New-York tribune., 1876-01-14
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
GEN. PoRTERs SUCCESSOR.

ALpERMEN-THEIR PERSISTENCE CoSCERNING
LABORERs' wAGEs-THE NEW NOMINEE.
The Board of Aldermen met yesterday about
e3O D. IN. Shortly after crowd OF people, most OF
whom were evidently laboring men, began to collect IN
The corridors OF the City Hall aud TO discuss the proba
bities Of the confirmation or rejection OF the nomination
6 Gen Porter Meanwhile a caucus OF the Democratic
members OF the Board held, and IT began 10 be wh
pered that an arrangement had been made by
which the Mayor would withdraw the name OF Zen
Porter, on being formally requested to DO 30 ny 'ne
Board and nominate another person In Ills place. ~
d. m the Republican Aldermen and one UT TWO ol 'ne
Democrats were in their places, and they waited ln
patiently for 90 minutes before quorum could be OBJ
Gained The interest felt the proceedings OF the boru
by the throngs City Hall was evidently very great
and the squad OF police duty had some dncuity ID
Keeping the stairways and entrances TO the Aderhac
shamber clear Immediately after the Board had peen
organized and the minutes read Alderman seery moved
That recess be taken until p. 10. Seine debate io
bowed and the motion was carried by vote otl4to g.
The object OF this understood to be 10 enape
the Democratic members TO continue their caucus ana
they Immediately retired for that purpose After h an
hours absence they returned, and the session OF the
Board was resumed Alderman Purroy immediately
yfered the following:
Whereas HIS Honor the Mayor wibfull knowledge OF
The fixed sentiments Of the majority OF the Board OF AZ
aermen, has seen fit 10 renomlnae fltz john 'i'e "
whereas The Board of Aldermen, In the discharge OF
ducton made by Porter in the wages Of the public
hborels impoltic, harsh and h ~
and have again and again urgently Tequesteu him W
restore the former rates, with NIlch request
be has I'm each instance emphatcay refused 10 oopy
Wber,os The Board of Aldermen firmly believing that
they are right in the stand which, upon tins question:
they have deliberately assumed and which they are stu
Determined TO maintain, cannot consent 10 connt me
Somnation of one whom they believe to be unaeIaDy
OpUsed to their convictions; now, therefore, be t
Besoired That for purpose of avoiding necessity
Of any further discussion 10y this Board on tae no n0 nm
tion Of one whom however widely we may dier from from
him on this question, all regard as man Oh no,s
acia conduct his Honor the Mayor be and l. hereby
respectfully requested to withdaT pnSa 1nS WILLIS
Fuz John Porter as Commissioner OF lupc "oIhs'
Alderman Morris offered amendment in the form OF
resolution 10 request the Mayor to withdraw his COM
munication nominating Gen. Porter as Commissioner of
ak years the ground that it was In violation OF sec
ton TO- Article OF the Charter of 1873, which provides
that the Commissioner Of Public Works shall hold ONCE
for four years
Alderman Puroy stated that he had been given to u1
derstand that II withdrawal OF Gen. POrters name were
requested the Mayor would nominate anotper man s"s
factory TO the Board He therefore not III iaVOr o
passng any resolution that might put any dscedt on
ANYBODY The amendment then put TO vote ana los
Tho original motion Of MI PurrOy carried by vote
of l6 TO g. Aldermen Lewis, Csdlf. Gross, Gunbletoh
Guntzer Hess keenan,, Lysaght, Mccarthy, Purroy, j.
Reilly b. Reilly sauer seery shels, and Tuomey voting
In the affirmative, and Aldermen Cole, Billings, Ho"
land, Morris, Pinckney, and Wade in the negative
Of the action Of the Board After consultation with the
Mayor and Gen. Porter he reported that the Mayor
would send a communication 10 tho Board at p M ana
that Cen Porter, who preparing his letter OF wlh
drawa stated that he would enter into no compact OF
rckery by which TO retain his Office against the aI
proval Of the Board and that on retiring from once ne
would end his career as Commissioner OF Public Works
TWAS resolved that members should retain during
1876 the seats which they now occupy. At 4:iO p m
the Board took of nalf hour On reassembng
the petition OF prominent citizens asking Tor the con
hrmation OF Gen Porter published in yesterdays TRI
BUSE was read and ordered 10 be printed ILe iOuO"
Ing communication was then read:
TO The Honorable the Board Of Aldermen
GESILEMCN: inclOse herewith communication from
Commissioner Porter, requesting me 70 WITHDRAW from
your consideration his nomination for the once OF Com
missioner Of Public Works This positive request rem
ders it entirely unnecessary for me TO discuss III any
manner the assigned by your BOARD iOr youIt
guest to me to withdraw his name In oesdencG, .he,
fore, 10 hs unqualified request now ask 20 Wlth1d"
the nomination Of FZ John Porter TO the Office OF Com
Inst WM. II. wICKHAM, Mayor.
Following is Gen. Porter's letter OF withdrawal In
which the resolution of Mr. PurrOy was quoted in ful;
DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS, CITY Hall
Hon. WILLIAM II. WICKHAM, Mayor.
EsR: My attention has this moment been calico 70
resolution adopted by the Board Of Aldermen. look
upOn this resolution courteous mode OF informing
the Mayor that disagreement between the Aldermen
and myself respecting the price which the Corporation
ought now or in June last pay day aborers is too
teriOus and penetrating in the opinion OF me AGerncn
day wages In this Department the law places me- and
me alone. And therefore, without communication WIN
You in any form, hasten tn ask In my own behalf TO
withdraw my name, and also to relieve Inc from duty Ia
this office.
20 be useful and efficient COnm siomer now that ev
dence OF s existing irrecOncilable difference between
myself and the legislative branch Of the corporation has
been notified 10 YOU can but think should after this
Inimaion promptly step aside and leave you free TO ad
lust the matters unhndered by my uDaltered cOnyio
hOns And in this act Of retirement beg you TO allow
to say how grateful not only for your confluence
expressed by my original appointment, but for the
tratOn of this department, and your recent vindi-
cation OF my Official conduct by my nomination
Whether what have done attempted during my bret
years service has tended TO rid this department OF
deeply and vicious system OF selection and super
inrendence Of daabOrers where such labor cannot be
dispensed with, and whether have wisely endeayOIed
~ reconcile in this great spending bureau the true inter
eSts of capital and labor with safe economy and the
demands OF unemployed men In this clty-wlllng aud
begging for work fair wagesI leave 10 DC decided by
those shall after and by the record OF my
official acts With great respect obeden servant
FITZ JOHN PORTER.
Another communication from the Mayor next read
nominating Allan Campbell be Commissioner Of Public
Works years, beginning Dec. 80, 1875 in place
OF F1tz John Porter. Mr Campbell is prominent en-
gineer, and is the Chief Engineer of the Fourth
Avenue Improvement He formerly Chief Engineer
OF the New-Yorb aud Harlem Railroad Company lie is
stated to DC a nan Of great engineering ability and ex
porence and OF unbem5hed reputation He is politically
Democrat.
A motion was made to lay the nomination over until
the next meeting OF the Board and after considerable
debate IL was carried by OF 16 TO s. No objection
was expressed to Mr. Campbels nomination, and 1t was
stated that be accepted the nomination he would prob
ably be unanimously confirmed. The Board adjourned
at t6p.m.
HUDSON RIVER FREIGHTS.
BETTER DOCK FACILITIES DEMANDED.
A committaa annointad nv the Hudson River