Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-06
HAVE RED HOT BATTLE
OVER APPOINTMENT
Public Service Commission
Scraps Over Appointing
Ostrander'S Successor


In the selection of Edward Wright
Of La Grande; as secretary of the Ore
gon public service commission, Satur.
day afternoon, there was scrap of
more than usual interest in that ii
has been brewing since the first of
last January, when Fred Buchtel, one
of the newly elected commissioners
stated chat to the best of his ability
he vas gong to keep his prediction
PROMISES to the people of economy and
efficiency in rhe appointment Of en-
ploycs and the conduct of the office
as against political preference.
When Secretary Ostrander resigned
a few days ago, the matter was brought
to a head, and Saturday afternoon the
clash came. 1t was short but interesting
while it lasted.
The story is told thus:
Ed Wright was Commissioner Corey IS
opponent in the primaries for the Re-
publican nomination for public service
commissioner from eastern Oregon. At
t;'at time, it is stated, an agreement
was reached between Commissioner Cor
ey, who was then secretary of the com
1iission, and Wright whereby if Wright
won out in the race for commissioner
he was to keep Corey in as secretary,
and if Corey won out as commissioner
he was to get Wright in as secretary
as soon as possible. 1t is stated that at
the first of the year, when both Buch-
tel and Corey took office, that Com
missioner Corey made an attempt to get
Wright considered fer secretary. How
ever, at that time Secretary Ostrander,
who was then an examiner, was placed
in the position of secretary temporarily,
which became permanent later.
Wanted to Promote.
AT that time, Commissioner Buchtel
issued statement in which he said he
favored the promotion of competent en-
ployes to the secretaryship as a reward
for efficiency instead of putting in
some one to pay political debts.
When the selection of successor to
Secretary Ostrander was under discus
sion, Commissioner Buchtel was in
favor of bringing to Salem +. A. Rasch,
examiner for the Portland office, and
the Portland office with the
grain inspection department and thus
reducing expenses. He is said also to
have favored the promotion of compe-
tent employees.
Saturday, when Commissioner Miller
called a meeting to select secretary,
Buchtel presented reso-
luton the gist of which was, that the
additional work placed ON the commits
sion by the legislature made 1T neees-
sary to retrench in expenses in order to
keep within the appropriation, that it
10 Portland
office with the grain inspection depart
ment and that Examiner Raseh could be
brought to Salem and thus eliminate an
office, and that it would promote eff
ficiency in the commission to promote
efficient employees.
Buchtel Loses Fight.
This resolution was voted down by a
vote of two to one. Commissioners
Corey and Miller voting no. Commits
sioner Buchtcl then presented the name
of Examiner Rasch for secretary. 1t
was voted down. He then presented
the name of Assistant Secretary Leedy,
and it was voted down; then he nom
mated Second Assistant Secretary Ellis
and was voted down.
Commissioner Corey then nominated
Ed Wright and he received two votes,
but Buchtel voted no.
Commissioner Corey stated later that
the matter of investigating the consol-
idating of the Portland examiner s of
flee with that of the grain inspection
department will be considered at an
other time. He said the reason he did
not vote for Rasch as secretary was
that he thought he was of more use to
the commission as an examiner than
secretary as his line was engineering,
Don H. Upjohn, whose name was men
toned in a Portland paper as being in
the race, was not candidate for the
position.
Secretary Ostrander has new posi-
tion open for him in Portland, but
whether he will accept it or remain
with the commission as an examiner is
no known.