in 1872 he began his political career with the young men's republican club of milwaukee county. he worked his way up to become secretary and then chairman for the organization. in 1876, payne was appointed postmaster of milwaukee, a position he held for the next ten years. he transferred his organizational skills to his next position as president of wisconsin telephone company in 1885, and successively served as director for the first national bank of milwaukee and president of the milwaukee and northern railroad, the milwaukee electric railway and light company and the milwaukee and cream city traction company. in his duties as president of milwaukee electric railway and light, payne instituted free park concerts at many of milwaukee's parks, including lake park. in 1893 he was elected president of the american street railway association in recognition for his service to the street railways of milwaukee, and later in august 1893, he was appointed receiver for the bankrupt northern pacific railway.