Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-25
MANY BATTLES FOR
MINOR POSITIONS
Fight Over Reading Clerk in
Senate Is Warm and So
Are Some Others

While chief interest seems to be cen.
tered in the struggle over the organiz-
alton of the house of representatives
of the coming legislature, in which Al.
len Eaton, of Lane county, refuses to
concede the election Of Ben Selling, of
Portland, to the speakership, there is a
very interesting little scrap" on for |
the subordinate positions Of the ses-
sion, such as reading clerks, calendar
clerks, chief clerks, ETC., one of the
most interesting of which is that for
the job as reading clerk of the senate
in which Frank Motter, Of Portland,
and w. A. West, of Salem, are the
principal contestants, and this fight is
beginning to wax pretty warm.
Mr.. Motter has been reading clerk of
the senate for several successive ses-
sions and it used to be conceded to
him without opposition until the last
session when he was defeated, much to
his surprise, by John Huntley. He is
an active candidate for the Job again
this session and, as usual, feels pretty
sure of success. Mr.. West, however,
is somewhat of an opinionated man
himself and argues differently from his
point of view. He is making a very
vigorous campaign and says that he
feels confident that it will be known
that he has been in the race after the |
votes are counted, and somebody is
going to be surprised. Mr.. West is
making his campaign upon the plat |
form Of economy and reform and is
sending out some very interesting and |
"eye-opening" statistics to the mem.
bers of the senate in support of his
candidacy.
In pledging himself to the members
Of the senate Mr.. West promises to
ask for no more salary or allowance
above the regular salary due him under
the constitution and the law, which
provides u daily compensation of SO
for the 10 days session 1t has been
the custom, since time immemorial, !
when the session adjourned to make |
up the payroll and allow all Of the |
desk clerks and the great majority Of |
the committee clerks full time, and in
some instances as much as 30 DAYS |
overtime on full pay. Last session this
form Of "graft" amounted TO ap.
|proximotely $4,000, more than the
cost Of the entire session for the mem
bers, and in looking up the records of |
past sessions Mr.. West has tabulated
some Of the results,
During the 1909 session, as shown
by the senate journal, Mr.. Motter as
reading clerk was paid for total of
/ II days, or 80 days overtime, at So
per day, amounting to $426, and dur
! ing tho 1911 session he was paid for
total Of 81 days, or 80 days overtime,
out Of a session of Al days, and re-
ceived $3.50 for his services. During
the 1909 session he received pay for
90 days overtime more than the bal.
anco Of the desl; clerks Of the senate,
and for the 1911 session, according to
the figures compiled by Mr.. West. ~
days overtime more than was allowed
the rest.
Mr.. West is making his campaign
on the ground that there is too much
waste Of the taxpayers money in this
regard and hopes to work. reform at
least so far as this feature Of the ses.
sion is concerned, He is q young man,
2S years of age, q graduate of the state
normal school Of the class Of 1907, and
has held many responsible teaching po.
sitions during the past seven years,
having been principal Of one Of the
Salem schools for three years. He feels
that he is in every way qualified to
fill the position and is confident that
he will be successful.
Another interesting contest for
clerkship in the senate for the coming
session is that between Glen Holman,
Of Polk county, and Theodore Row.
land, Of Marion county, who are after
the position Of calendar clerk. Mr.. Hol.
man has held clerical positions in the
Legislature for great many sessions,
but Mr. Rowland, who is amply quail.
fled to fill the position and is making
an active campaign for It, feels very
confident that he will win out in the
race. Mr.. Rowland Is temporarily EN-.
ployed in the state engineers depart.
ment as an engineer draughtsman.