A CHA^^GE IN THE CUERENT 



n 



Though "oft expectation" had, with many, in this in- 

 stance failed, the appointments were made, the provision of 

 the law in this respect had been complied with ; the past was 

 a finality beyond recall, and the question now became : What 

 was forward, and would the current of park affairs flow on- 

 ward as smoothly and rapidly as before ? 



On April 20, 1895, the newly-appointed commissioners, 

 Messrs. Peck, Meeker, Shepard, Kelsey and Murphy, took 

 the prescribed oath of office and the same afternoon met in 

 the rooms of the former commission for organization. When 

 the question of selecting officers was taken up. Commis- 

 sioner Murphy, whose appointment was for the full term of 

 five years, made the surprising statement that Judge Depue 

 had expressed the wish that Mr. Peck should be president, 

 Mr. Shepard vice-president, and himself (Mr. Murphy) the 

 treasurer. 



Two of these three commissioners, now placed in control 

 of the board, who had just received their appointment and 

 who then, for the first time, came into the park enterprise, 

 all made and created, with the $2,500,000 to expend, were 

 lifelong "always to be depended upon" Republicans, and 

 were directly installed as officers at the request of the court. 



Discussion, however, as to the judge's right to thus deter- 

 mine the organization followed. Why should he assume to 

 encroach upon this prerogative of the board in deciding for 

 itself who the officers should be? No satisfactory answer 

 was given. Mr. Murphy was disposed to press the point, 

 and promptly offered a motion that Mr. Peck be made presi- 

 dent. Mr. Meeker said he thought the board competent to 

 select its own officers. Mr. Shepard said he thought the 

 vice-presidency should remain the same as in the previous 

 commission. Mr. Peck was, as usual in discussion, silent. 



"Mr. Meeker,^' I remarked, "has been an active member 

 of the first commission and a satisfactory treasurer. Why 

 this desire for change?" 



As the prospect for differences in the board at the very 

 outset was not an agreeable one to contemplate, and as no 

 one then seemed to care who the officers were sufficiently to 



