The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-11
F1rz JOHN PoRTER's PLACE.

MEETING or THE ALDERMANIc COMMITTEES
PETITION OF PROMINENT cITIzENs-MR.
AUGUST BELMONT ARGUES IN FAVOR OF THE
CoNFTRMATIoN-A SPICY DISCUSSION
The Committee OF the Board OF Aldermen consisting
OF Aessrs Cole, Purroy and Lysaght TO whom re-
ferred the nomination OF General Ftz John Porter for
Commissioner of Public Works met at the City Han
yesterday afternoon. Alderman Cole presided The
small in which the meeting took place was
crowded.
When the committee had organized Nr August Bel
mont, who was present. handed in the following com.
NEW York Jan 10 1870
To Messrs COLE, LYsAGHr and PURIoY, Committee,
GESrLEMES-The undersigned beg leave to say that
the nomination OF General Porter as Commissioner OF
Public Works. which has been referred 10 you il TO DO
regarded of the most important subjects which
has for long time before the Board OF Alder
men The opposition TO General Porter is in a large
degree opposition TO honest and economical manage
ment OF public moneys, and Is 10 great extent based
on the ayowed expectation OF placing the Department
of Public Works in hands less careful of the public
money Tho city has Of late years been plundered OF
large amounts by dishonest public officers and the tax
paying citizens regard their duty and right to look
with questions like the present, involving
great expenditures Of money in the future The under
signed therefore, respectfully request that you VIII
give them opportunity TO be heard before your COM
mit.ee prior to any final action on your part
George Ticknor Curtis. W. O. Prime
John T. Agnew August Belmont
Royal Phelps, Moses Taylor
Sidney Webster. John A. Stewart
Wilson G. Hunt S. L. n. Barlow.
Alderman Purroy questioned Mr.. Belmont as n
whether he could tell the politics of the petitioners
Mr. Belmont answered tha, they were all democrats;
far better democrats than high officials now oppos
ing the confirmation He need not 60 any further than
the Comptroller OF the city
Alderman Purroy suggested that one o'clock today
be set down the time for hearing any remarks that
might be made either for against the confirmation
OF General Porter.
Mr.. Belmont said that the signcrs of the communica-
ton were very respectable gentlemen, and requested
they should be heard first
The request acceded to.
Alderman Purroy then queriei-Do you think the
nomination OF General Porter will benefit the demo-
cratic party
Alderman Cole-I think it would KILT
MI. Belmont was OF the opinion that il would benefit
the democratic party. No Que could point TO a single
action OF the speakers which tended TO njure that
party. He certainly would not ask the Board Of Alder
men to confirm General Porter II he under the i'm
preston that II would cause injury. The whole sub
ject narrowed itself down question whether the
| democratic Board OF Aldermen would sustain Comp
troller Green, who last fall affiliated with republicans
for the purpose Of defeating the Tammany ticket The
principal charge made against General Porter was that
in relation to his act OF reduction of laborers wages
He (Mr. Belmont was known to be as good friend OF
the aborng man as anybody present. If he had been
in General Porters place he would have done precisely
men at 5. 50 per dy than 500 at 81 There
reason why laborers' wages should not come
down along with everything else He was fully con-
vinccd that the acceptance of General Porter's
would be OF great benefit TO the democratic party his
rejection would confirm the action of the republicans
who had prosecuted him since the date OF the court
martial because he had been the ally and friend of Gen.
cral Mcclellan.
Alderman Purroy called attention to the action of
Tammapy Hall at the last election sending out
pamphlets denying that the organization had been re-
sponsible for the reduction of aborers wages. Mr..
Kelly had also made speeches from the same stand
point. Did Mr.. Belmont think the defeat OF TURnany
due to mistaken impression in the public mind
as TO the action OF this party on the labor question:
Mr. Belmont thought the defeat OF the party was
mainly due to the lrghtfu mistake made by Mr. Kelly
/ in FILLING TO nominate Recorder Hackett.
Alderman Purroy said Mr. Kelly might have CON-
sidered Recorder Hackett not fit for the place,
and he therefore had right 10 barter principles for
political cxpedlency.
Mr. Belmont answered that might be the case but
leaders ofentimes made mistakes Mr. Belmont
! wanted 1t understood that he good Tammany
man and friend of Mr.. Kely's whom he had known
for thirty years That gentleman was known as Hon.
est John Kcly but in the matter OF Recorder Hackott
Hackett for number OF years and he recognized in
him able and just judge 1t was very hard TO swim
| against the current OF public opinion.
Alderman Purroy asked II 1t was not against the doc
trne of 'home rule" TO appoint citizen Of another
State to prominent official position in this city.
J Mr. Belmont SAID that like General Mcclellan
! and others who had fought for their country wero
I citizens throughout this whole Continent General
Mcclellan had been appointed Chet Engineer OF the
Dock Department while resident of New Jersey, yet
Bigelow Secretary OF State although that gentle
had never probably cast democratic ballot in his
lie. circumstances sometimes altered cases. General
Porter had been prosecuted and the only real opponent
/ which he now had for his appointment as Commits
sioner Of Public Works that great man al the head
/ OF the financial department
After some further unmportant discussion the COM
miee adjourned, to meet again at one O'Clock to-day.