220 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
of the Park Commission taking any advantage of its op- 
portunities at this critical juncture of its parkway affairs, 
it was content to sit in secret session, month after month, 
for several years, and give out statements or promulgate 
manifestoes, restating its position that it had “not changed” 
its attitude regarding the parkways; and at last, “declined 
to take a partisan stand” on this matter, upon which the 
board itself had taken the initial action in preparing and 
publishing its plans, and had even secured appropriations 
with the promise and understanding that the avenues were 
to be made parkways. And this question as to whether 
these results should be secured, or the collusive corporate 
interests should appropriate one or both of the proposed 
parkways for private gain, was no more a “partisan” ques- 
tion than was the action of the Legislature in passing the 
Park Commission’s charter, or were the innumerable official 
acts of the commission in locating the parks and parkways, 
or in acquiring the requisite land, or in formulating rules 
and regulations for the administration of the park 
department. 
But while the commission was for years resting upon its 
declared intentions as to the two principal parkways, the 
traction company, before the close of 1898, had its scheme 
for securing at least one of the parkway avenues well in 
hand. And, at the time indicated, it was in possession of 
both the reins and lash of the parkways’ coach. This con- 
dition had been, in the meantime, very materially strength- 
ened by Counsel J. L. Munn, by his assistance in keeping 
actively alive the controversy, not only in Orange, but also 
with the Board of Freeholders. 
In this board, some action was usually taken about the 
time the Park Commission would issue another statement 
of good intention, which would in effect nullify the com- 
missioners’ claim that they wanted the parkways, by creat- 
ing still farther obstacles in the way of the avenues’ transfer 
being completed. 
After the parkway-avenue resolution of the Park Board 
of November, 1896, had been sent to the Board of Freehold- 
