Herald and news., January 15, 1960, Page 6, Image 6

r
PAGE 8 A
FRANK JENKINS
Editor
BILL JENKINS
Managing Editor
FLOYD WYNNE
City Editor
MAURICE MILLER
Circulation Mgr
Ph. TU 4-4752
Editor's Note: Due to (he
nature of the "Letter To The
Editor" by Bill Crcswell (car
ried below), it as frit Unit
members of the Klamath Coun
ty Court and the llislrict Attor
ney should be given an oppor
tunity to present their side of
the Issue simultaneously uilll
the release of this letter. All
letters on this controversy arc
carried below In these columns.
Co ii nly ICngiiM'fr?
Klamalh Falls (To the Editor)
The coming of the New Year is
somewhat like a hangover, you
hope that the tilings that were
bungled and embarrassing aren't
repealed during the coming 12
months, yet the fogxincss of one's
memories makes one wonder, were
they really blunders or was there
a purpose behind them.
It is with this in mind that I
would like to clear the fuzziness
from the minds of the Klamath
Counly Court in regard to their
administrative methods.
I have reference to the matter of
Warren D. Rodgcrs and his ap
pointment lo the office of county
engineer on August 1, and his re
cent resignation on December 3,
1959. Having been a resident of
Klamath County and a taxpayer
for many years, it was with ex
treme interest that I followed the
appointment of a successor to Bill
Canton upon his retirement from
the office of county engineer. All
of us know the tremendous re
sponsibility and knowledge that is
required when one individual has
access to $1,200,000 worth of the
taxpayers' money, this being the
county road budget. What has
stuck in my craw after learning
the facts is, do Judge Bob Walk
er and Commissioners Frank Ga
nong and Ed Gowen.
The facts arc these. On August
3, 1U59, in an article published in
the Herald and News, announce
ment was made that Warren D.
Rodgcrs had been appointed as
Klamath County engineer, and I
quote, "The county court spent al
most two months screening appll
cants for the position vacated when
veteran engine"!- Bill Canton re
tired in May. t least seven or
eight applications were received,
and three were interviewed. The
court announced lis choice Fri
day."
It further stales thai, "lie (Mr.
Rodgcrs) was graduated in 1!H5
with a bachelor of science degree
in highway engineering from Ari
zona Stale, worked for three years
as a field engineer and computer
with the Arizona Highway Depart
ment, went to a materials testing
school for a year, worked for Ari
zona testing laboratories and then
opened his own irrigation engineer
ing business in Phoenix."
These facts were given to the
Herald and News by Mr. Rodgcrs
as background material, but County
Surveyor Lyle Smith was doubt
ful about this background when he
asked Mr. Rodgcrs personally if
he was registered in the state of
Oregon. Mr. Rodgcrs replied that
he wasn't but that he was regis
tered in Arizona.
Smith then consulted Art Betldoc,
Klamath County district attorney
and legal counsel fur the court as
to the legality of an individual
serving as counly engineer without
being registered in the stale of
Oregon. Mr. Beddoc said he would
check into the matter and that was
all that was said at that time.
When October 2 rolled around
and Mr. Rodgcrs was again asked
by Smith if he was registered, he
replied that there had been a few
snags and he was sure that it
would be authorized soon. At this
lime, sensing something "fishy
Joe Westvold, a partner of Smith's
in private practice, wrote a loiter
on October 2, 1959 to the State
Board oi I'.ngineenng r.xaminers
in Portland requesting the status of
Eodgers.
A reply lo thai letter was re
ceived on October i4, by Smith and
Westvold, from Paul D. Christer
son. secretary of the above men
tioned state board of examiners
and I quote, "Wo appreciate re
ceiving your letter of October 2nd
and wish to thank you for the in
formation concerning Warren D
Rodgcrs. We have written the
Klamath County Court, advising
them of the illegality of hiring a
non-registered engineer to serve as
county engineer and hope that this
matter will be rectified."
After receiving this report. Smith
and Westvold went a few steps fur
ther in their duty of protecting
their profession and the taxpayers
of Klamath County by writing lo
the Board of Technical Registra
tion lor information on Rodgcrs.
Tnesc letters were not written until
the 22nd day of October, awaiting
action of the court as a result of
the Idler that Paul Chrislerson
had written informing the court of
the illegality of having an unregis
Entered as second class matter at the post otlice at Klamath Falls.
Ore., on August 20. 1306, under acl of Congress. March 8. 1879
SERVICES:
ASSOCIATED PRESS UNITED PRESS
AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
Serving Southern Oregon And Northern California
tered engineer in the position of.
county engineer.
As no action was taken, the let
ters were mailed. On the 2nd of
November, 1959, Smith and West-
void received the following letter
from Arizona State University, and
I ciuotc, "We are unable to locate
any record of attendance for a
Warren D. Rodgcrs. We have nev
cr offered a degree in highway
engineering." The other reply from
the Arizona State Board of Techni
cal Registration in Phoenix, I
quote, "In response to your letter
of recent date, we have checked
our files and found that we do not
have Mr. Warren D. Rodgers reg
istered as a professional engineer."
With those facts, Smith and West
void met with the court on Wednes
day, November 4, and presented
them to Walker, Ganong and Gow
en.
Now, let's retrace our steps for
just a moment. This I realize has
taken quite a bit of space, but the
facts should be known and they
should be straight and complete.
First of all, the court stated that
it had spent almost two months
screening applicants for the job ol
managing and dispensing $1,200,000
of your and my tax money. Most
of the references that Mr. Rodgers
used in applying for the position,
and stated to the Herald and News
in the announcement article, with
the exception of having spent a
few months at the Arizona Testin,
Laboratories and State Highway
Department, were found to be un
true.
Who did I hey write lo about
Mr. Rodgcrs? What were they do
ing for two months, and what were
the credentials of the other, "at
least seven or eight applicants"
like?
Secondly, why did the court when
notified by the secretary of the
State Board of Engineering Ex
aminers that they had illegally ap
pointed an unlicensed engineer not
take action, even though their le
gal counsel District Attorney Art
Bcddoe, knew of the matter some
two months previously? Just sec
end guessing, it appears that the
court's legal counsel needs some
brushing up, or Is this Just my
imagination?
More facts . . . and (ho plot
deepens. ... On November 2, Mr.
Rodgcrs was injured in an auto
mobile accident. In the Herald and
News edition of November 3, it
"was reported that Rodgers was in
good condition and his injuries con
sistcd principally of bruises and
abrasions." Remember now, on the
following day, Lyle Smith and Joe
Westvold had appeared before the
judge and two commissioners with
their reports on Rodgers, yet not
until the Mill day of December,
1059, was there a word printed
about Warren D. Rodgers being
fired or quitting. In fact, Mr. Rodg
ers handed in his resignation to
District Attorney Art Beddoe on
December 3, but was reported by
the court as having resigned the
12th.
In other words, this man who
was Illegally serving in one of
Klamath County's most important
positions was not fired, asked to
quit or even in any way reprimand
td for his actions by the
court, who knew full well all of the
above mentioned situations, but re
signed because he was physically
incapacitated because of the seri
ous nature of his injuries, or was
livs used as a covcrup for the
court s blunder?
What I want lo know is just
uo s Kiwiing who: is tins tnc Kind
of administration we as taxpayers
should expect in a county as fine
as ours. What's going on up there
in the courthouse. First they hire a
man who isn't what he says he is
and when Judge Walker and his
commissioners hear, after being
told by the state board about it.
they do nothing but say we'll work
on it.
Second, why did Mr. Beddoe fail
SHORT RIBS
1 HEAR
THAT ,CS's
CP TUt
:aPiTa:istj
WEAR
'A PEAL?
( VMAT D YA )
to inform the Herald and News of
Mr. Rodgers' resignation for 16
days, from the 3rd of December
till the 19th, as quoted in the ar
ticle in the paper?
These are things that I feel
should be cleared up and brought
to the attention of the taxpayers
and residents of this county. We
received one of the most honest
jobs from Mr. Bill Canton that you
could find anywhere and it was
with regret that many of us
watched him retire. I'm sure ev
eryone in the Basin was anxiously
awaiting a capable replacement for
Bill, and then this situation has
been unfolded.
Let's keep our eyes and ears
open as lo future developments and
hone the court wakes up from its
old year hangover and faces the
New Year with enthusiasm to do
the job that was expected of them
when they were elected and ap
pointed to their jobs.
Bill Creswcll,
Route 3, Box 226
Conn's Hoply
Klamath Falls (To the Editor)-
In reference lo Mr. Creswell's Jet
ter on Warren D. Rodgers, the
members of the court, Judge Walk
er nol being available, have the
following to state.
Mr. Rodgcrs was employed by
the court with the understanding
that he would in all haste become
registered in Oregon and that he
was qualified so to do. He served
the county in a satisfactory man
ner for a period of three months
and eight days, the first day being
luly 25 and the last November 2.
He did nol act in any capacity for
the county nor was he paid for any
period after the information was
presented to the court by Smith
and Westvold that indicated Rodg
ers would be unable to become li
censed in Oregon.
Mr. Creswcll asks why the court
did not take action when notified
by the board of examiners that the
engineer must be a registered
man. When the court was notified
of the law relating to registration
ot county engineers by the State
Board of Engineering Examiners
this notification being their first
knowledge of this requirement, the
court changed his status to assis
tant to county engineer. Rodgcrs
was notified of this action, and the
resolution was filed with the coun
ty clerk and is recorded in the
commissioners journal.
Mr. Creswell states that he had
access to $1,200,000 worth of tax
payers' money. All disbursements
for the road department as is the
case with all other departments
are authorized by the county court,
Mr. Rodgers did not have access
to these funds.
Mr. Crcswell questions the time
between November 4 when Smith
and Westvold presented their in
formation and December 19 when
Rodgers' resignation was received.
As pointed out above Rodgers did
not act for the county nor was he
paid by the county during this pe
riod. He was asked for his resig
nation on the first day he was able
to presont himself to the court af
ter this information developed.
Ed Gowen,
County Commissioner
Frank F. Ganong,
County Commissioner
!. A.'s ltly
Klamath Falls (To the Editor)-
Statcment regarding letter to the
editor signed by Bill Creswell re
garding Warren D. Rodgers:
Creswell's letter states that
Lyle Smith consulted with me and
infers that a legal opinion from
my oflice was asked with ref
erence to the legality of an indi
vidual serving this counly as cngi
necr without being registered in
the Stale of Oregon. Never at
rny time has Mr. Smith consult
ed with me with reference to that
matter or any other matter.
Dy Frank O'Neal
REAI.W? MAfel Ccao
MAKE A DEAL VIM CUE.
WEH,, IFTHEV'B UKE 0
& IN MN HAT, l't UKE
-IV? PC 1W TlICiC? UrtSl
TW. V HI OW,
IPS
HERALD AND NEWS, Klamath Falls, Org,
Subscription Rates
CARRIER
t MONTH $ 1.50
6 MONTHS $ 9.00
I YEAR $18.00
MAIL
I MONTH $ 1.50
6 MONTHS $ 8.50
I YEAR $15.00
The only conversation that I
have ever had with Mr. Smith
with reference to the position of
County Engineer was merely a
casual comment or two in passing
Mr. Smith in the hallway of the
courthouse, at which time Mr.
Smith asked me if a County Engi
neer had to be registered in the
State of Oregon as a professional
engineer, and at that time Mr.
Smith was told that it was my
impression that the County Engi
neer did have to be a registered
engineer, but that I had never had
occasion to check the statutes with
reference to it, and could not say
with certainty. At no time has
Mr. Smith ever discussed Warren
Rodgers with me or his qualifi
cations. Mr. Creswell's letter further asks
this question: "Secondly, why did
the court when notified by the sec
retary of the State Board of Engi
neering Examiners that they had
illegally appointed an unlicensed
engineer not take action, even
though their legal counsel, Dis
trict Attorney Art Beddoe, knew
of the matter some two months
previously?"
That statement allegedly by Mr.
Creswcll is entirely false. The
question of Mr. Rodgers' qualifi
cation was never brought to my
attention until I was consulted on
the matter by the County Court
shortly after they had received
the above-referred to information
from the State Board of Engi
neering Examiners, upon which the
County Court Immediately acted.
Mr. Creswell's letter further
states, "Second, why did Mr. Bed
doe fail to inform the Herald and
News of Mr. Rodgers resignation
for 16 days, from the 3rd of De
cember till the 19th, as quoted in
the article in the paper?"
As a matter of fact, Mr. Rodg
ers did not resign his position as
Assistant County Engineer on the
3rd day of December, 1959. At
that time, Mr. Rodgcrs brought to
me a rough draft of what ap
peared to be a letter of resignation
from his post as Assistant Coun
ty Engineer and asked me to ex
amine it. Mr. Rodgers, at that
time, was recovering from a ser
ious brain injury which resulted
from an automobile accident in the
early part of November and was,
as a result of this injury, not suf
ficiently in control of his faculties
to submit such a letter or trans
act any other business or to de
fend himself against any accusa
tions, and so at that time I asked
Mr. Rodgers to wait until he had
further recuperated before sub
mitting his letter. It was not un
til the latter date that his facul
ties were sufficiently normal to
enable him to do so.
Art Beddoe,
District Attorney
TIm Aliiiniim
United Press International
Today is Friday, Jan. 15, the
15th day of the year, with 351
more days in 1960.
The moon is in its full phase.
The morning stars are Mars,
Jupiter and Venus.
On this day in history:
In 1831, the first practical Amer
ican built locomotive made its
first run in South Carolina.
In 1870, for the first time in
political history, a cartoon ap
peared with a donkey symboliz
ing the Democratic Party.
In 1J19, the famous concert
pianist Ignace Jan Paderewski
became the first premier of Po
land.
In 1922. the Irish Free State was
established.
In 1943, workmen completed the
Pentagon building.
In 1953, President Truman bade
the American people farewell over
a nationwide radio and television,
being the first outgoing president
to do so.
A thought for today: In his first
PU'ssage to Congress in 1945,
President Truman said, "The re
sponsibility of the great states
is to serve and not to dominate
the world."
(notes
United Press International
CHICAGO - Lar Daly, peren
nial unsuccessful candidate for
mayor of Chicago and slate and
national offices, disclosing that he
wants to run in 17 presidential
primaries:
"I wrote letters to all the 16
states and to the District of Co
lumbia, where presidential pri
maries arc held. I didn't get an
swers from some of them."
MADISON, Wis. American
history as reported in the new So
viet encyclopedia, excerpts from
which are to be published by the
Wisconsin Historical Society:
'Wilson s 14 points represented
a capitalistic plot, the New Deal
was a sop thrown to the masses
to keep them from revolting, the
Marshall Plan was dollar imperi
alism in disguise. .
Friday, January 15,
They'll Do It Every
I ZZ EIGHT EN6INEj?.rHlfH SCMOOL OR THE L-rd
OL' EIGHT ENGINE
COMPANY? WHY, THAT
used to be right next
DOOR TO MOTZENBECKEITte
BREWEI3V-SIX TRUCK WAS
RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
WHERE AL SEEPy HAD MIS
SALOONTHE SALVAGE
CORPS USED TO BE DOWN
THE STREET FROM THE
BURLEYCUE THEE-ATER,
RIGHT NEAR SWACKV'S
GARDENS-BEST FREE
LUNCH IN TOWN
Bible Prophecies
Many Jews and non-Jews see in
Zionism the fulfillment of Bible
prophecies. "Why Zionism Must
Fail" is the title of the public ad
dress to be given this Sunday, Jan
uary 17, at 3 p.m. in Kingdom
Mariners Meeting
Peace Memorial Mariners will
meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Janu
ary 18. Newcomers to the church
arc invited to call the Stan Mc
Clellans at TU 2-4021 if they are
interested in attending the Marin
ers' meetings.
There will be the usual planned
potluck dinner, following which
new officers . for the coming year
will be installed.
Salvation Army
Lt. Col. William E. Farkhouse
of San Francisco will be the prin
cipal speaker for the annual meet
ing of the Salvation Army, Mon
day, January 18, at the Winema
Hotel.
Colonel Parkhouse is responsible
for the organization and mainten
ance of all youth programs of the
Qnlvalinn Armv fni tho Wnctnrn
Territory.
There will be installation of the!
officers at this meeting. Installing
officer will be Lt. Col. John Erick
son of Portland. Colonel Erickson
is in charge of the Oregon and
Southern Idaho Division of which
Klamath Falls is one of his cen
ters of supervision.
The public is invited to attend
this meeting.
Circles Meet
Circles of the Women's Associa
tion of Peace Memorial Presbyter
ian Church will meet as follows:
Forsythe, 9 a.m. Friday, January
22, at the home of Mrs. Levertta
Moore, 4255 Frieda; Travaille,
a.m. Friday, January 22, at the
home of Mrs. Margaret Saunders,
4100 Summers Lane and Macken
zie at 12:30 p.m. Friday, January
22, at the home of Mrs. Warner
Kimball, 4678 Crosby.
The first family night of the new
year will be held Saturday, Janu
ary 23, beginning with a potluck
supper at 6:30 p.m. Deacons will
be in charge. Following dinner,
there will be Bible pictures and
scripture readings entitled, "Tho
Christ Story." Families are urged
to attend.
Peace Memorial
The following meeting dates
have been announced for organiza
tions within the Peace Memorial
Presbyterian Church: Senior West
minster Fellowship will meet Sun
day, January 17, at 7 p.m. in the
church lounge. All senior high age
young people are invited.
The first meeting of Evangelism
Callers will be in the church,
Thursday, January 28, at 7:30.
There will be a meeting of the
Session and Christian Education
Committee Friday, January 15, at
7:30 p.m. in the church.
Why Pay More
for
LOANS
Personal Loans
Appliance Loans
Auto Loans
Boat Loans
Borrow
Th
Amount
Rtpsy In
18 monthly
Payments
$200 12.53
$300 18.79
$400 25.06
$500 31.33
I
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hLRfllFITH FALLS
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THOSE JOINTS-
Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 833
North Ninth Street. Questions will
-be answered by the speaker, O. W.
Hall, a local minister. Following
the one-hour discourse, the public
JANUARY
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Both meetings are free and no col
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blood,
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SOME SLIGHTLY DAMAGED
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Large - Quilted
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49
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