266 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
speedily disappear.” One of the leading papers, on March 
5, 1904, editorially reminded the commissioners that “the 
time for standing upon their dignity and maintaining an 
exasperating silence has, for the members of that body, 
gone by.” The New England Society, on the same date, 
adopted by unanimous vote a resolution ‘unequivocally re- 
affirming its indorsement of the report of the special com- 
mittee on parkways reported and unanimously approved 
April, 1902,” and authorizing “the appointment of five 
additional members to act with the Joint Committee on 
Parkways toward completing the transfer and improvement 
of Central and Park avenues into parkways.” 
The commission announced on March 9, 1904, that it was 
considering the parkway problem “very carefully, and when 
they came to a conclusion on the matter” it would be com- 
municated, and “they would use every effort to come to a 
conclusion satisfactory to the citizens of the Oranges.” A 
legislative bill, prepared under the direction of the com- 
mission, was introduced at Trenton about this time by As- 
semblyman E. D. Duffield (Assembly 317), authorizing 
county boards to transfer streets or avenues, in whole or 
in part. The announcement was soon made that this bill 
“would go through.” A hearing was given upon it by the 
Municipal Corporations Committee March 17. Notice of 
the hearing was given in the Newark papers on March 16, 
and the Joint Committee on Parkways received a special 
notification. A number of citizens from Essex County were 
in attendance and spoke for the bill J. L. Munn and 
others opposing the measure for the traction company were 
present, but (publicly) said nothing. The Park Commis- 
sion was in no way represented there. This caused much 
unfavorable comment, and it was at once reported about 
the State House that that board was indifferent as to the 
fate of the bill, The lobby prevailed. 
BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE. 
One of the Assembly committeeman said he would do 
nothing that would prevent the traction company from 
