The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-04
new COMMISSIONER
SURE HE'LL STAMP .
OUT 'BL0CKAD|NG'
Colonel Osborne Takes Firm
Hold on u. S. Internal Rev
enue Business
HIS FRIEND PETE"
ACTS AS BUFFER"
With the Assistance of the
Honest Distillers, Hopes
to Clean Up Within
Two Years
BY GEORGE III. MANNING.

10y uFIyft&yEx NINu.
WASHINGTON. May 3-The new
commissioner of internal revenue.
William II. Osborne, has taken hold
of his duties with vim that un-
doubtedly forecasts success. He ar
rives at the office early. generally be-
fore the clerks. and leaves after every
body but the janitors have gone home.
His many friends believe he will be
as successful in his new undertaking
as he has been with the many other
things he has taken In hand.
Rack in North Carolina few, II any,
men are more highly esteemed and
generally known than Colonel Os-
borne. His acquaintance however,
are not confined to North Carolina,
al the endorsements he received for
the ommisisonership bore the names
of every member of congress. with
the exception OF four States who
themselves had candidates.
The new commissioner Is a native
North Carollnian, having been born in
Granville county. February 81, 1855
the same year President Wilson was
born. His father was one of the most
prominent tobacco manufacturers of
that time. Upon leaving school he
went to work for day wages in his
fathers tobacco factory. When he
reached the age of twenty ne struck
out for himself. opening a tobacco fac
tory of his own in Durham. Later
he formed a partnership with the
Cooper Blackwell company.
In 1902 he went TO Greensboro as
president of the Keely institute. which
had been established by a syndicate Of
Western capitalists few months be-
fore he took bold. For the first few
As4f bts xsrisf ~ sy,
stitute he continued In the tobacco
business in the capacity Of buyer. BY
wise management Colonel Osborne
made the Keely institute one OF the
most complete institutions of It's kind
In the world.
Colonel Osborne made 'tenstrike''
in choosing for his private secretary
Walter Murphy. OF Salisbury, N. C..
| Pete" as he is known among his
legion of friends. Is the ideal man
for the lob" It is doubtful If any
other man could have been chosen
who could have served as efficiently
as buffer to the thousands of peo-
pie who in the course Of a year call
upon the internal revenue commits
/ sioner with a grievance against some
internal revenue officer who has been
too diligent' in his duties. Being a
lawyer of considerable ability and Of
wide acquaintance with business deal
ings, Mr.. Murphy can relieve the new
commissioner. of great deal of work
connected with the routine OF the
Office.
Colonel Osborne and pete" Muir
/ ply are old friends. When il became
apparent that Colonel Osborne would
secure the position he looked up
+ Pete. and told him that in case he
landed the position Murphy must be
his private secretary. Mr.. Murphy ex-
/ planned that while he would be
pleased to be associated with the coll
/ onei. ne could not spare sufficient time
from his law practice to enter the
government service. But Colonel Os-
borne insisted that he would not take
the Job unless Pete went with him.
Mr.. Murphy consented and will stay
until Osborne gets complete grasp
I OF his official duties and feels suffi-
cientiy confident ito walk alone"
| After the "Blockaders."
| Colonel Osborne is well pleased with
the work he has taken up, and be-
lieves before he has been at the head
! or the bureau any considerable time
| he Will be able to materially reduce
the Illicit traffic in liquor. He be-
heyes this can be done with the aid
of all the honest whiskey distillers
within two years, Within the next
| few days he intends to announce a
plan of calling together the heads
4 OF all the different divisions in his bu-
reau at least once a week for cab
/ met" meeting.
/ Il had opportunity to observe law
breakers while / served as one of a
committee of three which completely
reorganized the North Carolina peni-
Tertiary back in 1890. That expert
ence was also helpful to me In that
! gained knowledge OF how to organ.
ice and conduct q large enterprise
The training which received as pres.
ident of the Keely institute at Greens.
/ boro will also stand me In good stead
in conducting the internal revenue
service. While there I also saw the
terrible effects OF over-indulgence In
| liquor"
do you believe that the interna,
revenue service with it's present force
of employees in the field can entirely
stamp out the Illicit distilIation OF
whiskey?" the commissioner wa.
asked.
Yes, 1elieve it can with the
proper cooperation on the part O,
the honest whiskey distillers. re.
member about thirty years ago al
the time when a large amount OF
tobacco was being manufactured and
SOLD in North Carolina without the
payment of the government tax. We
held a meeting in Raleigh, and ever.
tobacco manufacturer present pledged
his word that he would not attempt
to evade any payment OF the govern,
ment revenue tax. and Furthermore
pledged his word that he would in.
form the revenue officers Of every in.
stance OF such evasion on the part OF
any other person. From that day the
'blockading' Of tobacco in North caro-.
lima ceased. and there has been scarce
ly single case OF fraud In tobacco
4 in the State since. Besides that. this
marked.