The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-10-19
What Another Tax Reform Advocate Thinks
Of Representative Mason.
Henry M. Cheever, Author of the Cheever-
Atkinson Bill, Writes to The Times
in Answer to Question Re-
garding His Work.


Probably representative the Legislature ever had
from the first day of his work. before the
the Legislature convened submit and mepre
sensations than did Representative Mason Today
cusaions are coming home to roos petty trick to force
earnest and pansakng legislator explain his positions
various matters after they had already been msrepesend
untruth always travels than the truth which
presentations which have been assduouy circulated for the
two years. the people beginning that they
The following letter from the authors
the original Atkinson bill and the author of the Ceever
BILL will perhaps help little in clearing up the minds
OF the people of the county the fact that Representative
alive their interests during the time when
people with selfish attempting make the people
think that he not 1t will probably be possible
down all of the which have circulated
Mr. Mason but the endorsements which have been given him
unquaifedly by such Hon. Scion Goodel S.
Goodyear Hon. Henry Chever and Hon. John
long towards correcting whatever mistaken ideas
still left the minds of the intelligent this county
DETROIT, Aug ~ 1900
To The EDITOR THE Owosso TINES :
Dear Sir: In reply your inquiry the position
Representative George T. Mason regular the
Legislature of 1899 and the special year
the most important question before the legislature
great pleasure in saying:
On January introduced the Cheever- AT
knson bill he equal taxation measure motion
fer to the committee railroads. substitute that
referred special committee be appointed the speaker
: The vote taken the first motion Mr.. Mason
voted to refer to the committee railroads.
was lost and he then voted for motion refer special
committee and 1T was referred On the 18th of February
oluon INTRODUCED for the purpose obstrung
of this special committee which resolution offered MIR
Chamberlain and had carried it would have practically de-
feated the passage of the Cheever Atkinson bill Wy
Mr. Mason this time voted against nv motion to :
this resolution the table, but from that time voted
Think every occasion with the the Cheever
knson bill On the motion to take from the table report
the special committee the Cheever Atkinson BILL
voted with the advocates of the bill favor
the day he voted in favor of the of the bill and
days later he voted favor of concurrng the
ntcOft boh
the author of the BILL myself made adoption
as did other supporters of the bill
3d When the question up finally, postpone
consideration of the bill for the repeal the Michigan Central
charter Mr. Mason voted in favor of the
ried by a vote of IS to g.
3rd On the final vote to appoint commission
fces negotiate with the Michigan Central railroad company
the of their charter Mr. Mason
bill This bill passed after due elaboration
for various bills repeal the charter and after careful
ton and argument when discovered that under the
the Michigan Central charter granted 1916 if
repealed the would be liable damages
and also shown that the Michigan
the time $25 000
that the officers of the Michigan Central ready
willing negotiate for the surrender of the charter
organize under the general railroad law providing
appointed negotiate with them upon this subject
Mason voted for this commission and passed the
of 81 49, commission appointed and by the
of the bill consisting of the Secretary of State Commissioner of
Railroads and the State Treasurer and this commission
goatng with said railroad and will report the coming
of the Legislature.
Is Mr. Mason also voted for the appointment State
Tax Commission.
q 5h special session Mr. Mason for the pas
sage of the joint resolution submitting the people the
men constitution relative the railroads
q So personal observation goes opinion
Mason throughout both sessions of the Legislature
of his constituency and by
other motive.
Il HENRY M. CHEEvER.
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