The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-10
Mr.. HIGNITE AND HIS PULL
Board Of Safety Reduces Lineman to
the Ranks for Booming Downing.
Paving Across the Car Tracks
Municipal Affairs.
HIGNITE's "FLOOENCE."


Quiet Session with the Board of Public
straightforward Reprimanded.
The Board of Public Safety held star
chamber session in Ed Hawkins's office
yesterday afternoon and had Jim Hignite.
assistant superintendent OF telegraph in
the fire department.. on the carpet for be-
ing Downing man. That was Jim's chief
offense, although the board had some other
charges which were TO be held over the
Downing mans head.
The board. 1t Is stated. did not hold the
meeting at it's office in the City Hall, be.
cause it was intended to be q quiet little
affair at which the proper sort of remon-
STRANGE could be made with jim so that he
would do better-and support the Sullivan
ticket
A week or moro ago Jim got leave OF
absence on account of disability. He was
Injured while on duty. This absence ex-
cited no suspicion on the part of the Suili-
van men until somebody. who probably
wanted Jim's job in the fire department.
sent in tip to the board that he was talk
Ing mighty for Downing. As Demo
cratic politician in the Tw elfth ward Hlg-
nitB can almost name the delegation In
several Of the precincts. It's claimed that
the Sullivan men put a spy on his tracks TO
ses what the fireman was doing. On last
Tuesday O Downing meeting was held IN
the Cleveland Club rooms over Fred
Heyers saloon, on South New Jersey street,
and some one saw Jim go mp the stairs
The meeting lasted until almost midnight.
and the facts were all prom pity reported to
the board. If Jim would hop over TO Sui
livan he might make . valuable ally.
especially as the Sullivanites need assist
ance now more than they have at any time
heretofore. Therefore 1t was necessary TO
go easy with the fireman that had such q
good pull In the Twelfth.
When Hignite was brought mp into Haw-
kins's Office he was confronted with list
of duty. He was given no opportunity to
bring any witnesses to show that he was IN
nocent of the charges. He had quite a lit
tie conversation with the board on politics,
however, and it 10 reported that President
Hawkins or one of the other members
turned to him with this pathetic plea:
Now. Jim, haven't We always been your
friendsi Didn't We get tho Council to raise
your salaryp
Jim did not see how the board had any
right to regulate his political preferences,
and be was unwilling to come around to
the boards way of thinking politically.
He told the mem bers that he had. said moth
ing at the Downing meeting. The board.
however. thought that 1t would be best to
take ont few pin feathers from his tail"
and he was transferred to headquarters. on
Massachusetts, avenue, which IL some dis
lance from the Twelfth ward. His salary
was reduced 81 q month. but Jim is still for
Downing. despite the boards parting warn
ing. Jim. take keer of yourself"
The board reduced him to the rank of
An ordinary fireman. and will appoint an
other man IN his place. he has been serv-
ing as lineman. and has been getting 20
cents more per day than he will In the pO-
sition which he now Will occupy.
The board made its decision on the case
of fireman Mountain. who was tried sever
al days ago for conduct unbeooming an
officer. The specific charge which he was
accused of was making some remarks to
the wife of q postal clerk who was passing
the engine honse. remarks which could
be easily construed as insults. The board
decided that his conduct. if it had any
wrong meaning, was unintentional, and
administered only q reprimand for his in
discretion. Mountain is stationed at the
house on Virginia avenue.