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riEST COUXTY PAEK SYSTEM 



3"ears had been most exacting; that I was pleased that he 

 had consented to accept the appointment in my place; that 

 I was perfectly well aware of the influences brought to bear, 

 and the reasons why my reappointment was not considered 

 by the judge ; and that those reasons would not be given to 

 the public when his appointment was announced in court 

 any more than they had been given him, on his urgent re- 

 quest, during their conversation in the privacy of the 

 judge's home. 



I hardly expected at that time, however, that the correct- 

 ness of this prophetic remark would be so soon and so fully 

 vindicated as it apparently was, when the appointment was 

 made. The next morning I wrote J udge Depue as follows : 



'^Orange, April 21, 1897. 

 "Dear Sir — Mr. Bramhall called upon me last evening, 

 stating that he had done so in accordance with an under- 

 standing with you that you were not to announce the ap- 

 pointment of my successor in the Park Commission until he 

 had seen me. 



"I was astonished at his statements. My relations to the 

 enterprise, its inception and development since, and my 

 work as commissioner have been such that my constituency 

 and the public, so far as I understand, have been satisfied, 

 and I am told have asked for my reappointment. 



"If, in any way, my work has been unsatisfactory or not 

 what it should have been to you, or to the public, I am open 

 to criticism, and will gratefully receive it. Until then I 

 feel, in view of the facts, that it is just and due to me to 

 know why my services are discredited and my appointment 

 not under consideration. 



"It seems to me that this statement is due you. And that 

 it is equally due me in consideration of the work I have 

 done in the enterprise, and the time I have given it, that 

 you advise me why my name '^cannot be considered,' as Mr. 

 Bramhall states. "Very truly yours, 



"Feed. W. Kelsey. 



"Hon, David A. Depue." 



