MORE BONDS AND “HIGH FINANCE” 181 
inexperienced and ambitious legislators.” “The park com- 
mission law” is thus pronounced “radically wrong in its 
conception and construction.” 
Answer was made that such views belonged to the “Rip 
Van Winkle order of observation,” ignored the teachings of 
experience with elective boards in inaugurating large 
schemes of public improvements, and disregard the fact that 
park making is in itself a special undertaking quite unlike 
the ordinary administration of public affairs. 
The converts to the elective plan side of the question have 
apparently continued to rapidly grow in numbers. Since the 
discussion over the last million-dollar appropriation, and 
the question of mandatory maintenance in 1902, and the 
war for eight years waged over the parkways, it is extremely 
doubtful whether the number averse to an appointive park 
board has not been materially augmented: And equally 
doubtful whether if the proposition to continue the present 
appointive system were now submitted to the voters of 
Essex County it would not be by a liberal majority defeated. 
PUBLIC NOT ENTHUSIASTIC. 
In 1897, however, the agitation soon ceased. As there 
was no immediate prospects of the law’s being changed, the 
discussion in January of that year soon turned upon the 
financial aspects of the enterprise. The attitude of the 
public, as voiced by the press, was not enthusiastic. It was, 
indeed, largely apathetic or distinctly unfavorable. Aside 
from the generous view taken by Monsignor Doane and a 
few ardent supporters of the commission, the comments not 
infrequently conveyed a tone of severe criticism. The pub- 
lic was reminded of the promise of the first commission as 
to the completion of the parks and parkways for the 
$2,500,000 appropriation. 
While many readily accepted the theory that all such ap- 
propriations were subject to additional or later demands, 
others were outspoken in their objection to the way the af- 
fairs of the Park Board had been managed. No charges of 
bad faith, which I ean recall or find in the various records 
