266 FIEST COUXTY PAEK SYSTEM 



speedily disappear." One of the leading papers, on March. 

 5, 1904, editorially reminded the commissioners that "the 

 time for standing upon their dignity and maintaining an 

 exasperating silence has, for the members of that body, 

 gone by." The 'New England Society, on the same date, 

 adopted by nnanimous vote a resolution "unequivocally re- 

 affirming its indorsement of the report of the special com- 

 mittee on parkways reported and unanimously approved 

 April, 1903," and authorizing "the appointment of five 

 additional members to act with the Joint Committee on 

 Parkways toward completing the transfer and improvement 

 of Central and Park avenues into parkways." 



The commission announced on March 9, 1904, that it was 

 considering the parkway problem " very carefully, and when 

 they came to a conclusion on the matter" it would be com- 

 municated, and "they would use every effort to come to a 

 conclusion satisfactory to the citizens of the Oranges." A 

 legislative bill, prepared under the direction of the com- 

 mission, was introduced at Trenton about this time by As- 

 semblyman E. D. Duffield (Assembly 317), authorizing 

 county boards to transfer streets or avenues, in whole or 

 in part. The announcement was soon made that this bill 

 "would go through." A hearing was given upon it by the 

 Municipal Corporations Committee March 17. Xotice of 

 the hearing was given in the Xewark papers on March 16, 

 and the Joint Committee on Parkways received a special 

 notification. A number of citizens from Essex County were 

 in attendance and spoke for the bill. J. L. Munn and 

 others opposing the measure for the traction company were 

 present, but (publicly) said nothing. The Park Commis- 

 sion was in no way represented there. This caused much 

 unfavorable comment, and it was at once reported about 

 the State House that that board was indifferent as to the 

 fate of the bill. The lobby prevailed. 



BILL IN" THE LEGISLATURE. 



One of the Assembly committeeman said he would do 

 nothing that w^ould prevent the traction company from 



