New-York tribune., 1873-03-01


siid
Il win bo seen that This regulation Directs that the
meter shall he put In all buildings except dweibng
houses rne new Ring has not thought II hadvsao'eto 10
openly urge they shall be imposed also Oh o'her
tenants but that such Is the at early day IL
we'll understood by those having cognsanee of their de
signs and familiar with the plan formerly p9rsueu ~
under Tweed The meter to he fnrnsned Is s,a 70 Se Se
company or Ring profit by II - exactly the same as
under the ola and there evidence that
the Board uf Public Works has lately ara IL sui pur-
suing the tactics that the old Rng followed OUT 20
create sentiment in favor Of the use Of meeGs rUr
rainfall Croton has been shut oil from many parts o
the city aDr e aSa bo need Of
private dwellings, The passage OF the secoh qo.T T
viii leave all OF stores factories, hotels ana tne
thousand OF houses where various light manufactures
carried on, at the mercy OF the hnR Anu od
legislation easily TO be obtained, If the cry Is raised
that water wasted and that the sspP must DC regn
lated and taxed, Will compel every househoaer 70 n
OF these meters and apply II 10 ms mouse o' ap
The facts about the Navarro meter were exposed IN
THE TRIBUNE of February lsl2 Inc contract na m s1o
with Ring called for 10000 Of these at cost o w
each, though others had been offered I9r , ess t e
days testing Of the meter Only 4oo0 had Deen uev
srea ers1 tSppS ST omoner Van Mort The
would have cost taxpayers 81 oOoeoo including the
tS SPp S Of paSe wors With reference to the
purchasing OF large quantities OF sewer ppes as stateo
meters At the rate at which they have been needed
during the five years, these loo meters could not
tunty 10 secure punder be passed by and the
ordinary 33 per cent division Is said to have been
in making the contract Mr. Van Mort discovered
that of these meters had been FURNISHED Whe
he assumed the position oi hSrruSoo Sma Mr Sa
said that he desired place to be assigned nm,
thought at first that to receive them would be an
acknowledgements OF the citys obligation 10 pay 10, t0f
subsequently. having been told by Navarro that II no
place was provided they would be deposited upon the
viii show, and thus left the matter in dispute
6ay , os 5roCn for The reon Of the
water meter named IN your nS1s Of i ye n in T nat G SI msy be
properly cared for aud preserved for the benefit o. whom IL nay
YG9 Will ssTTS @ P 10 he n sep thereof By or on behalf
the Mayor Aldermen and GO@non Of t c Of s Ioa
other 1 4sS sR e g. % Of the Ss 5 Rf SsSro SS 1 ssa al
persons reason you are not legally emitted "
pay iOr the Respectful w.. xon ci.on.,
The acknowledgment given by the officials who re-
ceptiOn OF fhe meters merely 10 save them from
ruin and 10 be understood an acceptance OF them
by the city, To this Mr. Navarro demurred urging that
as the city had ordered and accepted then no equyoca
recognition OF the delivery should pe made Ie 9ees
Of the General Term OF the Supreme court sno%s
that Mr.. Navarro judged correctly when ne surmlse9
Public Works acknowledgment OF the yalalty o
the contract aud made the city liable or pay ent Ana
pelel by that decision order ther payment by the
Controller appears that he Is OF the same opinion now
from MT Navarro seems to indicate that the Comnis-
sloner thought differently some persons nave & I
views he now enerains The following Is bis last leter
" ii DEPARTMENT OF PrBuo June 2e 1872
10 5 aSb 81 ioal nt IN which You state
yOu decline accept the receipt for water meters seqier
contract The form Of receipt %Ss aG & This deISTiaen
sosOrng WIN preyons determination IN the ssans Of 10
0D' " via GEO VAN MORT Commissioner Pubic Works.
COMMISSIONER VAN MORT OPPOSED TO TIE METER RING
In order to obtain the views OF the Commissioners of
Public Works on the subject TRIBUNE reporter yes
brief sfa of
furnished by others Mr.. Van Mort said
have never expressed any preference for the Ma,
varro meter. On the contrary have always opJeeted
TO its use and have disputed the payment for it in the
courts Tie clause I'm the proposed charter authorizing
the placing OF meters IN such places as the Conl'-
sioner of Public Works shall deem desirable is Just the
same as clause in the charter OF 1870 and II mad the
disposition TO place the Navarro meter extensively IN
do SO at present as would be under the charter
l had no hand in framing the proposed charter and
he hsVs clause nS %enoSed SevnS would
the Navarro meter; and II So they are nSthBeh 81 @
lie Works found an estimate for meters FURNISHED by
a requstion the Controller, believing as did then:
and do now. that there was fraud IN the contractH
Navarro not to deliver any of the meters and that
II be continued to deliver them this department would
not sign receipts them and hence they would be de-
hvered his rist continued to refuse payment,
and he began proceedings IN The supreme Court py man
damus compel TO certify to hls bills and make
reQuisiton on the Controller for payment. Inc man
sion OF the lower court, and compelling me
10 certify TO the bills and transmit them TO
the Controller for payment l endeavored
still to prevent the payment, but was compelled under
threat imprisonment for contempt of court 10 certify
TO them and make TequsltiOns on the Controller for
payment I,have never had the meter used, ana never
intend to- until the courts compel TO do SO! know
Of emergency existing at present which requires any
extensive use of meters than heretofore Ihe pro
visions the proposed charter which relate 70 that sub
ect identical with thoae of the existing charter but
II such an emergency should arise. have no lnten-
ton, If retain my present position, OF using the
Navarro meter unless the courts shall decide that
am compelled TO employ those already furnished to the
city. shall obey the law, but should certainly not
purchase Navarro meters after those hand
Shall be used up even If had the power. The new
charter, however although empowering the ComInls-
OF Public Works to order meters 10 be placed in
hotels factories mot In private dwengs) makes no
appropriation for the purchase Of any meters by tho
cty such as ordered under the tax levy OF 1870,
when the Navarro meter contracted for by Mr..
Tweed Whenever meters are placed In factories or
hotels il will be at the expense OF the owner who shall
be allowed to select whatever meter he may desire.
have got the documents showing the position took in
regard the Navarro meter they at the service
OF any persons desiring to investigate the matter.
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