Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-03-09
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:.
Thu RsDAY. March ., 1871.
Tsmmany Tactics In washiuxtop

u
washin gtOn Is undergoing an incubation of
Tammany iObbery in its city government The
Common Cornell is about "a expire and parties
from New York, representing that Tammanv
stOOi-pigt on AleCk Frear, are seeking 10 i'm
ICse upon tn people OF the city, through the
Council, a watCr-mecer which has never vet
heen adopted anywhere, ar TIE enormous price
OF 800 each. when II Is known that a better
meter can bs obtained for q quarter OF the
money. The Council sent = committee 70 New
York to examine meters rot long since. but
thew fell into the hands OF the Philistines aud
came home with snakes in their boots. Now
Ring has been formed. and one board has been
sucCes -FJllv manipulated into passing the
scheme. II e TeLCing IN tn other, and dozen
rner are eggfrg y on. expecting small fortunes
10 come out OF the Transaction Wash. Cor. ".
L. TImcs.
There l. a curious story al out this water meter
job, demonstrating that the heather Chinee
VANS that are DARK and peculiar are not con-
fined TO the Pacific coast. Let Us premise that
the above mentioned Aleck Frear is a yirtuous
New York assemblyman. who Is associated with
one y. \. de Nevsrro in the water meter
business. II seems they wanted to extend their
line OF business, and III casting about for good
opening the city of Washington seemed to strike
them favOrsbly. So they sent on here person
rejoicing IN the exceedingly Inappropriate name
Of Green, who forthwith set about cult waiting
The acquaintance OF our city fathers, or some
OF them, and ali at once il struck certain men,
bers of our councils that there was a shocking
degreee Of ignorance prevailing here in regard to
water meters, and that il was absolutely neces-
sary that a delegation should be sent to New
York for Information thereon. So the Councils
strsightwsy appointed a committee to 90 to
New York on this interesting mission; and to
quiet the spprehensions of taxpayers ii was
announced that the city would not be called
upon TO pay the expense Of the trip. The
TiOus gentlemen, curious searchers for in
formation in regard to New York water-me-
tiers, and formed quite q jovial little party.
Oddly enough they found a special car waiting
at the Washington station to take them to New
York, fully stocked with champagne aud all the
creature comforts requisite to sustain the
fatigues OF the water-inetering business; and
when the party arrived az New York the same
mysterious agency had provided luxurious quar-
tiers for them at the Aston House, without
money and without price. Carriages were
placed At their disposal, while in New York
tickets were furnished FOR the different places
of amusement and in every way Messrs.
NevarIo, Frear, Green & Co. showed them.elyes
the most attentive and generous OF hosts
But. of course, IL q committee goes to New
York TO inspect water meters, they must paw
attention to it, and so one fine morning the
Washington party were taken to a pipe-yard to
see various water-meters tested. But il seems
that in some odd and peculiar way, not vet ex-
planned, all the meters tested were the property
OF de NeyaTro, Frear x Co., and very oddly,
too, it turned out that the most satisfactory
meter on their string was the Moore meter. the
highest priced one going. Further, it is stated
that this meter has never been in use in any
UateT-wOTks, and vas patented as late AZ Janu-
arg II, Isl.
Well, the committee having tested the abua-
dAnt hospitality OF FTear, Nevarro K Co.. and
finished theiT labOrious Investigations, returned
to Washington, and curious spectators waited
tor further developments. AT the next meeting
of the Council Board, sure enough, a bill was
introduced and rusl ed through the same ni,ht
prescribing the use OF the Moore meter in the
city Of Washington. Last Monday night the
New York gentlemen were on hand in the AL
dermen's Chamber, seeking to get the bill
pushed through that body in the same of-hand
style. but il was finally referred to a special
committee. Alderman Connolly openly branded
1t as ''the most bTazen-faced transaction ever
tired to be forced upon the board"
There the matter rests. bat on next Monday
night doubtless afresh attempt will be made TO
push the iop through. We cannot believe that il
will succeed. II water-meters are to be put in
general use the cost should not be made oppres-
sive to the public, and to prescribe the use of
the Moore meter, at q cost Of four or five times
the price of other meters that have been tested
for years, would be an outrage. We think if
doubtful, however, II there is any really salts
factory water meter in use. and il would be as
visable to experiment with one or two OF each of
the various kinds offered before making apv
large purchase. 1t may be found that the money
spent on any meter will be thrown away.