Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-12-30
ENGINEER DURHAM BEING FOUGHT HARD.

OF Cne bergen county FreeuolucrS
Wednesday. 1t was largely due to an
attempt on the part Of the Republi-
can County Committee to have hand
in he patronage to be apportioned by
the Freeholders. Director Eager re-
scented this suggestion, and didn't
hesitate a minute to so express him
self.
Following is list of the offices to
be filled at the annual meeting next
Monday that have been agreed upon:
For County William A..
Linn, of Hackensack.
For Clerk of the Board-James M.
Hardness, of Hackensack.
For County Counsel = Clarence
Mabie, of Teaneck.
For Court House Custodian-Sam-
uel Corker, of oFrt Lee.
For Inspector of Weights and
Measures-John O'Connor, of North
Arlington.
For Supervisor of Roads-John T..
Harrop, of Garfield.
For County Physician-Dr. VIM. E.
Ogden, of East Rutherford.
These are the important re-appoint-
ments that will be made by the Board
of Freeholders at the annual meeting
next Monday noon at the Court House
where the fur will fly when the at
tempt is made to GUST County Engin-
eer Henry Welles Durham and give
the position to somebody else.
All the important county officials
and all the bridge tenders are to be
re-appointed and that is one reason
why the move to pick out Engineer
Durham as the one candidate for the
guillotine is arousing such bitter
fight.
The Republican County Committee,
represented by it's chairman, Henry
J. Wostbrock, and secretary, Willard
P. Burdett, appeared before the
Board Wednesday.
1t is not known just what happened
in the privacy of the Boards room
but to an Evening Record reporter
Mr.. Wostbrock volunteered the fol-
lowing statement after leaving che
room:
ssThe Republican County Commit
tee feel that the Board of freehold
efs should recognize s.se Executive
Committee of thai body and consult
with them on proposed appointments.
We do not want to take away any of
their preogatives, but we do want
recognition"
Asked if he had suggested any ap-
pointments, Mr.. Wostbrock evaded
the question but said that it was only
fair that they should know who the
Board proposed appoint.
Direcor w. P. Eager is said to have
told Chairman Wostbrock that the
people of Bergen county elected the
Evsnn krIl IN rnv nr1f md
not any group of politicians or the
County Republican Executive Com
mittee.
"If we are let alone think the
people will find us quite competent
rector Eager, "and we resent the in
trusion of any political body in an eff
fort to dictate who the appointees of
the Board shall be. The Board of
Freeholders decided year ago to run
the affairs of the county on a business
basis and business policy and so far
as am concerned I have not changed
that decision.
while it is apparent that politics
may have crept into another depart
ment of the county and have dominat-
ed appointments I will do all can
to prevent the County Committee
dominating appointments by the
Freeholders.
every member of his Board is a
Republican and each of his acts, if
good, will reflect to the good of the
Republican party. We are all work.
ing for the best interests of the peo-
pie of Bergen county and our rec
ords must necessarily be good"
In speaking of the efforts to GUST
Engineer Durham, one Freebooter
said:
Durham is a proved engineer of
capacity. 1t will be recalled that
when he took Office here he carried
the highest Endorsements of engineers
like George w. Goethals and William
Barclay Parsons and many others
under whom he had served as chief
assistant.
II feel hat the taxpayers of Ber-
gen county are more interested in re-
suits than in discussian as to
whether Mr.. Durham has lived in
Bergen county four months, twelve
months, or two years, and their chief
desire is economy combined with
good engineering practice.
LET us stop to consider that there
has been expended in the county in
the past year $409,678 and that for
the first time in the history of Bergen
county years contracts have been
completed at figure lower than that
estimated or agreed upon.
''In my own city of Englewood the
Palisade avenue contract, let out
under former Engineer Earle for
$4,000 was completed under the
supervision of Engineer Durham for
$81 900 or a saving of $31 900. This
work, too, is the best piece of con-
struction ever done in Bergen county
and is up to the best standard any
where in this country.
"Let the Board of Freeholders re-
fleet after such a showing before max
ing changes in the engineers office.
Every contractor knows Durham is
fully equipped for any engineering
undertaking. I shall fight to the end
for Durham's retention and in MAX
ing this fight I know I shall be re-
fleeing the will of the Deople Of Rer