The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-07-30
4 CLEAN RECORD
cHASE S. oSBoRN'S CON-
~ScIENTIOUS AND GOOD
WORK FOR THE PEO-
PIE is CLEAN.
THE STRENUOUS DAYS or RAIL
ROAD LEGISLATION SHOW
VALUABLE SERVICE As a
PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

$500 1N1H aA.A ~ NAA1AHn q -
Il know Of no better method OF arriv.
Ing at a candidates capacity for pub
lie s~ervice and loyalty 70 the common
good than by n study of his past per
Torrance OF public duties" declared
former Attorney General II. M. Oren
In introducing a careful review Of
Chase 8. Osborn's services 20 the
state as commissioner Of railroads
under Governor Ptngree. During his
term OF service under Pingrse." con-
tinusd Mr.. Oren. mo man aided more
efnciently or effectively In promoting
the political situation which made ade-
quate taxation OF railroad properties
In Michigan inevitable than Mr.. De-
born. While at times be differed with
his chief. he was thoroughly At n
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 9. 1899. and VA
associated with the Pingrse admins
tratioa until the end OF Governor Pin
sree's term on December 81. 1900. He
was reappointed by Governor Bliss
and remained commissioner until
January 8, 1903.
Il a best summarize Governor
Pingree'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 rs, 1899. From the legisla-
turs 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 yalua-
tons to an approximation OF cash
value and added 10 the general tax
rolls OF the state $3.50, 000, 900 in valua-
ton and which was also given author
ity 10 make a railroad valuation, re-
sulting In the Cooley and Adams APP
praisal He also obtained the APP
pointment OF n commission TO lego
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-enactmsnt 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.. Os-
horns commission. the special railroad
charters we're repealed.
Governor Pingree, after the over
whslming victory OF his constitutional
amendment at the polls. sought 10
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 70 finally con
Vene In special session on December
s, 1900. The result OF this session
was disappointing and the governor
J retired at the end OF the year, not
realizing hat 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 possible
ity OF framing an adequate, equitable
and satisfactory ad yalorem tax law
along the lines OF the Atkinson bill
that would be as satisfactory "a the
system incn 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 yalorem basis DIFF
fersd IN many essentials from the so
called Atkinson bill.
When Governor Pingree rendered
the position Of commissioners Of rail
roads p Nfr. 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
ON spite OF that. he received the an
pointment with no condition OF fealtl
10 the PinRree tax ideas i%nterposed
md. IN fact on no condition Of an,
character: and ! a very tr~uthfulll
say that az no time thereafter while
Mr.. Plngree was governor and aftei
the expiration OF HIS term, did ! eve
near him say that he had been mislet
into appointing Mr.. Osborn, or tina
he was surprised at his views. or tina
ne was disappointed In his personal oil
oficlal conduct. In fact, ne appeared
TO take great pride IN the latter. ant
AZ all times Mr.. Osborn was received
and treated by him with the favor ant
respect and friendly consideration
that n chief would ordinarily displal
20 a favored and trusted appointee.
"The task OF putting the Pingre'
constitutional amendment into statu
tory form and its construction by tn
courts came after Governor Pingreei
term had expired. In fact. IL was most
Iy after his death His claim to homo
consisted irst. IN having made sucl
legislation possible and. second. Il
having created conditions whereby IL
adoption by the Bliss administrator
and the giving Or q a fair trial becam'
= political necessity
"The Chandler railway tax BIT va.
signed bv Governor Bliss May 2I 1901
Tho first assessment of taxes under
wos IA 1000 Near the close OF my ad