The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-20
HIGGINS AND HIS JOB

The effort of Governor Budd to push
Ex-Prvate Secretary Higgins out of his
| job as insurance comm ssioner will be
watched with peculiar interest in this
section of country where Mr.. Higgins
and his little ways are well known.
In 1888. when that useful institution,
the Chamber of Commerce, came into ex-
istence, NJ. R. Higgins. recently of Ohio,
expressed willingness to serve it in the
capacity of secretary. His merits not
being properly appreciated the honor was
thrust upon Tom Lewis, instead. When
the annual election came off few months
later Mr.. Higgins gave an exhibition of
what he could do when. he tried, and he
captured pretty nearly the whole ballot of
the members in his favor. He then
served the chamber for one year, and
large measure of the subsequent success
of this institution undoubtedly arises
from the fact that early in its career it
received the fostering care of this famous
man.
Mr.. Higgins left the Chamber of Com
merce to take the secretaryship of the
Viticultural League, an institution con-
sisting of door plate and a roller top
desk. No one knew what he did nor how
much he was doing it for, but people who
understood Higgins had no hesitancy in.
declaring that "he must nave a fat
thing
About that time certain influential
Southern California journal succeeded in
convincing the Republicans of the state
that the nearest possible approach to an
absolute political heaven could be attained
by the election of H. H. Markham to the
gubernatorial chair. The Governors
friends had come to an understanding as
to whom he should select for his private
secretary and it was generally agreed that
the selection was wise one. The Gov
ernor himself seemed to be agreeable, and
the arrangement was about to be consum
mated, when it was discovered that Mr..
Higgins was out of job. General con-
sternation prevailed all along the line
and the private secretaryship was hastily
laid at his feet.
The San Francisco Chronicle say s that
Mr.. Higgins was one of the most notori-
Gus of the many who have occupied that
position-whatever that may mean. AS
matter of fact it was noted by many
astute people that while Mr.. Higgins was
serving the Governor as his private secre-
tary, the latter was not writing after-t the
riot letters nor appointing any Nose
Gunsts to Office nor violating the poll
teal properties to any great extent.
However. when three years had passed
the Republican party of the state had the
awful fact staring them in the face that
in another year Higgins would be out of
job. A place was hastily cleared in the
Board of Insurance Commissioners and
Mr.. Higgins ensconced therein.
1t now appears that Governor Markham
was trfle too quick in making place
for Mr.. Higgins, and the legality of the
appointment is questioned. 1t appears,
moreover, that not only the Democrats
but also a great many Republicans are
now anxious to see Mr.. Higgins turned
out on the cold world. 1t will be hard
for those who knew his persuasive smile
and his quiet, easy way of getting there
and staying there to believe that he will
be long out Of snug berth Of some kind
and if he loses the insurance commission
ership the only question will be, what will
he hold next?