TOY OFFICIALS 



249 



Munn had said to them while the trolley ordinance was 

 before that body/^ 



This letter was received by Commissioner William 

 Brewer, and a day or two later by the commission; but I 

 was never asked for further particulars. Counsel J. L. 

 Munn remained ; and matters favorable to the traction com- 

 pany's obtaining Central avenue, went on as before. 



FOE THE PARKWAYS AGAIN. 



The Orange Republican City Convention of October 1, 

 1902, adopted in its platform a clean-cut and definitely ex- 

 pressed clause, declaring for Park and Central avenues for 

 parkways. The trend of public opinion was toward demand- 

 ing that the City Council should take favorable action on 

 the Cuddy transfer ordinance as approved by the Park Com- 

 mission months before, and which had been resting with the 

 Street Committee since its introduction on December 3, 

 1900. At the council meeting of October 13, 1902, the or- 

 dinance, then again offered as a new ordinance and approved 

 by the Street Committee, was passed on first reading by a 

 unanimous vote. The little discussion which followed was 

 all in favor of that action. 



The ordinance (after the customary advertisement) was, 

 at the meeting November 10, again, under suspension of 

 the rules, in like manner, finally passed. It then w^ent to 

 Mayor Henry Stetson for his action. In an interview in the 

 ;^s"ewark papers just prior to this — and a few days before the 

 fall election — the Mayor had declared that he had "been 

 ready at all times to favor any action by the city authorities 

 which would further the parks and parkways,^^ and ^^that, 

 whenever a proper ordinance shall be laid before me, I will 

 have no hesitation in approving it.^^ 



As the ordinance, as passed ten days after this statement 

 was made public, was drawn expressly to meet all the 

 objections the Mayor had made to the two previous transfer 

 ordinances, the statement was construed by the uninitiated 

 as a favorable omen, and tantamount to a promise of his in- 

 tended action on the ordinance then before the council. He 



