Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-05

Probably no official or citizen Of Ore
gon is besieged by such mass Of de-
tail business, much of it new and unex-
pected, as Acting Governor Olcott in
his dual capacity Us secretary or state
and chief executive. His private Of
flee has continuous succession of Wis
itors and officials, so ts.at hota MS ex-
ecutive ability and his native urbanity
are constantly in action, much of his
attention being taken up with the ar
rangements for the governor Is funeral.
AS might be expected, he has no word
to say with regard to his future plans
and policies. But contemplating the
psychology Of the man, the experience
and breadth of vision which he brings
to the complex situation, it may be TAX
en- as though it came from his own lips
that he will act broadly in his official
policies, and conservatively in the mat
ter Of appointments. Although silent
as to his intentions, he spoke freely
with regard to the late executive Of
whom he spoke with the highest re-
gard and respect, as man of the high
est ideal and lofitest patriotism.
A mass of legislative enactments are
stacked up in the office of Secretary
0lcott awaiting the official signature
to make them technically in force, but
out of consideration forthe memory of
the late governor Mr.. Olcott will take
no action upon them until after the fun
eral services, unless an emergency do.
velops that will make such action ns-
cessary. And Of course no steps will
be taken with regard to the number Of
boarls and commissions which il will
be his duty to appoint in accordance
with act Of the legislature just closed.
Among these is board of conciliation
and arbitration; tax supervising com
mittee for Multnonah county; a state
board Of vocational education; Judge
Of the court of domestic relations ror
Multnomah county; land-settlement
committee Of five members; board Of
examiners for auto mechanics; and in
addition to these number Of vacan-
cies to fill, including that Of highway
commissioner to succeed W. L. Thomp-
son, whose term expires March 80.
Probably nothing surrounding the
metamorphosis Of acting-governor Ol-
cott calls for more speculation than his
attitude as to the office Of lieutenant
governor. Questioned on that point, he
made it plain that he took the same
stand that he did in 1912 when the
question came up before tho people on
the referendum. At that time he on
dorsed 1t, believeing it would be best
for the state to provide for that Off
cial. Although the measure was twice
turned down by popular vote, he still
asserts that he still favors the amend
ment providing for the new office.
Superintendent of Banks, w. l.. Ben
nett is in st. Johns today, called there
by the First Trust and Savings Bank
which has been placed in charge of the
department for thirty days ON account
of a "kink y in the affairs of the in
stitution. II will be temporarily closed
TO all operations.
Mr. Cline, Of the highway commits
sion, calls attention Of all contractors
to tho fact that the opening Of bids
for the construction of units of the Pa
cific highway, which was to have been
held at Portland tomorrow, nus pecn
postponed until Friday, March 7, on
account of the governor IS funeral. Mr..
Cline will 60 to Portland tomorrow TO
receive the bids as scheduled, and they
will be held over until Friday for the
opening.
The usual voluminous report has just