2S FIEST COUNTY PAEK SYSTEM 



missioners^ while appointed, are not authorized to execute 

 the work. Their duties are tentative, leaving the Legisla- 

 ture to execute the carrying out of the scheme as future 

 legislation may provide. 



"I think it is my duty to appoint men who are so favor- 

 able to this enterprise and so desirous that it should be 

 executed that they will be judicious enough to make such 

 recommendations as will be approved by the public, so that 

 the work will finally be accomplished. If I had another 

 commissioner to appoint, I could easily find another to fill 

 the place. 



"The act provides that the commission employ persons, 

 and that it may spend a sum not exceeding $10,000, I 

 think. I will appoint the five men named next Saturday, 

 unless they should decline to serve." 



Judge Depue's manner and conversation during the con- 

 ference, and his remarks in open court, were indicative of 

 his earnest approval of the new law, of the objects sought, 

 and of the legal machinery provided to those ends. Con- 

 sidering that "fitness" for the position had already become 

 the corner-stone of the commission's structure, it was quite 

 unexpected to hear him first speak of appointing his "old 

 friend,'' without expressing any opinion as to whether he 

 himself believed in the appointment for reasons of especial 

 qualifications for the office. But there could be no reason- 

 able doubt that the judge shared in the current sentiment 

 favorable to the parks. It w^as also plain that he was desir- 

 ous of appointing a commission that would be generally ac- 

 ceptable, and that up tO' that time no pressure of political 

 of other scheming influences had been active in shaping 

 either his thought or determination in fulfilling to the best 

 of his ability the trust reposed in him as the sole appointing 

 power in naming the commission. 



The public response to the announcement of appointment 

 of the new commission was as cordial as it was generous. 

 Both editorially and in the news columns, all the leading 

 papers within — and some without — the county were em- 

 phatic in their commendation of the project, and referred 



