Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-01
QUITS OFFICE:
NO HIGHWAY ENGINEER
Holds That Action Of Commission In EleCtng His Successor
Terminated His Official Career Yesterday Declares
Treasurer Kay Has Been Most Active Agent Of Con-
tractors In 0usting Him

Acting under the verbal advice Of
the attorney generals department,
which he received yesterday, as pub
lished in the Capital Journal, Major ii.
l.. Bowlby has taken the stand that
mis- career as state highway engineer
came to an official conclusion last
night, and he is packing up his per
sonal belongings preparatory to vacat'
ing the office today While f. /. Can.
tine, the newly yappointed successor to
Major Bowlby, is in the city today and
has been in conference with Governor
WithycOmbe, he stated that he had not
been officially and formally notified
of his appointment, nor has he received
his commission, and as matters now
stand the state is today without a state
highway engineer,
Although Major Bowlby has not Of
ficially notified the highway commits
sion Of his conclusions in the matter,
since there has been no meeting Of the
commission to which he could submit
a communication, he does not see his
way clear to accept the commission 's
proffer of retaining office finish VI
the work already under contract and
under way on the Columbia river anc
Pacific highways, and all Of this worf
will be turned over to- his successor
1t was given out in the governor
office this morning that meeting o.
the highway commission would prob
ably be held this afternoon, boil
Treasurer Kay and Secretary Olcott be
ing out this morning, when some OF
ficial action will doubtless be taken i
the matter and Mr.. Cantine duly IL
stalled in office either tonight Or tC
J. morrow morning.
$ "It is political game from star
4 to finish and an organized plot on tn
part of the contracting companies, VIII
have not been able to dictate to thi
department, to oust me from office
: and il has succeeded said Malo
Bowlby when seen this morning busil.
engaged in packing up his personal be
! longings preparatory to vacating OF
flee. 'They are not hurting me in tn
- least, although they nave been tryin
very hard to discrcdit me and to hu
initiate me, but they have hurt tn
q good roads movement in Oregon ire
. treveably.
2 Personally, | do not care, excep
, that ! have been taking great pride il
. my work of road building in Orego
r and have devoted my best efforts an,
d. energies TO give the state the very bes
$ that was in me. ] am not sore. Ol
t the contrary, like a certain public Cd
ficiql who recently retired, ] am gla'
/ to get out Of dirty mess. From
G business standpoint think it tne mos
e foolish move that the commission coul
Y have made. II would seem to me as
J. general rule, that the two years ! hay
spent in the office would have bee
n of lomc value TO the state, Durin
b that time ! have travelled about 5000
i miles over the state and have devote
u seven days out of every week TO m
n duties. 1t stands to reason that J mus
have gained some valuable Knowledg
which the state has paid for, and I
dispense with my services just at tn
time when they are most needed IL ron
bing the state Of the result Of tw
years investment,
! ,"It is contractors political plo
from start to finish TO get rid Of m'
: but whether or not these contractor
have had any influence with the con
mission am not prepared to say. Tn
commission says they have not, so "
u must give them the benefit Of th
J doubt. Treasurer Kay has been mos
active in trying TO bring about my di'
missal, and has been most active !
worrying the governor and taking tn
intadyc in every move. The govel
nor has always been friendly to m
and ! do not blame him in the least
they nave been bounding him cmti
. ualy until he said himself that 1t ha
. gotten to be nightmare with ain