Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-17
TEMPEST IN TEAPOT
AT SOLDIERS HOME
So Says GOVernOr--Treasurer
Kay Objects to Remarks
Made About the Board

AS a result of the airing of the SQUAD
BILE between Commandant Markee of
the Oregon Soldier Home at Roseburg
and Architect Thompson at the board
of control meeting this morning, Cover
nor Withycombe told the commandant
that in the future he should treat all
men doing work for the state with the
courtesy due gentlemen, and that if
there was anything he thought was
wrong he should take the matter up
with the board instead of threshing it
out himself.
Governor Withycombe likened the af-
fair to a tempest in a teapot and de-
clared both men were too sensitive. He
said that the things the commandant
had done were wrong but that in gen
eral conditions at the home were carried
on better than in the past. He also said
that Architect Thompson, who has
charge of the building of the new hos
pital at the institution, was also some
what wrong, a little hot headed, per-
haps.
Treasurer Kay stated that he had
heard from excellent authority that
Commandant Markee had made indis-
Greet remarks concerning the board, and
G felt that he had exceeded his author;
ity and enlarged his power beyond what
it really was, He further stated that
if the commandant made any further
remarks of like nature he would i'm
mediately take steps to have q change
made in the administration.
Quarrel Is Childish.
In regard to the direction of the new
hospital, the board told the command
ant hat DR.. Stewart was to have full
charge in regard to the hiring or dis
charge of nurses and assistants and
the work of the hospital, although
the commandant had general authority
ever all the institution. This was TO
make the situation clear before any
squabble arose.
Commandment Markee and Architect
Thompson FLASHED frequently during the
construction of the new hospital over
the matter Of what the ~commandant
thought was unnecessary expenses in
CURED by the architect in his tours of
Inspection from Portland, and over the
of a ever. The commandant
could not see why the architect should
be paid train and hotel expenses when
he Travelled in his automobile. He was
old that the architect had taken up the
of these expenses with Secretary
5oodin of the board of control and that
,hey had been authorized. It was the
constant antagonizing Of the command
mt that worried the architect until
t got on his nerves. He says he was
constantly criticized and found fault
With by the commandant until 1T cul-
minated in his recent trip to Roseburg
when he said the commandant threaten
d to use bullets to get him off the
Commandant Full of Pep.
The commandant said he told the ar
Infect that if he laid hands on him
Ie would "Not be able to get off the
rounds" and that as for bullets there
vas nothing loaded there.
The whole matter was threshed out
ack and forth with the architect de-
laring that the commandant called HIM
liar and used other insulting language
o him while the c~ommandant stoutly
enied everything. The inception Of the
riction was brought out into the de-
ire of the commandant to have a nur-
home and a dining room in the new
ospital and the architect tried to get
hem in and keep within the appropr1a-
ion. When this could not be done, Mar
ee apparently got sore. Various other
harges were banded back Inc forth !
nd it simmered down to be merely a
empest in a teapot. ,