296 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 



is to continue, I should favor the substitution of at least 

 three judges for the one now exercising that authority, as 

 under the present sj^stem. The addition of the judges of 

 the Circuit Court, and of the Court of Common Pleas, to 

 the present appointing power, the Supreme Court justice, 

 and making the concurrence of two of those judges as to 

 any selection for a park commissioner imperative, would 

 be an added safeguard and remove the one-man-power ob- 

 jection, and condition heretofore exercised and still exist- 

 ing. Such a change, however, would be merely in method 

 — collateral, not fundamental. The people contribute di- 

 rectly in their taxes practically all of the money for the 

 parks ; why should they not be entrusted to elect the men 

 to care for and maintain their pleasure grounds, the same 

 as they select their other executive and legislative repre- 

 sentatives. 



The more the comparison between the appointive and 

 elective systems are studied, the more decided, I believe, 

 will be the conclusion averse to the appointive plan, and 

 that at least in Essex County this method should soon be 

 a thing of the past. 



EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. 



The second change it seems in every way desirable should 

 be made is; — 



That all regular meetings of the Park Board should be 

 held in open session, and that all public records and docu- 

 ments in the possession of the Commission should at all 

 times be open to examination by any taxpayer and repu- 

 table citizen of the county. I believe a law should be passed 

 by the next Legislature making this principle of transact- 

 ing public business compulsory on every board expending 

 public funds throughout the State. 



The executive-session-close-corporation method which has 

 for years been in vogue here is not congenial to American 

 ideals, and I believe should have no place in any republic, 

 nor should it find lodgment^ continuance or encouragement 



