The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-10-15

MR.. OSBORN AS r. r. COMM Il.
Mr.. Lawton t. Hemans. in an effort
to demonstrate that Chase s. Osborn
will not give the state of Michigan the
economical administration be that
promises. goes into Mr.. osborn 5 adj
ministration Of the Office OF railroad
commissioner and shows that Mr..
Osborn spent more money than did the
officer who preceded him and the one
who followed him.
However, Mr.. Hemans neglected to
inform his hearers that Mr.. Osborn
held the office OF railroad commissioner
during the administration of Hazen s.
Pingree when the state had decreed
tnat the Pingree railroad policies
should be put in force and one of those
policies was Co force the largely pat
ronized roads in the lower peninsula,
who were earning large returns to
grant 2-cent fare. Mr.. Osborn was
chosen to carry out that program and
how we'll be did it is now history. 1t
missioner $ Office must increase.
Mr. Osborn has welcomed Mr.. He
mans investigation OF his record as
railroad commissioner and in an inter-
view in the Detroit Journal says
:" note that Mr. Hemans is pointing
10 the fact that the expenditures in the
state railroad Office increased enor-
mously during my term as railroad
commissioner
II only wish that he had gone far
enough TO tell the people why they
were Increased IL wonld have made
more votes for me than | can make Tor
myself Whether his figures are exact
liz right do not know because | have
not data nc hand. but acknowledge
frankly that / spent mure money than
my predecessor | got something
tor IL. When / became railroad com
missioner there was law on the statute
books which compelled the railroads of
the lower peninsula to grant n tare OF
two cents per mile when the earnings
reached certain figure per mile. But
no effort had been made 30 ascer tain
whether the earnings had reached the
point fixed in the statues
II took the matter up Immediately
and, after fighting clear through to the
United States supreme court, compelled
halt-dozen OF the big railroads TO
grant the two-cent fare. This saved
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars TO the
people of Michigan, and Is today saw
ing other thousands. The investigation
which led To the successful prosecution
Of the suits cost money an ! snent It,
j also enforced the law with regard to
grade crossings. something which had
been dead letter, and more money
was spent | ordered statistics on
freight and passenger rates. fatalities
and other matters relating To railroads.
gathered from every section of the
world. so that we might understand
lust where Michigan stood on railroad
matters And that cost money.
During my term there was great
period of electric railroad building AMI
we watched this construction carefully
and such supervision all entailed the
expenditure of money.
~ wish | had the definite figures
here TO show, out l will secure them
and then can take mp the up the sub
ject where Mr.. Hemans has left off.
OF course l don't blame him for the
use of this material in tbe campaign
10 lie necessary for him to advance some
argument as to why he should be elect
ed instead OF myself, but where he
leaves off the story OF my career will
always be only too pleased TO continue
therecital IL there is one period OF
my life CT which am especially proud
10 Is the time spent in the the employ
OF the state railroad commissioners. aud
the more light there il shed on my ad- !
ministration the better will be pleas
ed.