East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-02-20

Complaint Against Highway Engi.
necr Semed To Re His Careful
Guarding OF che Peoples Interests
Official Sacrificed.
Oswald West IL Portland Journal.)
SALEM, Ore, Feb. 20.-Miss
Towne's conspiracy bill has been
killed and state Highway Engineer
Rowlby dismissed. Boss Day and the
paving trust rule supreme and the
ship OF state sails merrily ON.
Senator Day accepted with appro-
val the statement OF Governor Witty
combe, made before the joint ways
and means committee. to the effect
that hereafter Lo maudlin sentiment
would prevail in the matter OF the
treatment Of prisoners at the peni-
entiary and in the consideration of
applications for paroles and pardons.
Uron his further statement that the
adoption OF such a policy would. by
reducing the nu'aber OF releases. ne
cessarily increase the prison popula
ticn. voted for larger maintenance
fund in order that fodder might be
pI ovided for the bIutes.
Ii did not matter to Boss Day that
many of these men had committed
bUe slight offences. II was enough
that they We're of the common herd
and behind the bari While he like
~ would be prorlpt to give his full
support to the passage OF a bill to
punish such cattls as these when
they trespass in he slightest degree
uTon the rights of property, he would
swell with seeming righteous indig-
nation should he be asked to sup
pert a conspiracy measure, such as
the Towne bill, aiming TO send to the
ponitentiary rich crooks who conspire
to rob the public through the sub
mission OF fixed or doctored bids for
paving and other contracts.
How Day Delivered the Goods.
Boss Day and his lieutenants
should remember:
In the corrupted currents of this
world
Offences gilded hand may shove by
Justice,
And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize
itself
Buys out the law; but 'tis not so
above.
There is no shufflirg, there the ac-
ton lies
In its true nature; and we ourselves
compelled,
Even to the teeth and forehead Of
our faults,
To give in evidence
The public has been informed that
State Highway Engineer Bowlby has
been retired, but not fully advised as.
to the real influence behind the re
moval The boss II the senate did
the job.
Certain gentle men having road
building machinery. steel bridges and
paving materials for sale, have been
after Bowlby's scalp for some time,
and it was left 10 senator Day to de-
liver the goods.
If all that has been said against
Bcwlby were true, lis summary dis
missal, without - reasonable oppor-
tunity to be heard in answer to the
charges, can never be justified or
successfully explained away. Here is
how it all happened:
Since coming TO salem the COVER
hCr and Senator Day have had nu-
merous conferences and II Is state
house gossip that the senator insist
ed that Highway Commissioner Bowl
b. would have TO be beheaded, and
he volunteered TO prepare the block
and ak.
Engineer Is Not Notified.
Last Monday evening. according
to program, there appeared at the
state house a recalled county judge,
certain contractors, holding contracts
to construct portions of the Colum-
lila highway, and their attorneys. III
was soon noised about the lobby that
the senate ways and mans commit
tee would hear complaints as to the
conduct Of the Office of state high
way engineer.
This 'phony" hearing which was
held without notice to the highway
engineer. disclosed the purpose Of
Senator Days resolution passed early
in the session empowering his com
mittee to subpoena witnesses and in
vestigate the expenditures OF differ
ent departments. While the resolu-
ton was general in its terms 1t was
drawn only as blind to cover its
real purpose. Its real purpose was
solely that of giving Day a chance to
Hammer Bowlhy a'd make 1t easy
for the governor to remove him.
Consolidation Bill Withdrawn.
The whole progrsm was so care
fully planned and SC sure were Pres
ident Thompson and Day OF its sue
cessful execution that. when Barretts