The public administrator shall have the same powers as are conferred upon special administrators, guardians, and conservators, and shall be subject to the same duties, penalties, provisions, and proceedings as are enjoined upon or authorized against special administrators, guardians, and conservators by the laws of this state so far as the same may be applicable. The public administrator may be appointed in proper cases as general administrator without giving additional bond, except that the court may require additional security, and when so appointed, the public administrator shall continue the administration until it is finally settled unless the public administrator resigns, dies, is discharged in the ordinary course of law as the administrator, or is removed for cause as public administrator or as administrator of such estate.