The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-06
O'BRIFN ESCAPES
CUT IN HIS SALARY
Rockne Leads Fight In Be.
half of Insurance
Commissioner

While the house yesterday amended
the Cole bill, relating to the salary OF
the state insurance commissioner, 1t
was made not TO apply to the term of
the incumbent, T. d. O'Brien.
The bill as IL came from the senate
fixed the salary Of the commissioner
at $4,000 a year. = George E. Perley of
Moorhead ameDded il TO make the sal
airy $500. A storm OF protest arose
from different quarters of the house.
A. j. Roekne of Goodhue led the fight
against the amendment
i want this house to deal with Mr..
O'Brien as ha has dealt with the state"
he said. His predecessor is admitted
to have drawn large fees which do not
go to Mr.. O'Brien. He has proved him.
self an exceptionally watchful and ca
pable man in the position that he now
occupies. In his action in forcing de-
velopments in the Minneapolis life in
surance company he undoubtedly pre-
tected the widows and orphans of this
state as they have not been protected
in years. Simply because the commits
sioner happens to be a Democrat, is no
reason that he should not receive the
same consideration at our hands that
Republican would be given"
Mr.. Perley was willing to change his
amendment. Il do not underrate the
services of Mr.. O'Brien." he said. He
is stalwart and splendid man and no
man appreciates his action more than /.
/ am willing TO change my amendment
TO affect only his successor, whom /
hope will be a Republican"
AS amended the Cole bill will give
Mr.. O'Brien $4,000 until the end of his
present term, and then $4,000 a year. A
deputy will receive $4,000. an actuary
$4,000 chief clerk $500. bookkeep-
er $1,000, stenographer $1,000 and
clerk 5000.
Henry McColl of Ramsey succeeded
in killing the Stock bill, requiring a
collegiate course for licensed pharma-
cists after 1909 He and P. z. Dow
ling pleaded for the poor boy, unable to
go to college, and the bill was recon-
mended for indefinite postponement.
Later it was reconsidered and will go
on general orders again.
The Lund capital punishment bill
was recommended for indefinite post
ponement by its author yesterday. The
Alley bill, which leaves the imposing of
the death penalty TO the jury was rec
commended to pass in its stead.
Old Fight Renewed
The usual fight on northern Mime
sofa bills relating to the public do
main developed yesterday when A. L.
Coles bill. requiring certain improve
ments to land purchased of the state
W NC MllIlill I'VE years was
consideration. R. II. Jefferson of Cot
tonwood protested that the state was
hedging its lands about with too many
conditions of purchase. John Deegan
of Scott had an amendment adopted,
limiting the amount of land that may
be sold to any one purchaser at sale
to 800 acres. This is to prevent specu-
lators picking up the best lots. The
Cole bill will be amended in some par
ticulars before being pressed for pass
age.
The Stone bill, abolishing highway
labor assessments, was voted for in
definite postponement, and the Adams
bill, abolishing the state printing COM
mission, was recommended to pass
after a sharp fight. The author of the
bill insisted that his plan to have all
state printing done by the board Of
control, will result in a large saving
to the state. He amended his bill to
provide that the board shall have the
printing done in the state unless 1t shall
be found that the best interests cannot
be otherwise conserved. r. L. Monks
motion to Indefinitely postpone was lost
20 to 40.