The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-03-19
ntn. n1ad1Ns, 1lRconp.
History OF the isoandsrs Who Is ,Appoi
mont Clerk IA the Treasury Der artmeni

History of the lsounder Who Is Appoint
mont ciefis In the Treasury Department.
WARRINGTON, March IS. Senator Cor;
man, ex.C Chairman OF the National Dem.
ocratlc Committee, is beginning to feel
that he has made a great mistake in ask
ing for the appointment Of one Of his Bal
timore rounders 70 the uhimportant posi-:
ton Of Appointment Clerk in the Treas
ury Department. Ithas about used up all
the influence that he possessed with the
new Administration, which docs not
relish the storm that has been raised by
the civil service reforners and those
Marylanders who feel that their chances
for preierment have been damaged by the
'not6riety given their State. "a
The charges alleged against Higgins,
the clerk In question, as heretofore pub
lished, are TO the effect that he was one OF
the Maryland men who crossed the lines
in 1851 into the Southern .Gontederacy,
but instead Of placing himself in personal
danger on the battle. field, secured sale
position as deputy under Winder, the Pro-
vost Marshal OF Richmond, whose cruelty
to the Union prisoners tsya matter OF his.
tory. Other Confederates say that he had
q substantial paying interest in the gam.
bling houses that were numerous in the
rebel capital. He got on the inside Of
Democratic ring politics-on his return to
Baltimore after the war, and was elected
to the City Council and the Legislature,
and became, in 1861, Clerk of the State
Central Committee. under Mr.. Gotman's
patronage.
Whenthe loan Of Sl,5O0,0O0 Tor pave;
ments in Baltimore was put through the
City Council, Higgins turned up. as q most
active lobbyist In its behalf. 1t caused a
great scandal and much contention among
the contractors and as an outcome OF a
quarrel between Higgins and one ofthem,
John Haugh, Higgins wassoundly thrash
ed;upon Holiday street by Haugh. Later
on, In 1884, Higgins was repeatedly sued
for money lost at faro in gambling place
kept by him, but he compromised by pay
ing the costs. Higginsis also alleged to
have some sort OF in "a variety show and
concert saloon in Baltimore, called the
"French Froliques,Y that is only saved
fromraiding blythe police by political in
duence.
lis further charged. that he has played
a conspicuous part In corrupting elections
here and elsewhere. In 1875 and againiin
1880, he had charge OF the Baltimore re-
peaters and rufiians who went to the 0cto-
har election in Indiana, registered at the
New Dennison House In Indianapolis, and
conducted their operations from that
point When German was running for
State Senate in Howard county in 1875, he
took his gang there, where they elected,
German by driving the negroes from the
polls, with drawnrevolvers. His trip'in
1875 to Indiana had a tragic termination
for sSmuel Sands Mills, one OF his COM
panions. Mills was at time chief clerk in
the office OF City Comptroller OF Balti-
more. Association with Higgins ruined
him. His affairs became involved, charges
Of ofpeculation in Office were made against
him, and he died in disgrace. !N3
Appointment Clerk Higgins pronounces
each charge lie, and says the attack Is
slanderous.
t.'rhave," said he, sheen handled very
severely by the press, but all Iask Of the
public Ia to, form their estimation of me
upon the manner in which ! conduct the
affairs OF this Office"