158 



FIEST COrXTY PAEK SYSTEM 



chased required proiapt and vigorons attention. Later in 

 the smnmer the work of the counsel began to get badly ia 

 arrears. In the autumn and early winter, when the East 

 Side, Eagle Eoc-k and South Monntain Park locations had 

 been decided upon, matters went from bad to worse. In 

 almost every direction there was evidence of negligence. 

 The connsel, instead of attending the board meetings, 

 where, with all the important matters then in his charge, it 

 was considered his place to be, was frequently eonspicnons 

 by his absence. 



LACK OF IXTZREST SHOWX. 



The suggestions and requests for better service and atten- 

 tion to duty met with no appreciable response. Through 

 the spring and summer of 1896 matters went on in this way. 

 The neglect was not only costing the county dearly in 

 money, but was preventing progress in the development of 

 the jDarks. This was having a demoralizing influ- 

 ence on the entire department. When the active 

 work of the co mmi ssion was taken up early in the autumn, 

 I determined that I would not acquiesce in the prevailing 

 conditions longer. Eirst one commissioner, Mr. Meeker, 

 then another, Mr. Peck, declared the same view. This was 

 a majority of the board. Something must, therefore, be 

 done, and that speedily. It was done — and this is the way 

 it was done : 



At the board meeting of October 6, 1896, immediately 

 after roll call, the commission went into the most executive 

 of executive sessions. Even the secretary, always present at 

 our meetings, was excused. Only the commissioners were 

 present. Counsel Munn's case was at once taken up. When 

 he was appointed the "votes were there" to elect him. X ow 

 the votes were there to dismiss him. The question was well 

 gone over. All concurred, or admitted, that his conduct was 

 inexcusable; its continuance intolerable. The remedy sug- 

 gested was immediate disndssal. One or both of the com- 

 missioners just mentioned concurred in that view. 



At this juncture Commissioner Franklin Murphy began 



