Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-08
MILLER AND CAREY
CLASH OVER PORTER
Miller Accuses Colleague OI
Telling FalsehOOd In
Newspaper Interview

Frank j. Miller, chairman of the
public service commission, told Com
missioner H. H. Corey this morning
that Corey's interview in Sunday Is
0regonian relative to the resignation
Of c. E. Porter, chief grain inspector,
was false.
Beneath the surface, a spirit of an
tagonism has existed between these two
commissioners for many months and
Corey's interview brought them into
an open clash. Mr.. Miller told Corey
that the latter had been giving him
unfair treatment for a long time and
he was getting tired Of it.
The newspaper article in question
stated thst Porter's resignation had
been requested by the commission and
that it had been accepted over the
protest of Corey. Porter is from east.
ern Oregon, which is the district repre-.
sented by Corey on the commission.
Every word of that is false,'' de.
clared Chairman Miller. Mr.. Porter
was not asked to resign, so far as
know. After he did submit his resig.
nation, all three members of the com
mission were present when it was ac.
cepted and Mr.. Corey did not utter
word of protest.
when Mr.. Porter first handed in
his resignation it read to be effective
July l. | told him that / would not
accept it in that form, as he had
worked for the commission a year and
was entitled to vacation, as all other
employees Of the state are who work a
year. told him that if he insisted on
resigning to change the date to July
10 and take his vacation, which he did.
After the resignation was accepted,
directed Mr.. Wright, secretary OF the
commission, to write Mr.. Porter a let
ter which he could use as recon-
mendation if he sought employment
elsewhere. 2"
Commissioner Corey insisted that he
did make protest against the resig-
nation, and wanted to call in Professor
Hyslop of the 0. A. c., who he said
was present at the time.
"Call III Professor Hyslop or Mr..
Wright, or anybody else you want to, :"
retorted Chairman Miller, "I know that
you did not. Your interview is the
same kind of treatment you have given
me in the past and l am getting pretty
tired of it. In the heat of the recent
campaign, when l was q candidate for
reelection, you gave out an interview
putting upon me all the responsibility
for the action Of the commission in
the eastern Oregon grain rate cases.
1t is unfair treatment and you know it.
Moreover, your statement that Mr.
Porter was asked to resign by the com.
mission is unfair to Mr.. Porter. "
Commissioner Buchtel was present at
the time Of the clash between the other
two members of the commission and
supportd Chairman Miller's statement
that Corey had made no protest when
Porter's resignation was up for ac.
ceptance.
L want to select man for chief
Inspector Of the grain department on
the ground Of merit solely, and with
out regard to the part Of the state from
which he comes" said Buchtel.
Three men have been suggested for
the position. They are Roy McAyeal
and j. w. Church, registrar
and general assistant in the state grain
department, and II. Arnold of Port
land.
Mr.. Arnold is said to be the choice
Of Professor Hyslop of 0. A. G., whose
assistance in selecting a man for the
position has been sought by the com
mission, and also Of the federal grain
department.
Commissioner Buchtel stated, how.
ever, that If either Of the two men
now with the department are as well
qualified as an outside man he would
prefer to promite one or the present
employees,