Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-25
LET'S CONTRACT TO NEPTUNE
COMPANY FOR AMOUNT AS
NEEDED.
HERMAN DEGREES CITY'a
METHODS IN BUSINESS
Says There is Rebate on Meters for
Cash, and City Should Buy in Small
Amounts and Save Rebate Instead Of
Making Consumers Pay Interest on
Deferred Payments.

The city council Friday night au
thorized the mayor and city solicitor to
enter into a contract with the Neptune
Meter Company, Chicago, for large
number of meters, as needed, and in
accordance with a proposition made by
the company to Chairman Clarke, of
the water works committee. The coun-
ellis idea is to add meters to the sys-
TEN as rapidly as possible and, in
time, TO have a complete metered sys-
tenn.
Councilman Herman opposed the
contract on the ground OF a lack or
competition in the bidding. The Ma
tiona Meter Company, Of Chicago
placed q bid on the meters, but it was
not considered as good as the propo-
sition from the Neptune people.
The Keystone company promised to
bid, but had failed to make PROPOSE
ton. The National bid was 81 down
on each meter and the balance on reg
ular pawn ents.
The Neptune Proposition.
The Neptune Meter Company's prop
osirion, VIII oh the council accepted, is
to the effect that the company Will
ship 1000 or more meters, as neerer
during the next eighteen months, to be
sold TO the consumers, and to be PAID
for in four years time. The deferred
payments are to draw per cent in
teresl, and the city is to collect for the
meter com pany.
1t is estimated that the city will use
about 1900 meters.
Herman Decries Business Methods.
Councilman Herman decried the bus
mess methods adopted by the council,
and declared that the council was pre-
pairing to throw the city into bank
ruptcy. He said that people were be-
ing driven out of town because of high
taxes. First we needed a water tank
to save water Now we have the tank
and are still short of water. Next we
need new wells in order to get more
water, and now we need meters In
order to save water. Herman declared
il was a shame to carry on business
this way.
How About Inside Prioe7
Gregory wanted TO know something
about the meter business. AS he had
been formed the meters were to cost
$40 each, and that 1t made no differ
ence how many were bouGht-one or
l.000-the price was $40.
But Mr. Gregory had been informed
by man who had bought good many
meters. and who was conversant with
the inside workings of the meter bust
ness, that there was an inside price on
meters, a discount of 81 each on every
meter. Now if there was an inside
price, and the city could buy at $40,
VII the SiSPOlnt2
Herman Thought Rebate Greater.
Herman had received the same in
formation as to inside price on meters,
altho he understood that meters could
TO bought for $3.50 under the regular
price of $3.50 or $40, as the case
might be. He thought that the city
should buy meters IN small quantities,
say 100 at a time. pay cash for them,
and get the discount. Then the con-
sumers would not be charged with the
S per cent interest on deferred pay
ments. Herman did not think that
every small service IN the city should
be metered, but that the city should
meter only those where it was known,
Or there was reason to believe, that
water was being wasted.
Hermans plan in buying meters
would be to pay cash for them in lots
OF 100 If they could be bought for
$40 by paying cash we'll and good, but
at any rate there would not be per
cent interest charged to the consum er
when he was compelled to have meter
! installed Mr.. Herman thinks that if
! the city can buy $4,000 automobiles for
the police and fire departments, an S.
600 elevated tank, 100000 dam, and a
/ few more things. it could make an in
vestment of $40 or $40 occasionally
for meters.
| Always Paid $40.
| Mayor Ingledue said at the council
meeting Friday night that so far as he
knew the city had never bought a
meter for less than s8.40- He thought
the Neptune company's proposition
was the easiest way he knew of for the
/ city to get complete meter system. He
had always favored a complete meter
system and he knew the city would
save thousands Of dollars in waste OF
water by Uetering the system.
| What About installation.
Mr.. Herman raised the question
about installation of the meters. The
mayor said that the city's custom was
to turn the meters over to the plumb
ers, and have them set them, rather
than the city. Heru an thinks that the
city should fix some uniform price thai
the plum ers shall charge, and that the
| price be regulated strictly by the city
On the vote to accept the proposition
Of the Neptune company all voted aye
with the exception of Herman.