Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-04-13

Gut Situation.
The resignation of Surrogate Irving
Fitch as Clerk of the County Board of
Freeholders was rendered to the
Board, and accepted, at the meeting
on Wednesday, April 4, 1928. William
A. Haffert, editor of the Sea Isle City
Times" was named as his successor.
When Surrogate Fitch agreed to
continue as Clerk of the Board the
first If this year. he did so with the
express understanding that his resig-
nation would be accepted whenever he
saw fit to tender it. IL addition to
being Surrogate of the county, the re-
firing Clerk of the Board is also
mayor of Sea Isle City and is asso-
ciated with Thomas Ludlam, Jr, in
a real estate business at Sea Isle.
His resignation will take effect on
April 18th.
Mr.. Haffert, who will assume the
duties ~relinquished by Surrogate Fitch
at the next meeting of the Freehold
ers, is also Secretary of the County
Chamber of Commerce. He is well
known, particularly in the northern
section of the county, and is fully
qualified for the position to which he
has been named.
Milton H. Bair, Cape May Point
commissioner and principal of the Rio
Grande public-school, was also an ap-
plicant for the clerkship and a COM
%munication from him setting forth his
qualifications was read at Wednes-
days meeting.
A communication from the Sea Isle
City Chamber of Commerce asked
that the Board give prompt attention
to the upper end of the Corsons Inlet
road, which is in poor condition. This
condition, the letter said, has been
brought about by improper drainage.
The communication was referred to
the Director of Highways.
The report of Paul E. Carroll, Su-
p~erintendent of Weights and Meas
ures, for the month of March, showed
that 244 inspections had been made,
PIG of which were found correct. "a
adjustments were made and there
were foul COMBINATIONS.
Another report showed total re-
ceipts of $612.S1 at the almshouse
during the last month. A check of
$204.99 representing March receipts
at the ~Surrogate's office, was receiv-
ed; also a check for $4S6.74 for Sher-
ifs office receipts. A report by the
Treasurer showed a total cash bal
ance of $36,668.32 on hand at the end
of the month. The Treasurer said
that back taxes due from Avalon
have beer paid and the account
. Strengthened up.
Royal J. Mansfield, of New York
City, was awarded the contract for re-
constructing the bridge on Roosevelt
boulevard, into Ocean City, his bid of
$32,9S1 being the lowest of six bids
by a certified check for $4,000. Other
bids were:
H. H. Hoffman, $35,S12.
S. G. Corson, $36,500.
Sutton & Corson Co., $37,254.
F. w. Schwiers, Jr., Co, $37,400.
MCl6du CO1IIdCIiuS w., ptS,OUO.
A peculiar situation arose when,
after Engineer R. Fendall Smith and
Solicitor Palmer M. Way had gone
over the bids and were ready to re-
port, Mr.. Smith said that, owing to
the fact that the Ocean City bridge
job is one that will require speed, he
felt that some explanation should be
made of the cause of delay in the
work that Mr.. Mansfield already has
under way-that of constructing a
bridge across Bidwell's Creek on the
road from Dias Creek to Goshen. The
contractor replied that the delay was
caused by circumstances entirely be-
yond his control; he said that several
poles had been encountered, as well
as an old schooner, and that these
had caused delay. These, however,
were only a few of the difficulties that
he insisted had hindered the work.
He added that he expected to push
the job through rapidly now.
When the questioning continued at
some length, Mr.. Mansfield seemed to
become indignant, and requested that
he be permitted to withdraw his bid.
Told by each of the members of the
Board that they had merely wanted to
make sure of their ground, realizing
recent other bothersome delays, and
that whoever was awarded the con-
tract would be treated with absolute
fairness, Mr.. Mansfield remained
adamant and insisted that he be per-
mitted to withdraw his offer.
1t was no hot-headed argument, on
either side. The contractors pride
seemed hurt because the Freeholders
had questioned him after opening the
bids. But he argued cody. "This is
the first time" he declared, that I
have ever been questioned in this
manner" He said that he had done
a great deal of work satisfactorily for