $4,000.
Earlier in the day the Mayor sent the
following letter to the Corporation
Counsel:
the court does not forthwith sub
stitlIte some one in place Of Mr.. Hafen
on the commission. I think it will be our
dutv to Law the matter before both
houses Of the Legislature. as they have.
under the constitution, supervision Of
the conduct OF judges and power 10 re-
move them To have such an appoint
ment made after the effort which we
have made to do away with the waste
and abuses Of the public funds IN CON
demnation proceedings by having honest
and fit men appointed as commissioners
therein. is discouraging to the last de-
gree. A nd. in addition. is an affront To
tho Governor of the state. who so re
Gently removed him from office for Off
cial misconduct
We may as well have this matter our
now and once for all Several OF our
tudgns here have been to see me hereto
fore and are most anxious to have these
condemnation proceedings put on
proper footing and that proper com
missioners be appointed
Robert Davis. father of Justice Davis,
has been an inspector of regulating and
Grading in The Bronx since 1886 He
served under Mr.. Haffen when the latter
was Borough President. from 1897 untii
his removal.