The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-25
WRANCLF OVER PAY
OF 7. D. O'BRIEN
Senators Finally Recommend
Bill Making Insurance Com.
t=i.'-sFHt
missioner's Salary $4,000

Proposed advances in the salaries Of
certain Democratic state officials are
| occasioning some spicy debate in the
senate. Yesterday Senator Coles bill
raising the salary of the state insur-
| ance commissioner from S2,500 to s5,-
600 year inspired heated oratory.
1t all arose over a minority report of
the committee on finance, which was
offered by the chairman of that COM
mittee amending the bill by reducing
the salary from $1,000 to $500 and
striking out the section allowing the
appointment of an actuary and a
cashier
The majority report proposed an
amendment to the bill, giving the in
surance commissioner a salary of S4,-
500 year and allowing the appoint
ment Of an actuary and cashier.
After Senator Laybourn had offered
the majority report of the committee.
Senator Brewer submitted the minority
report and spoke with deep feeling in
Its behalf. He contended ii was a bad
policy for the senate to adopt to raise
the salary of one state official, and an
appointive one at that, while there
were other officers elected by the peo-
pie, such as the secretary of state and
state treasurer and auditor, whose du-
ties had been doubled during the last
20 or 80 years. but whose salaries did
not exceed $500. He considered 81, 500
a year ample pay for the insurance
commissioner, and that was why he
opposed the majority report recon-
mending $4,000. Therefore he moved
the adoption of the minority report.
Laybourn Makes Charges
This moved Senator Laybourn. On
his feet in an instant the senator from
Duluth declared that the minority re-
port had received no discussion in the
committee.
This is unfair" he continued, land
l am surprised at these tactics on the
part of the chairman of the finance
committee gathering few members of
his committee together in the absence
of the others and preparing a minority
report.
"As for the merits of this bill, what
shall be said of the former Republican
insurance commissioner who received
compensation in four years amounting
to $4,000 and pocketed fees to the ex-
tent of $4,000. The senator from
Stearns says no actuary is needed. Why,
such an office is the most important in
the insurance department The vote on
| this majority report stood to 5, Sen
ators Brewer, Barker, Comstock,
Thorpe and Ward voting for the mi
nority report"
Senator Gjertsen sought to restore
peace by moving that both the major
ity and minority reports be referred
back to the committee.
II object" exclaimed Senator Cole,
the author of the bill. THAT would not
be fair or decent treatment. There is
no reason why the bill should be re-
ferred back to the committee to die,
unless its author is sent back to die
with it, Gaughter.) Gentlemen, this
is a serious matter and shouldn't be
played ball with. If this bill is passed
as amended by the majority report, the
state will gain s14,164 year."
Brewer Gets Back
Senator Brewer was ready for an
other inning by this time and proceed
ed to reply with a show of Indignation
| TO Senator Laybourn's charges of ir-
regularity.
THE veiled insinuations of the sena-
| tor from st. Louis, that / have been
| unfair are untrue. 1t is strange that
| the chairman of a committee and 9TH
ers should disagree with the majority
of the committee? We made our re-
| port and we have the right to do so.
AS for the senator's allusion to the
| preceding insurance commissioner, it
makes no difference what he did,
Senator Fitzpatrick, in behalf of the
majority report, said the bill did not
l ldlSc, Dul really ItuuCGQ the
| commissioners salary.
"And I'm glad 10 see this virtuous
| spasm in the senate" added Senator
Fitzpatrick. Though il comes late, it
| is better late than never
| Senator Fitzpatrick criticised the
| argument of Senator Brewer based on
the sinaction- of the senate in raising
| the salaries of the secretary of state,
auditor and treasurer, declaring it did
not affect the question at issue.
Isn't this minority report an invita-
tion for other state officers to ask for a
raise?"
The majority report is" answered
| Senator Thompson, who opposed the
raise to $4,000.
Minority Report Defeated
| The roll was then, called on Sena-
tor Brower's motion to adopt the mi
nority report The motion was defeat
| ed by the following vote of AZ to II:
Yeas-Barker, Brewer. Collester. Com
stock, Dale. Eberhart, Laugen.~ Naeseth,
Shell, Smith. w. A, Somerville, Stone,
Thompson. swedback. Thorpe Torson,
| Ward-17.
Nays--Alley, Batz. Benson. Buck. Cal
houn. Campbell. Cole, Collier Cooke. Cow
an, Dart. Dunn, Du Toit, Durant. Ever
i EFT. Fitzpatrick. Frater, Hardy. Harring-
| Laybourn. Lord. Mausten. McGin, McGow-
an. McNamee. Morgan, Nichols. Peterson,
| Peachey. Pugh. Putnam. Rieke Schain
Schultz, Smith. Z. E, Stephens, Sundberg
Wilson, Witherstine-43.
| The senate then adopted the major
| ity report placing the bill on general
| orders, whereupon Senator Brewer
gave notice that he would move the
next day that all bills granting in
| creases in salaries be referred to a
committee SO all could be considered
together and some uniform system be
| adopted.