50 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 



in the Senate. It became "Senate No. 114." The report 

 was ordered printed at the meeting of February 4, and sev- 

 eral thousand copies were distributed throughout the 

 county. 



About this time an effort was made to change the bill 

 then before the Legislature so as to provide for at least six 

 commissioners. Judge Depue favored the change. He was 

 advised by letter as to the reasons that led to the naming of 

 five commissioners in the bill, as "we were unanimous in 

 the conclusion, not only upon our o^Yn judgment in view 

 of all the circumstances, but also for the reason that experi- 

 ence in other places seemed to indicate that a board of five 

 commissioners generally gives the best public service and 

 results." The following, under date of February 13, 1895, 

 was the reply : 



"My Dear Sir — I received yours of yesterday. I have not 

 read the proposed bill. It provides a commission, as I 

 understand, the members of which get no compensation. I 

 thought the number should be six for these reasons : 



"First, although I hope and expect the commissioners will 

 act in unanimity, yet if there is to be a division I thought 

 affirmative action by a vote of 4 to 2 preferable to that of 3 

 to 2, a bare majority. 



"Second, I thought the northwestern section of the 

 county should be represented, say Montclair and that sec- 

 tion, when I appointed the original commissioners, and I 

 incline to that view with respect to the new commission. 



"I have now ^vritten tersely my views. They are mere 

 suggestions. I am not tenacious on the subject. I will be 

 content to abide by the judgment of the commissioners. 



"Very truly yours, 



"David A. Depue. 



"To F. W. Kelsey, Esq." 



REPLY TO JUDGE DEPUE. 



My reply was as follows : 



