Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-03-09
Open Forum
EXPOSITION COMMISSION
4 x 4 i x Il y 4 x 4 i X

Salem, Or. Mar. 8, 191S.'
Editor Capital Journal
[ have read with interest Mr.. Jno.
F. Logan's s frank and courteous letter
published in the Journal of date Feb
ruary 2Sth, inst, relative to the Panama
Exposition commission in its activities
and expenditures of public moneys in
matters Herewith connected. Upon read
ing Mr.. Logan's letter 1 called upon
the secretary of state, Mr.. Ben w. Oh
colt and made request to see the report
of the exposition commission. With US
ual courtesy, Mr.. Olcott, Mr.. Koser and
others in the secretary IS office began to
search for the reports, by Mr.. Logan re-
ferred to, with the result that they
were not able to find reports. True they
were able to find the Sheldon resolution
so highly complimentary of this ex-
position commission. Later on the same
day a letter was addressed to me at
Mccoy, by Mr.. Olcott as follows:
j. K. Sears, Mccoy, Or.
Dear Sir: For your information find
inclosed q copy of report by Mr.. John
f. Logan one of the commission OF the
Panama International Exposition Com
mission to BENZ. G. Sheldon, chairman
house committee on expositions and
fairs, 1917 legislature, appearing at
pages 353, 354 of the senate and house
journals, 1917. nc ~
This you will observe contains a gen
eral statement of the expenditures of the
commission but makes reference to the
"itemized account now in the hands Of
the secretary Of state" which as we ad-
vised you this afternoon, HAS NOT
BEEN FILED IN THIS OFFICE. We
have, however, addressed letter to
Mr.. w. L. Thompson, secretary OF the
commission regarding the report refer
red to. Yours very truly,
BEN w. OLCOTT,
Secretary of State.
Accompanying and inclosed with Mr..
Olcott IS letter is a copy Of a report
of Mr.. John F. Logan, one Of the COM
missioners, made to Hon. BENZ. G. Shell
don at his request and bearing date OF
January 20, 1917. Now these facts de-
velop:
First, that Hawley did not offer the
resolution calling upon the commission
Of which he was member for a report
Second, that Mr.. Logan also mem,
Der made no report until so requested
to do by Mr.. Sheldon, chairman OF the
committee on expositions and fairs, " In
accordance with your request.
Third, That no itemized report was
at all or ever filed in the secretary OF
state s office. Note, alse, that Mr.. 10
gan s report was made in January 19li
and in this report it is stated that the
activities of the commission covered
period beginning July 1913, down to
the present date.'' Well we may reason
ablv suppose that had Mr.. Sheldon de
Iaved his request until 1921, the actiyi
ties of this commission would nave peen
down to that date and the remaining
balance Of $61O8.85 would have been ex
pended Certainly this balance would
then have been expended and it is yet
a question if in fact it has not been
expended. 1t was published in the Port
land journal in the month Of November
and as 1 remember, the year 1917.
Months after Mr.. Logans report this
exposition committee held a meeting al
the Imperial hotel, there was found tc
be some Of the money unexpended, and
that when our building which was given
away was formally turned over, the
members of the committee would at
tend the ceremonies, i.e., exhaust the
funds. Now as to this proposed eseapadt
1 have no knowledge and think it sug
gests need Of a supplemental report
From all the foregoing 1 feel justified
in a comeback: 81 do know that wheI
the statement is made that an item
lied report is on file in the secretary OF
state IS office that the statement is alb
solutely and circumstantially incorrect
I did repair to the secretary of state Z
Office and the itemized report is absalom
Like the inter-county bridge bill it dis
appeared and unlike the bridge bill il
don t come to light. The action follow
ing report to Mr.. Sheldon, taken by
the legislature reminds me of what WI
apply to our farm yard front gates
whitewash. Mr.. Editor we want thii
itemized report called out by request Of
Mr.. Sheldon and it must be smoked out
Presently hope to find time and op
portunity to refer to these matters agaiI
and to the manner and incentive Of Sc
lection of the members of this eommitte'
and in most of other state appointment
and irection.-'s What's the matte
with Hannah. The public is entitled
to a report.
JAMES K. SEARS,
Csf;zen and Tavpavar