Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-25
GOVERNOR WEST
BACK ON HIS JOB
Was on a Visit to His Ranch
Near Canon Beach and
Taking a Needed Rest.
GAVE RECEIPT FOR BILLS
Says He Was Not Aware He Had to
Get the Legislatures Permission
to Leave the City.
GAVE RECEIPT FOR BILLS

Governor West hobbled into his Of
flee at the state house at 8 o'clock this
morning with bum knee, but cheer
full disposition. Indeed he seemed
happy to be on the job again after his
three days of mysterious" absence.
Entering his private office he greet
ed the three legislative guards left in
charge of the bills piled on his desk
after the senate committee had broken
into his office late yesterday after
noon.
what shall call you fellows?" in
Quired the chief executive,
"The Three Guardsmen-the Mus
keteers? Yes, that's the proper name.
Then the governor told them and
also the guard to represent the gov
ernor, who was placed on duty with
them, by Senator McCollloch last
night, that their watch work was end
ed, as he would assume charge Of the
bills. West signed receipts for the
bills for both house and senate, and
the guards departed.
It is significant that these receipts
state that the bills only came into his
possession at o'clock this morning.
The governor thus officially ignores
the Legislative action in forcing an
entrance into his office and depositing
the senate and house bills on his desk
yesterday afternoon, on the theory
that by so doing the bills were deliv-
cred into his possession.
In All interview this forenoon, the
governor treated the legislative excite
ment caused by his absence, and the
legislatures action pertaining thereto
as absurd-as a joke-and remarked
significantly that, while he was sorry
to have caused the solons so much
anxiety and worry, yet they must calm
themselves and get used to it, as he
was likely to go away again for day
or so, any time he felt the necessity Of
80 doing. .t,.
This is the first time ! ever heard
that the. governor of the state must
get permission from the legislature
whenever he wants to go away for a
day or two" said Governor West
"I was on the job here for 40 days
and nights, waiting for the Legislature
tn do something, and as my desk was
clear of all legislative work last Fri
day, l decided l needed rest and to
go down to my ranch near Canon
Beach, and cut some brush and per-
form other clearing up work.
"The time ! spent at the ranch was
such a lovely one. The roar Of the
ocean was delightful-much more
pleasant than the roars Of the legis.
lature one hears about here, All day
Saturday I spent in cutting brush ant
working about the ranch In so doint
sprained my knee. In the evening
sat and spit in the fireplace, listenin9
to the yarns and stories related b!
some friends and nelghbors.
"On Sunday / sat and spit in tn,
fireplace some more, and also list
ened to conned sacred music. o
course, in view Of my moral and vic
crusade on, no one would expect M
to travel Sunday.
"On Monday started on my returi
trip to Salem, departing from tn
ranch on horseback for Seaside, wher
would catch train But that hors
threw a shoe en- route. 1t was the
up to me to either disappoint the leg
islature or hurt the horse, so decide
on the former course, and turne
back
Later in the day made anothe
start, and finally reached Salem thi
morning"
The governor was very ironical !
his criticism of the opinion Of Alto
ney-General Crawford, to the effe'
that in his absence his duties fell O
the secretary Of state. He refused
make any comment on the steam rol
er program for an adjournment Of Il
Legislature for five days, the solor
then to return and act on vetoed mea
ures.
at will take me much less than fl'
days to act on some Of these bills
was his only comment
"There was never a moment fro
the time left that / was not In tou,
with the situation here" remark
Governor West in closing the inte
view. "a-'- ''-..'.. b..