New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
EX.GOV. Il(CIES DEAD.
Continued from first page.

ing the list Of freemen there in 1888 He married
Mary Yates, of Plymouth
DR.. Timothy Higgins grandfather Of Frank Way
land Higgins went TO Auegany County. y. Y. In
company with two brothers and settled there be-
fore the Erie Canal was opened and while the
region was stiu uudeveopcI. DIT HgGins's son
and grandson We're born in Rushford. Ailegany
County Orrin Trail Higgins. the son, became
successful storekceper i'm Rushford and also main
tanned system of stores in the oil region. The
boy who was 20 be Governor of New York State
was born on August IS, 1883,
Early I'm life ne developed fondness for trad
Ing" He wanted some money when he learned
that circus coming to town. He made a con-
tract with his grandfather to do certain piece Of
work on the farm. For this he to receive g
Somehow he succeeded in persuading his grand
father to pay him the money in advance. Then he
the circus.
1t IS said Of him that he no hOnOrs in school
but full Of FRANKS The uniform Of a soldier
appealed to him, and decided him In his choice OF
n school after had entered his teens He IN
formed his father that he desired 10 go TO q mill
tary school because uniforms were worn there.
IAN right my boy" said his father pick out
YOUR school and I WIFI send YOU there But IL you
go YOU will have to stay until you finish. TO this
the boy agreed and selected military academy at
Poughkeepsle. He stayed there long after the de-
sire for military trappings wore on and "hen ne
went back home he ready TO work
Frank Wayand Higgins began 70 take an active
interest in politics when he was sixteen years Old
'sas4ed" his father the oAly lIiHc III HS mo
because they disagreed in the Cireeley-Grant cam
paign The father. who had been a Democrat
many years. advocated the election OF MT Greeley
while the son was enthusiastic IN support Of Cen
eral Grant When the boy said hotly that he had
no respect FOR his fathers political opinion the
father rebuIed him IN kindly fashion and added:
We will not talk politics any more
For sixteen years they carefully avoided politics
in speaking another. although the son became
well known as local Republican politician In 1883
Young Higgins was sent a delegate 10 the Re
publican National Convention that nominated Ben
jamln Harrison. When he returned home. his
father came to him and said: You have nominated
a good man for President and am going to vote
for him
At nineteen Mr. Higgins was manager OF one OF
his fathers stores In Rushford but young woman
from Sparta Wis. went RushfoTd about that
time When she returned westward Higgins de-
cded that he would engage I'm business in the Md
die West. When 10 returned home three years
later. lie brought hoF as his bride They had three
children. Orrin Ira J. who is married and lives in
Denver for the bon III OF his health; Josephine,
and /. Harrison Higgins.
When Mr. Higgins returned nome from the Middle
West he was made manager OF the grocery business
of Higgins, HIodsctt Co. He acquired an inter
ia the business and later owned four stores in
OeaU y Y. where he made his home. In recent
years he continued operate these stores although
rarely entering any OF them, because he felt it
would work harm to the employees ii he aban-
, doncI them The source Of his wealth consisted 81
I the West. lie was the head OF six corporations
| operating I'm Michigan, Minnesota. Oregon and
Washington. lie visited the scenes ~ their opera
tions yearly. systematizins his business SO that
nothing could go wrong without his knowledge.
MEMBER OF STATE SENATE
| Mr. Higgins first became known to New York
State politics when he elected delegate the
Republican National Convention 1T Chicago. in lSSS
| In 1898 he was a candidate for Senator and he was
| elected by large majority over Urban Prescott.
/ who had the combined support of the Democrats.
! Popuists Socialists and Progressive Republicans.
Tie was valuable member Of the Senate in 1891 and
1895. In 1895 he elected To the Senate without
/ opposition, and In later wears until he WAS made
! the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor
/ in 1902 ne had clear field. his continuance in the
Senate being assured long he cared 20 remain.
The first year OF his service he appointed
/ chairman OF the Committee Taxation and Re
| trenchment. and in this first years service ex-
hibted great interest in the proposition to re-
4 duce the number OF State commissions. In 1885,
he became chairman OF the Committee Finance
and he held that place the longest term of service
/ of any member of the Legislature, II is believed
| Observing the management OF the states finances
Senator Higgins quickly came 10 the opinion that
that management could be improved State de
| partmcnts running INTO debt without author
/ lty or the Legislature. and, it may be- said con
rary to the commands of the constitution De
could tell precisely what II would cost 10 support
senator higgins drafted bill, which became a
! law. prohibiting any 1cISbI i'm the employment OF
the state contracting any Indebtedness ON behalf U
the state or eNpcuulng amy money, unless the sun
| contracted Tor q the money expended should nav
previously been appropriated by the Legislature
The act prevented the state from running int
| debt without authority Of the Legislature. Second
dcuartncuts acre receiving fees oC payments whiCl
| were not paid into the state treasury. but Wer
| used Tor various expenses OF the departments. :
single department. the Commission i'm LuudCy. ha(
/ thus at its command many thousands of dollars
yearly The exact siam paid out IL the support OF
depaI tmeut thus "ouu not always he exactly
| known. for report was made To stat" office
| on the expenditure Of these department. funds
Senator Higgins induced the Legislature pass ~
/ act providing that all fees ana income Of depart
! ments of this nature must be paid into the stat
! treasury monthly, by the 10th OF the month. a
! rapidly a department receives money, therefore
from private sources. IL Is paid into the stat
| treasury and becomes available for the Of III
I state. Each department income Is thus aCcu
ing IT, Third, Senator Higgins up and pushe,
/ through the Legislature act classifying tn
states employees. THE primary purpose of this aC
Is 10 have the same payment Tor the same service
same kind of work might receive one-third NOR
pay. owing TO his being a favorite of the stat
Official in whose office he employed.
Mr. Higgins nominated for Lieutenant Gov
ernor in 1892, when Governor Odell renomi
mated. In the campaign they were frequently o.
the same platform. Mr.. Higgins received 66S. IS
votes. against 653,590 cast for his Democratic oppo
nent Charles n. Bulger.
Mr Higgins was nominated as the Repubca
candidate succeed Governor Odell I'm 1904. Tn
Democrats raised the campaign cry that he wa
"Odells man., and he platform in man
speeches he asserted THAI he mo mans man.
on the night of November 4, 1901, as he was in
train entering Albany. stone was hurled throug
! a window of the car. just behind his seat. and
| there had been an attempt to assassinate him. bu
| IL waa never settled whether IL thrown b