New-York tribune., 1884-10-29
SIDNEY p. NiOHOLS's sUCCEssOR.
r,rz JOHN PORTER APPOINTED.

TAMM.ey nAtL iaSonrb ny MAYOR fpsoN-
eHttcn oF tnt knw COMMISSIONER.
Mayor fdAoh yesterday appointed General fitt
John Porter 10 oil the vacancy ~ The i'"io" honih
caused hy the death ~ Sidney J., NiehoS, Ibr
NneA pitod tenn npaiontly. Under tho ptoviHons oi
the Charter, would have expired on May J., ihse,
but ~ Mr Nichols was not confirmed unt'l Jth,hiS
10 issI 10 is u quest Ion not yet settled whether
ms term wOuld not have been six years from that
date As the Mayor has the power TO NJ all vachi'-
cies General Porter WAS not compelled Ia undergo
Tie ordeal of confirmation by the Aldermen. Had
he been compelled Ia do 81 IN nouhtini whether he
would have been confirmed; Wltnin hve minutes
tion called on him to urge the appointment of ex
Alderman Slevn. There is some dsapP.ointment m
Nichols was n thorough adherent of the old wig
wain and his death was greatly regretted Commis-
siOner Mathews is nlenber OF tnc county Denoc'
racy organization. General Iorter mas never
been an adherent of any of the Democratic factions
Tammany Hall is therefore for the time left with
cut a dist net representative in the Board This has
been urged Oh Mayor Edson as q reason why he
should appoint one of the half dozen Iaininany
leaders submitted for his consideration. II M mas
bee pretty well understood for several days tnat
he was likely to exercise his own discretion in the
matter. . -,
The Mayor said yesterday that no one had come
TO him on benaf Of General Porter nor was the lat
ter an applicant for the position IN casting over
IN his mind the best man for the position the Mayor
said. General Porter was deemed by him to be capa-
bic and trustworthy. lie consulted some friends
and they agreed with him. lie sent for General
Porter offered him the position and i Was accepted
what he thought of the appointment. He replied
that he considered it a good one. General forter;
he added, was a CONSCIENTIOUS man, an educated
officer used to the command OF large bodies OF meh
and would make an excellent Commissioner
The appointment caused profound surprise at
Police Headquarters. Commissioners french,
Mason and Matthews met in the atteI's room and
compared notes regarding the appointment. Neither
has any personal acquaintance with General Porter
and Mr. Matthews said that lie did not even know
him by sight. President French moved from his
rooms on the second floor of the building TO the
rooms on the third floor which were formerly occu
pied by Mr. Nichols Mr. Mason has been made
treasurer of the department. =,
General Porter is sixty-twO years old. lie was
graduated from the West Point Military Academy
In Is45 and IN July of that year was appointed sec
Ond lieutenant of the 4th Artillery He served with
General ScOtts column in the war with Mexico
and participated in all the battles up TO the CITY OF
Mexico. In leading the attack oil the l5elen Gate
Jleufepaut Porter was severely wounded he was
afterward instructor at West Point for several
years. When General Mcclellan reOrganized the
Army of the Potomac lie gave General Porter the
command of the Fifth Corps. He participated IN
all the battles fought by the Army OF the Potomac
up to and including that OF Antietam: lie was
cashered for alleged failure to come TO the relief OF
General Pope at the second battle of Bull Run,
fought in September. 1S62 and for several years ne
has tried to be restored to his place in the army
On March l. 1873, he was appointed by Mayor
Wickham TO fill the vacancy caused by the reslgna-
tion of Commissioner of Public Works George NJ:
Van Mort. In January. 1876, he was renolnnated
by Mayor Wickham, but was rejected by the Board
OF Aldermen because il was believed that he had
been instrumental in cansing the reduction OF the
wages of the abOrers employed by the city. slnco
then General Porter has held no public position
He is q resident of this city.