The New York herald., 1921-05-02
BRIBE ASKED FOR
IN METER APPEAL
cont,,l,.ed lrom Fmst paqe.


when he appeared before the committee
OF the Board OF Aldermen that had the
resolution under consideration and was
asked II he ever had been asked for
money by any member OF the board in
connection with the case. he replied that
he had not been solicited by any member
of the board. He emphasized the words
amy member of the board" then added
that the question stopped there.
Later yesterday, when he had been
assured that confirmation OF the report
would not interfere with Mr.. Untermyer's
plans Mr.. Cetti consented to its pub
lieation.
Mr.. Untermyer's letter to Mayor Hy-
Ian covers Ave typewritten pages. In 1t
counsel to the committee sets forth that
the circumstances surrounding MT.
Cettis failure to obtain the approval or
the Board OF Aldermen for his cheaper
meter had been known to the Mayor Tor
al least fifteen months: that the Mayors
expressed reason for his veto OF the leg
islative BILL designed TO bring about
what the Aldermen would not. "is worse
.han no reason" and in conclusion he
calls upon the Mayor to send special
message to the Board OF Aldermen urg-
ing passage of the blocked resolution as
a plain and long neglected duty
After reviewing the history of Mr..
Cetti's long fight TO get approval for
his meter Mr.. Unter1nyer takes up the
Mayors veto of the Legislatures Dill.
His letter in part follows:
Your statement on this subject pub
lshed in Friday mornings papers con-
tains the following assertion. which Is
unsupported by anything in the record or
elsewhere and which you have put for
ward as the ostensible reason for issuing
the statement: Mr.. Untermyer was
quoted by the press as making the state
ment before the Lockwood committee
that Mayor Hylsn had vetoed the Lock-
wood bill designed to break up graft
taking and extorting monopoly
Denies Reported Statement.
Il made no such statement and was
not at any time or place so quoted In
the newspapers or elsewhere. ] made
no comment of any kind on the subject.
1t is my invariable rule TO make no
remarks on the evidence or proceedings
before the committee. The sworn testi-
mony and documents must speak for
themselves. In this case the letters
that passed between Mr.. Cetti and your
self and your veto OF the bill that was
designed TO grant the urgently needed
relief told their own story and required
no comment or explanation.
Permit me to suggest that the reason
you now assign for having disapproved
the bill is wrose than no reason in
view of the fact that you were long
ago made familiar with the persistent
and extraordinary action OF the Board
of Aldermen in excluding the Badger
meter from use in New York city with
out pretence of rhyme or reason. after
1t had undergone all the necessary tests
by the city authorities.
'The testimony before the legislative
committee discloses that among the
many peculiar performances accompany
ing this remarkable transaction either
the minutes OF the Aldermanic commit
tee or the docket OF the Board of AL
dermen We're juggled so as to have it
appear to the Board of Aldermen when
the resolution came to it from its COM
mittee for action that 1t was reported
from the committee without recommen-
dation when In fact it had been favor
ably recommended by the committee
without dissent.
Now that you have by your action
destroyed the opportunity afforded by
the Legislature for the relief OF the citl-
zens of this city from this monopoly
may l suggest that IL you are dis
posed 10 DC heiptui III releasing the prop
erty owners and householders of the city
and those now engaged in constructing
houses from the incredible situation thus
created you have theN opportunity OF
doing IL without further delay by
promptly transmitting to the Board of
Aldermen message urging the approval
OF the action OF the Commissioner OF
Water Supply and the Chief Engineer in
permitting the Badger Water Meter
Company to sell its meters I'm competi-
tion with those of the members of the
combination known as the Water Meter
Manufacturers Exchange, who now
alone enjoy that privilege.
Urges Action by Mayor.
"If It is the point of view OF the ma
jority of the members of the Board of
A Alderner that II iE cnnsIafnnf With their