EXPERIENCES—RECOMMENDATIONS 297 
in any State, county, municipality or the smallest borough 
or hamlet, concurrently with republican institutions. 
Such conditions of continuous secret sessions in exercis- 
ing the control and expenditure of vast amounts of public 
funds and the transaction of public business generally, are, 
to my mind, not only un-American and contrary to the 
principle upon which our system of government rests, but 
they constitute a wrong upon every citizen and taxpayer, 
who is entitled to the services of the best men who can be 
selected for filling important positions of public trust, and 
who should have the unquestioned right at all times to 
know how the business for which he is contributing both 
the cash capital and the power conferred is being conducted. 
Perhaps one of the most effective remedies for correcting 
errors or defects in such matters is publicity; and for con- 
tinued star chamber proceedings of public boards, more 
publicity. 
FOR PARK MAINTENANCE. 
Third ;—In return for the millions of dollars in free 
franchises heretofore granted in Essex County, a plan 
might well be enacted into law, which would, by a sufficient 
tax on gross receipts, provide for the entire cost of the care 
and maintenance of the parks. 
In Baltimore the charters of the street railway com- 
panies originally provided for a six-cent fare, one cent of 
which was paid over to the city for park funds. On reduc- 
tion of the fare to five cents the proportion to be paid to 
the city was reduced to nine per cent of the gross receipts. 
This payment is rapidly increasing and now amounts to 
about $400,000 per year. The city has excellent street-car 
service, and the franchises have proven enormously prof- 
itable to the companies. 
A similar law applicable to Essex and Hudson counties 
would not only provide for the entire cost of maintenance 
of all the public parks, but the revenue would be constantly 
increasing, and provide funds for the enlarged acquirement 
of land and for needed improvements. 
