Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-04

Charles A Amber. who was appointed
State Insurance Commissioner by Governor
Brumbaugh, today declared unrelenting
warfare on "fy-by might" blue sky and
all fake insurance companies in the state
Amber, whose home is in Abingdon was
appointed to succeed j. Denny O'Neil. Of
McKeesport. O'Neil was appointed State
Highway Commissioner as another step in
control of the State.
The newly appointed insurance commis-
sioner will formally assume the duties,of his
ONCE tomorrow. Today he told in gen
eral way what he hopes to accomplish as
head of that important department
''Mr. O'Neil conducted the insurance de-
partment in praiseworthy manner, and no
part of his administration could be criti-
cized," said Amber.
81 intend 20 continue the good work OF
insurance reform started by Mr.. O'Neil. I
have not yet fully acquainted myself with
all of the duties of the office. but T will
follow just one principle while I am at the
head of the insurance department. / will
try to make every insurance policy issued
fn this State as safe FOR the holder il
fs possible to make IL.
"Pennsylvania has good insurance laws
OH its statute books. Some of them were
enacted last spring under the direction of
MIR. O'NeiI. BY rigidly enforcing every.
one of them. ! believe that "A repetition Of
the Union Casualty Company scandal in
Pittsburgh last winter would be impos-
sible'
Tho new insurance commissioner an.
nounced, incidentally, that he does not con-
template making any changes in the work.
ing force of the department.
y II DO not at present intend to make any
changes he said. II am going to Har-
risburg tomorrow TO study the duties and
personnel of the department and will be
on the job from then on
The appointment of Amber. and the shift
OF O'Neil to the State Highway Departmen
did not come as any surprise to politicians,
who have been expecting the announcement
TO be made for several weeks.
o'NEIL'S POLITICAL ACTIVITY
The name O'Neil had been mentioned in
connection with the highway commissioner
ship for more than year. Before Black was
appointed he was talked of for the place
and his selection Insurance Commission
er was more less of a surprise Last
winter. during the speakership. contest
there were reports that BLACK would re-
tire and O'Neils name was mentioned again
When the Somerset man resigne,' O'Neil
was again brough. to the front, bu- depre
Gated mention OF his name. Amber has
been mentioned for several places recently.
mercantile and in Allegheny County po-
litical circles for years, was born in Eliza
beth, Allegheny County, in 1856 and later
started into business al McKeesport. where
he is president of a bank, newspaper
publishing company. and a large de-
partment store company. He was re-
corder of deeds of Allegheny County and
county commissioner. having been appointed
insurance commissioner juno 23. 1916 He
was also president of the State Merchants
Association and an officer of the Associated
Dailies' Association Of Pennsylvania His
appointment by Governor Brumbaugh
whose friends he had opposed In Allegheny
County, was one Of the surprises last year
AMBLER's CAREER
Amber was born in Jenkintown. Mont
gomery County, January 5. 1874, but has
lived most of his life in Abingdon where
camille business he became president of a
road building and general contracting COM
pany. He served one term as postmaster Of
Arlington and was a member of the House
OF Representatives from the First Mont
Gomery District in the sessions of 1909
1905. 1906. 1907. 1909. 1918 and 1915, being
chosen Speaker i'm the latter session He
was a candidate for the Republican nomina.
tion for Auditor General last year He
has also been talked of for Highway Com
missioner and Commissioner of Labor and
Industry in the political gossip OF the last
year.
Mr. o'Neil. the former State Insurance
Commissioner, will succeed Frank B. Black
of Somerset as State Highway Commits
sioner. Mr.. Black resigned from his post
several weeks ago at the Governors re-
quest. Mr.. Amber succeeds Mr.. O'Neil in
the Insurance berth.