New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-11
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

GEN. PORTER AND THE ALDERMEN.
ACTION OF LEADING DEMOCRATS IN HIS FAVOR
ARGUMENTS TO BE MADR BEFORE THE ALDER
MANIC COMMITTEE Neutrality-suspicious. FROM
MR. BELMONT
The Aldermanic Committee-Messrs. Cole,
Purroy and Lysaght-to which the nomination OF Gen.
Porter for Commissioner Of Public Works was referred
met yesterday at the City Hall. delegation OF prolni
pent citizens waited the Committee and on their be-
half August Belmont presented the following petition
sixned by August Belmont George Icknor Curtis, John
T. Agnew, Sidney Webster, Wilson G. Hunt George Law
Royal Phelps Samuel Sloan, S. L. NJ Barlow Moses ray
lor, and Vim. c. Prime
The undersigned beg leave to say that the nominat1n
OF Gen. Fitz John Porter as Comnlss1her OF 9
Works referred to you Is TO be regarded as Que ~
stre re Roard Of Aldermen Tie opposition to Gen
Porter in a large degree opposition 10 hohee anu
sYtent based on avowed expectation Of placing the Bu
reau Of Public Works in hands less careI Oh JUG pui.
iage amounts by dishonest public officers and the tax
paving citizens regard their duty and rght 10 9oh
great expenditures Of money in the tniure lhe hut
signed, therefore, respectfully request ths you WI"
them an opportunity to be heard before your COmlhee
prior 10 any fnal action ON your part
The slgners Of this petition, Mr. Belmont remarked
were all Democrats and better Democrats han many OF
those who opposed Gen Porter In proof Of this" he
s.id need 20 further than TO mention the name OF
the present Controller" Mr.. Purroy moved that the
Committee adjourn until to-day at 1 p m, wheh d
hearing would 10 given to all persons VINO wisheu 10
argue for against the confirmation OF Cen ToItei
Mr. Belmont objected saying that OF the slgneiS Oh e
petition only two lawyers and he thought that the
petitioners should be heard separately Finally was ar
ranged that they should be heard at p m today ana
mat tbose who wished to oppose Gen. Porter should nave
nhearing aiterward
Mr. Pnrov then asked Mr. Belmont II ne thought the
confirmation of Gen. Porter would benefit the Democratic
Marty Mr. Belmont replied that lie thought it would
no a1l Cd rat
ANYTHING tending to inure the party, and would not
now ask to have Gen. Porter confirmed II Thought II
would iuiue the party in any way The question: nc
said was whether the Democratic Aldermen would suS-
tain Controller Green who had affiliated with the Reluo
caus and belped to defeat the regular Democratic ticket
nj the last election, Gen. Porter whose honesty ana
eapablity no one doubted The principal charge made
against him WAS that he had reduced the laborer wages
"No one can say that am not friend OF the laoorlhe
man." continued Mr. Belmont, land yet II hau peeh III
Gen Porers place would have done as he dld, DeheN
ing that the interests OF the aborng men are better
served by having 900 of them employed at 81 90 da!
than only 500 at So Every branch of trade mas suffered
during the last two or three years and is suffering s
md nobody can convince that the laboring man
should not bear his proportion of the necessary r'duc
The question was next asked why the Democratic
marty had been defeated last Fall Mr. Belmont ieIed
hw the friehtfu mistake made by Mr.. Kelly IN opposing
tie current of public opinion which set IN FAVOR OF re
corder Hackett lt was hard TO go AGAINST publ p
even when public opinion was wrong, nut keGoTuel
Hackett was good honest judge ana II was n nj
10 oppose him. Mr. PurrOy asked II II would De con
sisteit with home rule to appoint man VINO was not
citizen of the state high public poslIlOn MI Der
mont Thought that citizens who, Ike Gen Poil'r anu
Gen Mcclellan, had served in the army during te war
~eTe ctLeus moi OF one state or another but of the
whole country erever they went Nobody had opposed
Gen. Mcclellan as Chief Engineer Of the DOCK Depart
ment because he was not a citizen OF NeW-lork, ana
so far az the question of consistency was concerned
il might been difficult to md as good man as
John BgeOw for secretary OF State he had never Det
ANYTHING but Republican, and yet the Democrats an
voted for him. The opposition 10 Gen Porter was III
spired by political hatred. Ii was an unjust persecution
hy the Republican party, and 10 reject hls nomination
would be 10 confirm the action OF the Republicans
FINALLY the interests OF the wOrngmen would be pest
seryed II they had to down as all others had
come down since the hard times began. And AZ tue
head all this opposition" said MI Belmont s;I % tst
eally conclusion is the great man at the htdu Oi
the Finance Department"
The Committee adjourned to meet according to arrange
ment at D IN to-day. The feeling seems 10 be gaining
ground that Gen POrtcT's nomination Will be continued