The New York herald., 1921-04-29


II felt then my troubles were over,
that my meter had met every test and
at last was to be allowed to do bust
ness-to earn a living in my home
town"
How long were YOU happy" Mr..
Untermyer wanted to know.
Two days" the witness replied.
1.-TWO days after that / saw in the
City Record that the resolution ap-
proving Commissioner HayeSs recon-
mendation had been returned without
recommendation, when in fact it was
favorahly acted upon"
Mr.. Cetti then explained, and later
was corroborated by former Alder
man Allyn. that the circumstances
precipitated a lively row in the Board
OF Aldermen. in which charges OF forg-
cry and unauthorized changes in the
proceedings OF the committee were
flung and not satisfactorily met. On
this point former Alderman Allyn said
that Alderman Abraham Beckerman
and Alderman Clifford S, Bostwick.
both of whom had voted in favor OF
the resolution in committee. charged
that the committees recommendation
had been altered as it appeared on the
calendar of the board by some one
with an apparent object In defeating
the favorable action. That charge"
former Alderman Allyn said, resulted
in Alderman Collins Democratic ma
iority leader) remarldng: al give
YOU dose OF your own medicine.'
Then he turned thumbs down on the
resolution
When the committee adjourned yes
terday. TO resume Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Untermyer anrS0naed that op-
portunity would bs givri any of tho
city officials whose nasae-S were men
toned to appear and ofyer any ex-
planation they desired 20 make.
To Abandon Price fixing.
The other chief development, and. in
the mind of Mr.. Untermyer the more
important was the announced decision
Of Albert A. Ainsworth, secretary of
thirteen manufacturers exchanges
through which detailed information of
sales and prices were exchanged be-
tween members, to discontinue at once
the system or reports on prices and
sales. In the opinion of the commit
tees counsel this is tarstamount to the
disbandiag OF the Organization as he
believes. It will leave little excuse for
their further existence. The opinion
was expressed that when this promise
Is fulfilled the committee will not find
II necessary to proceed Cirther along
this particular line.
The testimony of Mr. Cetti made
D distinct impression upcn the COM
mittee. The Badger CompRny's meter
Mr.. Cetti testified, had-and this was
corrcborated by Chief Engineer Mer-
ritt FL Smith of the Water Depart
ment undergone endurance tests of
fourteen months. provided by the de-
partment. 1t sold for approximately
a third less than any water meter in
u e in New York. h1 despite this he
wss unable TO put it on the local
market because the Board of Alder
men had not approved it.
The testimony brought out the fact
that there arc ten manufacturers of
water meters in the United States.
eight Of which arc r1embers of the
Water Meter Manufacturers Exchange.
These eight manufacturers maintain
a uniform list price for their products
and differ only in slight degrees in the
offered. The Badger Com
pany and the Gammoir Meter Com
pany of Newark are the only two
not members Of Aims
worth's exchange.
Kenneally for Home Product.
When finally the Badger company's
machines had met the test and Com
missioner Hayes had recommended
their approval by the Board of Alder
men, Mr.. Cetti sought Alderman Ken
neally. to whose committee the matter
had been referred. What follows is
in part Mr.. Cetu's story of his talk
with Alderman Kermeally. as he later
related it in a letter to Mayor Hylan.
He said
II met Alderman Kennedy in the