Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-06-16
Ignores Commissions Action
10 Relegate Him To Back
Seat In Office
TAKES CHARGE OF WORK
IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
Commission Engages Special
Counsel and Prepares To
Take Case Into Court

Following n consultation with Attor.
ney General Brown Yesterday afternoon
state Engineer Lewis announced that
the resolution adopted by the majority
Of the state highway commission YES.
terday, by which he was deposed AZ
highway engineer and placing Highway
Engineer Il. /, Cantine in sole CHARGE
OF highway work under the direction Of
the commission, was of no real force or
effect and that he will continue to act
as supervisor over all of the road work
10 this end he departed today for Col
umbia county to take charge of the
proceedings arising out of the award
OF contracts for the completion of the
Columbia highway in that county.
Engineer Lewis having assumed this
attitude in defiance of the will of tbe
majority Of the commission (Seeretarv
olcott refusing to vote for the resolr.
nom it is now up to the commission to
net If they insist upon Mr.. Lewis
-aklng a back seat and Keeping hands
ltf the highway work and Highway
engineer Cantine, and this will prnb. |
ably be done through Injunction nro.
ceedings to restrain him from taliinpl
lne iead In the road work and subord, |
nallhg Engineer Cantine. Matters may
@ .@olne 10 such an issue that mandamus
Proceedings may be resorted to in tbe
vent the highway commission elects
o ignore Lewis and pass bills and
t"'r actS OF Highway Engineer Can.
'IS re, over ms mead.
me majority of the highway commits.
ION y mas mas employed Judge Charles L.
lyNo'l' FORMER justice Of the supreme
ourt, az special counsel to advise and
eI'eSent them IN the matter and he
az a''auy gwen the commission an
Pi"ioh 10 the ettect that the comms.1
.oh nus sole jurisdiction over the high.
"a ul,lslon or the engineering de.
a. ''Hen' ana can direct and control
le actions OF Engineer Cantine ir.
.Spcc'l'o or Lewis Attorney General
IoWh STANDS pat upon his former
'ui'oh 'nat state Engineer Lewis, as
'au oi the consolidated department, m
- JuIiSd'ctlon ana authority to direct c,
" u'llonS or highway Engineer Can. G,
ue aS ms subordinate and all matters s.
'r'3'Hlng 10 'he highway branch Of G,
e department are subject to his super. W
SION inspection ana approval &C
IN SpcaHlhg or the resolution En-. Z,
ueer Lewis states that according to tn
= ou'ice OF Attorney General Brown pa
mas no legal status in the matter as Sc
g law provides that "the office ar
'oWn as the state highway engineer Is az
tepy abolished, aud the powers,
tes and work performed by the state Sc
2hWay engineer shall be vested in so
d paced under the charge and direc. te,
~ OF tle state engineer and where. br
er any IaW now in force in the state inl
oregon the name of state highway me
appears, 1t shall be considered tn
u inc name Of state engineer is sub sta
~ rGIed IN Hen thereof wa
Hp thlfd section Of the act provides we
{ all work OF the department which ell
heretofore been in the charge of foi
state highway engineer shall be Cll
Ter the direct supervision Of the nee
't deputy state engineer (llighway cas-
{lneer laHtIuc) and his dutips shall
by the highway cor/i,. cou