New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-09
OPPOSITION TO H. Fl. PORTER
MANY PEOPLE DO NOT WANT HIM CON
TINUED IN OFFICE


HIS CAREER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES
AND CORRECTION HELD TO MAKE HIS AP-
PoINTMENT As CHARITIES COMMISSIONER
ALTOGETHER UNDESIRABLE.
1t is generally understood at the City Hall that
Mayor Strong is giving much considera tioH -
the question whether not he shall appoint Com
missioner Henry II. Porter Commissioner or
Charities. Under the law passed this year the De-
partment o, Charities and Correction Will be d.
vided January /, and all the prisons and cor
regional and reformatory institutions which are
now In charge OF the Department Of Charities and
Correction will be put under the control OF single
commissioner who will he the Commissioner OF
Correction: while all the hospitals and other char
liable institutions in he Department will be gov
erned by Department OF Charities. NJ. Porter
has served for many years as Commissioner OF
Charities and Correction. /: is widely reported
among local politicians that Archbishop Corrigan
strongly urges the appointment OF Mr.. Porter He
is brother-in-lav OF Colonel George Bliss, VINO Il
probably the most intimate personal friend whof
Archbishop CorriGan has. Colonel Bliss recently
returned from spending a year In Rome, wnere II"
represented and near the vatican just as tar a.
it was possible for Catholic layman TO do so. the
wishes plans. purposes and desires OF ARCHBISHOP
Corrisan. Roman Catholic politicians say that
Colonel Bliss while in Rome exerted all his ener-
gies to weakening and impairing the influence OF
Cardinal Gibbons Archbishop ireland ana theif
friends with the Pope. and to strengthening the
influence Of his friend Archbishop Corrigan with
the prelates Of the Eternal CITY. Politicians say
tia. the influence Of George Bliss and the IN
fuenc. Of Archbishop Corrigan have both been
extremely potent for years in favor Of Ny Porter.
THE New-York Herald" has printed series OF
most important and impressive articles al various
times showing in the clcarest manner the grievous
abuses and evils which have prevailed IN many OF
tho Institutions IN the Department Of Charities ana
Correction while Mr.. Porter has been member o.
the BOARD Commissioner Porter has had eXten-
slve experience in the Department. and Ne"-l orN-
ers who paid close attention 20 the subject de
clare that his influence and authority IN the De-
partment have been greater than those Of any other
person for many years.
There Is a very strong opposition 10 the reap
po'ntment Of Commissioner Porter. and many IN
ruential and prominent New Workers. citizens who
are men Of public spir, and unseihsh desfe TOR the
promotion OF the best interest Of the city say mat
the reappolntmert OF Mr.. Porter would De serious
mistake The opponents OF NJ. Porter declare maj
he must be reid largely responsible for the dis
tressng and inexcusab,e mismanagement Of many
Of tho institutions in the Department Of Charities
and Correction. Even Mr. Porter himself has never
dened that the CONDITION o. affairs IN some Of those
institutions has been unsatisfactory HIS critics
and onnonelts assert that II he had done his fun
duty the condition of affairs IN those Institutions
v,ould have been far Jess unsatisfactory than II
oc.rauv was Not only have "The New-York
Herald" and other OF the most important news
papers in this city and this State exposed repeated
" in the most striking manner the snochihg hli4-
management and The appalling condition OF ah'lEs
in some Of the institutions OF the Department WINE
Mr. Porter has been the most prominent and IN
nuential Commissioner. but official Investigations
have beeu made b. several committees and com
missions while NJ. Porter has been member OF me
Board. and the reports OF these coniillt.re3 an
corr missions have confirmed the exposures dH'i
.ors made in Inc newspapers. These off ia
reports have declared that the manaSemeht OF SOM
OF the institutions in the Department, was lhcusho'y
bad
COULD HAVE REMEDIED MANY ABUSES
Tho onnonents Of Mr.. Porter say that II he had
been faithful. earnest Jealous official ne coulu
have removed many OF the most serious abuses, ana
could have made great improvements IN the De
partment They insis; that there is no GOOD reason
why Nj Porter should be reapponted al the
imnerious and arrogant demand % George Bliss,
even II he has the reported backing OF Nrch-
bishop Corrigan They maintain that Mr.. Porter
was always a piece and parcel of Tammany meth
ods ard Tnnrany acknowledgement; that his work
I'm the BOARD OF Charities and CORRECTION was at
ways done with the purpose of pacating and CON
ci,stinp the worst and lowest and the West elc-
ments in Tammany Hall.
Whether the arguments and protests that are
made against the reappon tment of Mr.. Porter will
be stronger than the imperous dictaton which
Colonel Bliss is said to have sought to eXer-
else over Mayor Strong in this matter ana
stronger than the influence which Archbishop Cor
rsan is said TO have exered in favor Of Mr. Porter
remains to be seen. But wei-inIormeg CITIZENS
declare that II is certain that II MAJOR strong re-
appoints Mr. Porter in the face or an Inc hcVf 6
lions and exposures OF REIMBURSEMENT N me %
partrnent of Charities and Correction when nave
beer made he Will surprise anu greIe me IN
funn-ial and respected Newly Workers VINO are op-
posed 10 the reappointnenI.
ANOTHER APPOINTMENT EASY
The opponents OF Mr.. Porter say that it ought to
be very easy for the Mayer 10 se.ect public
sprited unseish high minded Newly orker. man
of broad views OF lofty principles. Of sagaciiy'
Judgment discretion and energy, who VII b. far
more useful to the people of New-York IN the De-
partment of Charities than Mr.. Porter has ever
been in the Department OF Charities ard CORRECTION
The effort TO secure the reappointment Of Ny Por-
ter has aroused great deal or talk ana discussion
in the city and much feeling has been called out.
II is admitted on all sides that II NJ. Porter
secures the reappontmcnt many citizens VIII ihInk
that the Mayor has yielded 10 the Glctauon OF
Mr. Miss and TO the influence which. IL Is
rsnorted has been nut forth by Archbishop COrri-
gan. and that any sucn action on MS part VIII
cause much regret among many or MS Wdrmest
most enthusN site and zelious friends ana sup
porters who want to see a man appointed IN Ar
Porter's place of the type ana eass repFese',rr'
The Mayors best friends believe chat he ought to
select for the place which MT. Porter is uylhs 70
get a man who would meet the responsibilities OF
noble way The opponents Of Mr. Porter say thar
he does not belong to the type OF pubic otnclaIs
whom Mayor Strong can reappoint win credit -
himself ard satisfaction to the best elements In
the community.
PATIENTS AT THE PJSTEUE NSTITC1E