The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-02-26
4 Glenn RECORD
CHASE 3. osBoRN's CON-
ScIRNTIoUs AND GOOD
WORK FOR THE PEG
PIE IS CLEAN.
THE sTRENUous DAYS OF RAIL
ROAD LEGISLATION SHOW
VALUABLE SERVICE 40 4
PUBLIC OFFICIAL.


Il know Of no better method OF arriv.
Ing at . candidates capacity for pub
lie service and loyalty to the common
good than By study of his past per-
formance Of public duties" declared
former Attorney General H. M. Oren
In Introducing . careful review of
Chase 8. Osborn's services to the
state ~ commissioner Of railroads
under Governor Pingree During his
term Of service under -Pingres," con-
tinued Mr.. Orsn, mo man aided more
emciently or effectively ip promoting
the political situation which made ade-
quate taxation of railroad properties
In Michigan Inevitable than Mr.. Os-
born. While at times he differed with
his chief, he was thoroughly at one
with him in the general purpose
sought and contributed In no small de-
gree to the end finally reached.
Mr. Osborn became commissioner
OF railroads by Governor Pingree's ap-
pointment on April 8, 1899, and was
associated with the Pingree admins
tration until the end of Governor Pin
gree's term on December 81, 1900. He
was reappointed by Governor Bliss
and remained commissioner until
January 8. 1908.
II can best summarize Governor
Pingree's activities from April, 1899,
to the end OF his term by statement
of results
His Atkinson bill. adopted March
ID. 1899, was declared demonstrations
on April 20, 1899. From the legisIa-
ture of 1899 he obtained the passage
OF the bill creating the state tax COM
mission. which was given supervision
over all local assessing oficers and
which brought general property valua-
tons to an approximation Of cash
value and added to the general tax
rolls OF the state $3.50, 900. 900 In valua-
tion; and which was also given author
ity to make a railroad valuation, re-
sulting In the Cooley and Adams ap-
praisal. He also obtained the APP
pointment of a commission to nego-
tate for the repeal OF the special rail-
road charters, Of which Mr.. Osborn
by virtue Of his position became the
head
AT this session Governor Pingree
failed to get a resolution adopted for
submission OF constitutional amend
ment allowing the re-enactment OF the
Atkinson bill. and he again failed at
the special session called in Decem-
Der, 1899. but in October. 1900, by his
coupe In assembling the legislature a
month before the general election, he
got q proper resolution adopted, which
was overwhelmingly ratified at the
polls. Also at this session. acting on
the report and suggestions Of Mr., o.
born's commission. the special railroad
charters we're repealed.
Governor Pingree. after the over
whelming victory of his constitutional
amendment at the polls. sought to
reap for his own administration the
eclat Of the re-enactment of his At
kinson bill and the putting of the new
system OF taxation into effect. and he
caused the legislature to finally con-
vene in special session ON December
s, 1900. The result of this session
was disappointing and the governor
retired at the end Of the year, not
realizing that he had In fact won his
taxation victory.
"Mr. Osborn's report to the gov
ernor, dated December 81, 1900 ex-
pressed doubts regarding the possibil-
ity of framing an adequate, equitable
and satisfactory ad valorem tax law
along the lines of the Atkinson bill
that would be as satisfactory as the
system then in vogue IF THE LAT
TER WAS REVISED AND PLACED
AT AN ADEQUATE RATE.
Subsequent events justified this
doubt, as the Chandler bill putting
railroads on an ad valorem basis diff
fered in many essentials from the So
called Atkinson bill
when Governor Pingree rendered
the position of commissioner Of rail-
roads to Mr.. Osborn. as he did three
times before acceptance the latter
frankly told him his views on this
subject and expressed the same doubts
as were expressed In the report quot
ed from.
"In spite of that, he received the ap.
pointment with no condition Of fsalty
to the Pingree tax ideas interposed,
and, in fact on no condition Of any
character; and can very truthfully
say that at no time thereafter while
Mr. Pingree was governor and after
the expiration of his term. did ever
hear him say that he had been misled
into appointing Mr.. Osborn. or that
he was SURPRISED at his views. or that