A CHAiTGE m THE CUEEEINTT 



65 



trative board sucli as the Board of Public Works, I would 

 pursue that course." 



In reference to his being willing to continue the first 

 commission, the judge said: ^^But I am entirely satisfied 

 from the information I have received that that does not 

 conform to the wishes of the public, and that they require 

 as far as possible that this court, in the appointment of 

 these commissioners, should allow the principle that is fun- 

 damental in all government representation. These things 

 make it, in my judgment, absolutely essential that I should 

 give to the city of N'ewark three commissioners. When I 

 have done that, the readjustment of this commission is 

 necessary. 



The resolutions of the township authorities of Montclair, 

 Bloomfield and West Orange were then read. They claimed 

 joint taxable valuations of over $25,000,000, with the com- 

 ment that the request justified the appointment of a com- 

 missioner from that district. 



FOR CONSISTENCY. 



"I have selected for the commissioner who shall repre- 

 sent these three townships,'^ went on the judge, "a gentle- 

 man who is well known to myself, and I presume to almost 

 every one in this county, as a man eminently fit for this 

 position — Frederick M. Shepard. This appointment leaves 

 only one other commissioner to be selected. In the selection 

 of that commissioner I have felt the greatest delicacy, be- 

 cause a duty is im^posed upon me that is not pleasant, that 

 of deciding, between two persons, gentlemen of my ovm 

 accjuaintance, who were among the most efficient of the 

 ' members of the first commission, Frederick W. Kelsey and 

 George W. Bramhall. 



"I know that Mr. Kelsey has been actively in favor of 

 this project from the beginning, and, perhaps, in the inau- 

 guration and pushing tlirough of this scheme, he has been 

 of great public service. If I could criticize Mr. Kelsey at 

 . all, it would be that I might think that in an office in which 

 so much depends upon the judicial and conservative feat- 



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