East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-10-29
COCHRAN IS CHARGED
WITH PRACTICING
LAW WHEN BARRED
WATER COMMISSIONER SAID TO
BE PRACTICING FRIGHT
ALONG" ILEG ALLY.

Eastman OF La Granue mas Deen en-
, deavoring to find somebody who will
7 see to it that George Cochran, water
| superintendent for the eastern Ore
! gon district and also a resident Of
. I4s Grande, will not engage in the
Ipraceice of law while he is holding
the office of water superintendent.
! He bases his efforts on section 661S
} of Lords oregon laws, which, after
3 fixing the salary Of water superin-
tendent at $4,000 year, provides that
i such division superintendent shall
not engage in any other busiess,"
Eastman says he thinks the laws
should be enforced, He has appeal
ed to the governor, the supreme
court, the attorney general and the
State Bar association, but his COM
plants and requests have been po-
litely kicked from pillar to post until
in almost hopeless discouragement
Eastman exclaims;
Politics Given Blame.
This little matter shows how poll
tics enter the fabric of our govern
ment, and as a result justice is thrown
to the wind"
Last February Eastman wrote to-
Governor Withycombe about the mat
ter advising the chief executive that
/ Cochran was regularly engaged I'M
the practice of law. He cited the
governor to section 661S.
Kindly acknowledge receipt and
let me know what you do in the mat
ter" requested Eastman.
Il note what you say concerning
Mr.. George Cochran and shall inves-
tigate the matter at an early date
replied Governor Withycombe, writ |
ing on February 10.
Eastman heard no more about the |
matter so on April he addressed a
letter to the Oregon Bar association.
enclosing a complaint against Coch-
ran.
The matter was referred to the
grievance committee and on May l,
Elton Watkins. attorney for the Bar
association, advised Eastman that the
committee had decided that it did not
have jurisdiction and could not pro-
coed for the disbarment of Cochran
Therefore, you will have to seek
Your remedy through another chan
mel" advised Attorney Watkins.
Court Appealed To.
Acting on this suggestion, Eastman
sought to obtain an order from the
circuit court of Union county re-
straining Cochran from engaging in
the law business or any other busi-
ness while he held the office of wa :
ter superintendent thus enforcing the =
provisions Of section 6613.
He forwarded the complaint on Au-
gust is to the attorney general, with
he explanation that it would be use
ess to give it to the district attorney 1
If La Grande for he is member Of Il
he firm of Cochran & Eberhard."
Il took this matter up with the
governor last February" wrote East
nan to the attorney general, "and
lnder date of February 19 he advised &"
/ shall investigate the matter at an is
-arly date | infer sufficient time
has elapsed for the investigation, 50 S
think the complaint should be filed
It once"
A day or two later, Eastman re. ;
,eived from the attorney generals Of II
ice a reply, stating: q do not know
If any action which could be initiat-
d by the attorney general to rem ;
dy the trouble you seak of. The :
usual course is q complaint to the
GOVERNOR
Back to the governor again East I
nan went He asked the attorney
General to turn the complaint over to
he governor Then he wrote the gov ri
rnor.
WithycOmbe Makes Reply. ~
Il wish you would investigate this T
natter, or rather file the complaint,
md bring the case to issue" wrote ,
Eastman. :
II took up the matter with Mr.. :.
cochran and asked him to give me a =
tatement in the premises, advised u
Governor Withycombe in his reply to
Eastman. mfr. Cochran gave me
reply, explaining fully .
hat his practice in law at that time =
vas simply incidental and that he y
vas not really engaged in other bust :,
less" =
The governor said the matter had -
'een referred to the attorney general
On the second of this month, East u
!
ior. y
Kindly let me know what action y
las been taken he asked, and con-
inued:
"Now / believe in letting man ex "
lain matters but when he does so T.
he other side should be looked into. -.
cochran practices law right along =
nd Wednesday was up at court with .
he rest Of us when the docket was .
cad and he reported the standing Of (
It least five cases he was in. tell
Ou I know what I am talking about
nd this matter should come to g
ead"
Letter IS Acknowledged.
On October Z, the governor made
acknowledgement OF the letter and
aid he would make further investi- :
alton. T
Last Saturday Governor Witty
ombe sent a further reply to East
nan.
While I am not thoroughly ac-
uainted with all the facts in the 4,
ase." wrote the governor. yet 1t is :
.ossible that there may have been >
one technical violation Of the law u
Though ! do not think. its spirit has Il