The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-03-04
Former Attorney General H. Oren
Reviews 0sborn's Work as
R. R. Commissioner.
FAITHFUL TO GOV. PINGREE

Oren in introducing a careful review
of Chase S. Osborn's services to the
state as commissioner of railroads un-
der Governor Pingree. During his
term of service under Pingree,7 con-
ltlnuod Mr.. Oren, mo man aided more
lefficiently or effectively in 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
degree to the end finally reached
| "Mr. Osborn became commission
er of railroads by Governor Pingree's
appointment on April 6. 1899, and was
ASSOCIATED with the Pingree admin
lstration until the end of Governor
Pingree's term on December 81, 1900.
He was reappointed by Governor Bliss
and remained commissioner until Jan
uary 8, 1903.
| Il can best summarize Governor
Plngree's activities from April, 1899.
to the end of his term by a statement
of results.
| His Atkinson bill, adopted March
Is. 1899, was declared unconstitutional
on April 26. 1899. From the legisla-
ture of 1899 he obtained the passage
of the bill creating the state tax COM
mission. which was given supervision
over all local sassessing officers and
which brought general property valu-
ations to an approximation of cash
value" and added to the general tax
rolls of the state $350,000,000 i'm valu-
ation; and which was also given au-
thorlty to make a railroad valuation,
resulting in the Cooley and Adams
appraisal. He also obtained the APP
pointment of commission to nego-
tiate 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 a constitutional amend
ment allowing the re-enactment of the
AlhlnSOD Dlll, nt dSdih CIV
the special session called in Decem-
Der. 1899. but in October, 1900. by his
coupe i'm assembling the legislature a
month before the general election, he
! got proper resolution adopted which
was overwhelmingly ratified at the
polls. Also at this session. acting on
the report and suggestions of Mr..
Oshorn's commission, the special rail-
road charters were repealed.
Governor Pingree, after the over
whelming victory of his constitutional
amendment at the polls, sought to
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. Osborns report to the governor,
dated December 81, 1900, expressed
doubts regarding the possibility 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 sys-
tenn then i'm vogue If THE LATTER
WAS REVISED AND PLACED AT
IAN ADEQUATE RATE
subsequent events justified this
ldoubt. as the Chandler bill putting
railroads on an ad vaforem basis
differed i'm many essentials from the
So called Atkinson bill.
"When Governor Pingree rendered
1.-THE position of commissioner OF rail-
lroads to Mr.. Osborn, as he did three
times before acceptance the latter
frankly told him his views on this
lsubiect and expressed the same doubts
as were expressed i'm the report quot
ed from.
"In spite of that. he received the
lannointment with no condition OF
lfealty to the Pingree tax ideas inter-
possed. and, in fact on no condition
of any character; and can very
truthfully say that at no time thereaiter
while Mr.. Pingree was governor ana
latter the expiration of his term, ala
I ever hear him say that he had been
misled into appointing Mr.. Osborn OF
THAT he was disappointed in his per-
lsonal or official conduct. In fact, ne
Iappeared to take great pride In the
latter and at all times Mr. Osborn was
received and treated by him with the
favor and respect and friendly consid-
Grafton that a chief would ordinarily
display to favored and trusted ap-
pointee. ,.
"The task of putting the Pingree
constitutional amendment into sta,u-
,orv form and it's construction by the
courts came after Governor Pingree's
term had expired. in fact, 1t was most
,v after his death. His claim TO non
or consisted first. in having made sucn
legislation possible and second ~
having created conditions whereby 'ts
, adoption by the Bliss administrator
and the giving of it fair trial De-