The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-22
Says Houghton Man Sought to
Discount Effect Of lnvesti-
cation Of Charges
IS LOOKING INTO COMPLAINTS
Asserts Commissioner Has Done
Some improper Things
Executive Declares He Did Not Soiicl,
Funds--WouId Run on Anti
Brewery Platform.

Lansing, Mich. Jan. 22.--CSoverno
Chase S. Osborn, In a reply TO the at
tack recently made upon him by Stat
Tax Commissioner Robert III. Shields
today issued the following state
ment
THE attack upon me made by Rob
ert II. Shields, chairman of the STATE
Tax Commission, was made for th'
purpose Of discounting the result and
effect of an investigation l am making
Of charges made against him which, II
proven true. would lead to his removal
from office. There is Chinese pro-
verb which says. There is no fencs
that does not let the wind through.
Mr. Shields has known for some time
that | have been dissatisfied with his
work on the Tax Commission. He has
used mis- position there for the political
prestige II would give him, and the
salary. and the time he has given 10
the states service has been incidental.
He is the manager OF the Arcadian
Mining company, the superintendent of
an exploring company, and has other
private business for corporations that
has taken so much OF his time that he
has neglected the Tax Commission
work. This Is .he reason why the tax
alton conditions in Michigan are so
unsatisfactory.
Complaints Against Shields.
For a long time the Tax Commis-
a.. L. 81 Int
tive IN the supervision OF appraised
values in the various counties of the
state. contend that they always had
the power; hut because there was
doubt as to whether they had sufficient
power or not the last Legislature ex-
tended their powers almost without
limit. This law took effect August 2,
1911. No attempt was made to take
advantage Of IL: no organizing work of
an initiatory character was done until
about the time the tentative report of
the Special Taxation Inquiry Commis-
sion was made Then the Tax Com
mission appeared 10 become unusual
ly active
Several times during 1911 COM
plants against Mr.. Shields have been
made to me as governor. He heard
of the Investigations that followed; and
it was reported TO me that on numer-
Gus occasions while drinking he boast
ed that the governor would do nothing
in his case because he had some
thing on the governor | learned OF
this threat for the first time a fortnight
ago. ! sought an Interview with Mr..
Shields, which was not brought about
until he came To my Office last Mon
day, January i5 for the purpose of
submitting to me the tentative railroad
appraisals. This was three days be-
fore he made his defensive statement
When we concluded the consideration
of that matter I told him wished TO
have very plain talk with him. l
told him OF the charges that had been
made against him: that wished To be
perfectly fair and square with him;
that was investigating them and If
him from office. | told him, further
more, that his irresponsible threat
made against me would only move me
To greater activity: that If he knew
anything about mo that the public did
not know | wished II published. I told
him chat. while | did not make great
er claims to perfection than the aver
age man. my life is an open book and
so IL Is.
Houshton County Complaint.
Among the charges made against
Mr.. Shields Is that he has used his Of
iice To intimdate political opponents.
l have not investigated these charges
sufficiently TO come TO a conclusion as
10 their foundation. One specific
charge Is that when his friend. Mr..
Miller of Houghton. was opposed for
the presidency OF the village OF
Houghton by Mr.. Bawden. manager for
Stone and Webster. of Boston, who |
own certain electric railroad properties |
III Houghton county. a letter was writ |
ten to Stone and Webster advising
Them to have Mr.. Bawden withdraw or !
their properties would be attended to. |
MT Bawden did not withdraw, and the |
taxation OF the Stone and Webster |
properties was materially increased. II |
Is not claimed that the stone and Web |
ster properties are over-taxed. The |
contention Is that the increase did not |
come until after they had offended
Mr.. Shields.
t Is further charged that he made
other threats against people who have
opposed him. The details of these |
charges may be referred TO later.
Nephew . Railroad Attorney.
IL came to my attention some time |
ago that a nephew Of Mr.. Shields had |
peeh appointed attorney for the Pere
""rquette railroad. This nephew is