28 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
missioners, while appointed, are not authorized to execute 
the work. Their duties are tentative, leaving the Legisla- 
ture to execute the carrying out of the scheme as future 
legislation may provide. 
“T think it is my duty to appoint men who are so favor 
able to this enterprise and so desirous that it should be 
executed that they will be judicious enough to make such 
recommendations es will be approved by the public, so that 
the work will finally be accomplished. If I had another 
commissioner to appoint, I could easily find another to fill 
the place. 
“The act provides that the commission employ persons, 
and that it may spend a sum not exceeding $10,000, I 
think. I will appoint the five men named next Saturday, 
unless they should decline to serve.” 
Judge Depue’s manner and conversation during the con- 
ference, and his remarks in open court, were indicative of 
his earnest approval of the new law, of the objects sought, 
and of the legal machinery provided to those ends. Con- 
sidering that “fitness” for the position had already become 
the corner-stone of the commission’s structure, it was quite 
unexpected to hear him first speak of appointing his “old 
friend,” without expressing any opinion as to whether he 
himself believed in the appointment for reasons of especial 
qualifications for the office. But there could be no reason- 
able doubt that the judge shared in the current sentiment 
favorable to the parks. It was also plein that he was desir- 
ous of appointing a commission that would be generally ac- 
ceptable, and that up to that time no pressure of political 
of other scheming influences had been active in shaping 
either his thought or determination in fulfilling to the best 
of his ability the trust reposed in him as the sole appointing 
power in naming the commission. 
The public response to the announcement of appointment 
of the new commission was as cordial as it was generous. 
Both editorially and in the news columns, all the leading 
papers within—and some without—the county were em- 
phatic in their commendation of the project, and referred 
