GOOD CITIZENSHIP HELPLESS 243 
farther. We have had your promises and they don’t pan 
out,”—was the way one Hast Orange resident paid his 
compliments to that board. 
Other criticisms were aimed at the appointive commis- 
sion, one that is “responsible to nobody and can do as it 
pleases.” The East Orange parkway was referred as as a 
way “which begins nowhere and ends nowhere, and, for this, 
$175,000 has been expended.” 
The East Orange railroad ordinance for Central avenue 
came before the Board of Freeholders for action June 12, 
1902. The announcement had been made that there would 
be a hearing by the board on the question. A large delega- 
tion of citizens and representatives of various organizations 
were present. Director Thomas McGowan said the meet- 
ing would be open only “for brief remarks.” There was evi- 
dently no desire that any one should be heard. W. Oughel- 
tree, chairman of the Road Committee, gave the cue to the 
proceedings by reporting the railroad franchise resolution 
favorably, with the statement that “it had always been the 
custom to concur in matters of this kind in the action of 
any municipality in the county, and the resolution for that 
reason should pass.” This was stated with a sober counte- 
nance, notwithstanding the fact that precisely the reverse 
policy had been adopted, and for more than five years per- 
sistently followed by his own committee, and by that same 
board in refusing to concur in the action March 15, 1897, 
of East Orange, in the passage of the ordinance by unani- 
mous vote of the representatives of that municipality trans- 
ferring both of the avenues to the Park Commission. 
COMMISSIONER SHEPARD’S LETTER. 
H. M. Barrett, a lawyer, then announced that the trolley 
ordinance as passed in Kast Orange, relative to “the terms 
and conditions, was satisfactory to both sides.” William 
J. Baer made an earnest plea for the parkways, and then 
read a letter from Commissioner Frederick M. Shepard con- 
taining some general expressions, and adding: “I am con- 
fident the Park Commission would be glad to carry out the 
