New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-12
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
GEN. PoRTER,s NOMINATION.

YHr lrDRRMANIC COMMITTEE ADvERsE-ARGChENI
OF GEORGE TicKSoR CURTIS IN FAVOR OF con-
yIRxArIoS-THE COMMITTEE VOTE TO REPORT
AGAINST CONFIRMATION.
The members of the Aldermanic Committee
On Gen Porter's Observation-Disclosures Cole, Lysaght,
and Purroy-held adjourned meeting yesterday el'eE
aeon at o'clock the purpose of hearing the gentle
men who signed the letter published in The TRIBUNE
Of yesterday advocating the confirmation OF Gen Porter
Tia room was crowded with members OF the Board OF
Aldermen and many citizens After the letter had oeeh
read George Ticknor Curtis addressed the Committee
substantially as follows;
OF the sners Of the letter which has Just been
road The object OF that etter Was to ask TINS Cohmt
tee to give us an opportunity to present through ~
nomination OF Gen Porter ought to be eonnrmeu. No
have understood that there is any opposon or any
around OF opposition Gen. Porter on account OF ms
general fitness and qualifications for the place Oh .he
contrary We understand that ms qibents 6is M
place his high character ms scc9nplsnenV nls ~
tegrity his desire to the public we'll are iuy az
10 him s his decision the question OF wages 10 DO paid
70 nborers the public works. which 10 supOse1 70 20
he very nnpOpnar Now, Sir what have to submit 10
the Committee desire TO put In the shape OF suggestions
o. to how should view this matter and now Should hc
unon r. II wero member OF the Board OF Aldermen
should look at II as public question ana as queso ~
the interests OF the city the one hand ana OF me ooI
pe men on the other and should look at mainly, con-
fes in reference TO the interests OF the aDoIDg CLASS
Of people should pay very little regard 10 It's neIe 20
Hteal aspect don't 6elieyeat any rate hope such
not the casothat the Democratic party IN tms ey or
sch stnatos that thew cannot this matter OF the
confirmation of this public officer and dispose OF upon
IT'S merits profess to De Democrat ana profess "
be pretty good party man never na ~ any ID,
directly Indirectly, with IaInmany ua tlthoI uuol
Through H. and never expect have any and never oe
sire to have any. But would not come mere, o 20 gay
come M the interests and TO say what e0ud
say for the benefit of the aborng class OF people;
represent taxpayeTs am mot sn a2tyS i IL
LA mis-
house In which he lives But, Sir, see ID tls mate
thing that l. Of very great interest ana very at mis-
Board and that ali who have anything 10 40 WIN IhS
Question will look nj it i'll tnat relation.
Now what is this system OF wages that has been ar
ranged by POrtor-arrangea, lct me observe IN
matter which the law has eOnfded TO his discretion,
which 1t has cOnfded in any other BODY anu WhlGn
no other body can reach or act ulOn, except n0tcy
wages II understand IT, gives 10 every abollng man who
lie willing 10 work ten hours day. ~ pay ih!t Is az tS
rate OF 20 cents hour. Now, Slr d0nt KNOW Vi"t
had been in Gen POrters place should have had tne
wisdom to arrange such scale OF layne Du5 b e9
know this, ii had been suggested 10 me- anu h;u
been made to understand 1t III all llS bearings 10 tne M
forest of the la0orne class OF people maze 70 t oe
their interest with the interest OF the cry ana e
public that should have adopted II ana aeted upon
ca min one or the other much confidence have IN
the soundness OF the decision TO which Gen Porter came
Ing mani In the first place, holds OUT
direct encouragement TO industry, 70 thrn 70 eI
That the cultivation and promotion OF those qualities is
desirable thing not only for the public interest 0ut lYf
sTords direct opportunity the city to employ the
largest number Of persons tiia IL can employ, &
with the means Of paying them IN the 'hlr9 pace
enables the city 10 aSo1-,nu to - ! oi,Ilnative
which Is very bad tendenc IN the interest
The result Of that is that you tGrow the workngnan
into the hands Of the contractors VINO VIII make Win
them lust such bargains they may fiji 10 make anu
rs they can make at ii 30 81 per day, having care
only that they don't violate the provisions OF me een
hour law ana require the to work more than eight
lnuTS UerQ j
things Tor the lab0rin man than that IL Is cohuOn
OF things where 600 men may be benefited ana WhtTc
1000 men by The very sysem may be injured. 1t
is In reference the interest," ind in behalf although
Ssen asked by them 10 come here-I have
volunteered from the strength of my own feel.
,R s interest 81 the 5000 rather ncres Of the
BOO And say it is as capable OF dt23nstratSn s
fhat this system Of that has been arranged by
Gen Porter is in the interest OF '39 2CVO anu ro ~ io
interest exclusively OI tne ovo 'Vu e"i IL. S ~
10 Tie work YOU have TO do from time 10 time, ana III
proportion to the means OF doing when are al your
command, which the law enables you 10 use eIloy
more men under that system than You can employ unuer
nny other system that have ever seen ue'Seu Oh rug
There has been great deal said in reference to the
supposed neoss sity political grounds ana ON potoa
accounts Tor not confirming the nomination OF Gen.
Porter because the continuation involves elther Tue a
confirmation involves in any very direct manner the
approval dsapproya OF this system II Involves Ah
anroya OF the general character and administration OF
this gentleman, leaving to MS decision ana on I's eI's
question which the la" has coniideu 10 MN. gr5"s
des has also been said in regard TO some particular
sources from which the opposition ~ Cen Porter pro
cceds OF supposed to proceed. nave Olhug 10 say
Mr. Chairman regard 20 any sources OF OppOsitOn, or
10 the motives merits Of it, Ouy desire you 10 lOok
AT This matter i practical point Ol view thing that
concerns the Interests Of tho dboring themselves
right the heads OF politicians, rig over e
heads OF managers, right over the heads Oh wire
purs Obeying neither man nor another IN one }Os-
lion OF another ana 10 consult te best interests o. INC
laboriug people themselves And | do say sir, That |
never saw "a question that was clearer OF capable OF
exhibition than this, tnht IL Is Tor inc interest O
tine laboring people that Gen POrtcrs nomination bhOuid
bc confirmed don't doubt that there has Deen pOpu-
lar mIsapprchcnslOn upon THIS ~uOe SUBJECT l doA I
doubt that little political ulsadN anLteiinpOIaly
disadvantege-has accrued the Democratic party in
consequence OF the having u handle ana del wllh ts
particular question. Who 10 Responsible what is IcspD
sble for tic failure of Tammany Hall 10 carry THIS
county in the last election dOut propose 10 consider
and for the present consideration don't care.
Nj Curtis closed by repeating that he hoped that
politics would not into the matter but that the
case would be decided upon its merits. He was then
asked by the Committee TO the place where lie paid hi,
taxes and where he voted. JOHN T. Agncw nnd Sidney
Webster said the ground had been covered so thor
ougy by Mr.. Curtis that it left nothing for them to say
August Belmont also questioned as to the place
where he voted. On motion Of Alderman PuTroy the
Committee unanimously voted 10 report 10 the Board OF
Aldermen that Gen POrteT's nomination be not con
Grmed Alderman Cole voted the first call for the
confirmation. but seeing that he in the minority
changed Lis vote TO the negative The Committee then
adjourned
APPORrIONISG CITY REVENUE.
The Board of AppOriOnment' met yesterday