The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-10-21
FOUGHT FOR TWO CENT RATE
In Forcing Railroads to Pay Their
Share of State Taxes.

Share Of state Taxes.
II am appealing for a united Michi-
gan, greater Michigan, Michigan
that knows no Straits of Mackinac."
This declaration by Chase. 8. Os-
born, the Republican candidate for
governor, was heartily cheered by the
more than 500 Republicans OF Berrien
county participating in the fourth an
nual Republican banquet Of that coun-
ty held in the auditorium at st. Jo-
seph, Wednesday night.
Mr. Osborn had been referring to
the effort being made by Mr.. Hemans.
the Democratic candidate for govern
Or to create class and sectional divi
sions in Michigan, and to secure politi-
cal profit for himself through creating
dissension and arousing prejudice
along lines not legitimately related to
the present campaign or to any cam
paign.
Mr.. Osborn called attention to the
fact that the demand for equal taxa
ton In Michigan had been feature of
his political faith and an important
purpose of all his political efforts since
the early days Of his acquaintance and
cooperation with Governor Pingree.
He had made the demand for equit-
able taxation applicable to the mines
OF the upper peninsula and to the great
producing properties of the lower pen.
insula an important plank in his pri.
mary election campaign platform, not.
withstanding the fact that he was
many times told by members of his
own party that he would be inviting
defeat through so doing
Mr.. Hemans was making the growth
Of expenses in Michigan the most
prominent feature of his campaign
work, Mr.. Osborn said, but If the Dem
ocratic candidate wished to be fair in
his argument he should state the fur
Their fact that no other state In the
Union had so greatly increased its in
come during these same years as had
the state Of Michigan
1T was a privilege l will always
prize higher than even nomination or
election to the Office of governor that
had an early part and an important
part in the general movement FOR
equal taxation through which the
railroads of Michigan are paving $4,-
10000 or S., 1000, 900 each year into the
state treasury, while when this fight
was entered upon the total income
from all the railroads Of the state was
less than $1,000, 900.
ut Is further true that when I be.
came railroad commissioner there was
law on the statute books which com.
PEELED the railroads of the lower PEN
insula to grant a fare of two cents
per mile when the earnings reach a
certain figure per mile But no effort
had been made to ascertain whether
the earnings had reached the point
fixed in the statutes.
II took the matter up Immediately,
and. after fighting clear through to
the United States supreme court, COM
PEELED half dozen of the big roads to
grant the two-cent fare. This saved
hundreds of thousands of dollars TO
the people of Michigan and is today
saving other thousands. The investi
cation which led to the successful
prosecution Of the suits cost money,
and spent 1t. I also enforced the law
with regard to grade crossings. some
thing which had been a dead letter,
and more money was spent. I ordered
statistics on freight and passenger
rates, fatalities and other matters re-
lating to railroads, gathered from
every section Of the world, SO that we
might understand just where Michigan
stood on railroad matters"
The cordial reception given to Mr.
Osborn and the earnest approval ex-
pressed for his position in this cam
paign and for the things he had stood
for, and had assisted in accomplishing
for Michigan, shown by the Republi-
cans of Berrien county, made it quite
evident that that section of the state
will promptly and unitedly respond to
his leadership and keep step with the
onward demands that have given to
Mr.. Osborn his present position in the
Republican party and In the state.