A CHAXGE OF COMMISSIOXEES 169 



Xo acknowledgment or reply to tliis letter was ever re- 

 ceived, and I never saw or heard from Judge Depne again. 

 In the afternoon of the samorday, and the day following my 

 conversation with Mr. Bramhall, April 21, 189 the ap- 

 pointment was annonneed in open conrt. The announce- 

 ment was noticeable for its brevity. It also occasioned com- 

 ment for not giving the public the slightest suggestion or 

 intimation, any more than had been given privately to Mr. 

 Bramhall, as to the reasons the judge had for maMng the 

 change. This was in marked contrast to his extended re- 

 marks in making the change in the appointment of two 

 commissioners two years before, as quoted from at length 

 in Chapter TV of this history. Moreover, this change 

 involved the displacement of a commissioner who had served 

 continuously from the time of the appointment of the first 

 commission in June, 1894. The judge said: 



"I have the appointment to make of a park commissioner, 

 to take the place of Mr. Kelsey. I appoint George W. 

 Bramliall, whom I regard as capable and efficient. He has 

 served as a temporary commissioner and is much interested 

 in the work. As regards the situation now I consider the 

 appointment a judicious one.^' 



APPEECIATIOIS^ FROM THE PUBLIC. 



The i^ewark Sunday Call, in editorially commenting 

 upon the appointment, referred to it as appearing to do 

 '^some injustice to Commissioner Kelsey, whose place is 

 taken and who was chosen originally in preference to Mr. 

 Bramhall. Mr. Kelsey's services have been satisfactory to 

 the public, but it is gratifying that his successor is known 

 as a man of taste, experience in business affairs and of spe- 

 cial knowledge in this work.^' This sentiment was quite 

 generally expressed throughout the county. The commen- 

 dations of various county papers, and the letters and other 

 personal expressions of appreciation and approval of my 



