The New York herald., 1921-04-29

Aldermanic Chamber. He informed
ne that the reason he did not take
any action on the approval of the
Badger water meter was because the
concerns manufacturing water meters
in New York city objected to an out
side meter company coming into New
York city to sell their meters. on the
ground that IL the meter companies
located I'm New York city were to go
elsewhere TO try and get meter bust
ness they would not get a chance TO.
Right here / want to state (and /
so told Alderman Kenneally) that
have been in the water meter busi-
ness for the past thirty years and for
the past fifteen years I have travelled
in every section of the United States
selling water meters, and / want to
say that no meter company located In
New York city is kept from compet-
ing with other meter companies To-
Gated elsewhere in the United States.
stone Wall at Every Turn.
II may add that the lions share
of the meter business not only in the
United States but abroad is done by
three meter companies located in New
York city. Furthermore there are
five different makes OF water meters
manufactured outside OF New York
city being sold and used in New York
city.
Il further said to Alderman Ken
neatly. Surely you will not stand in
the way of permitting a first class
water meter to be sold in New York
city, and especially SO after the meter
in question had proved satisfactory"
after an endurance test conducted by
the engineers of the Department of
Water Supply of New York city. and
as the result of which test Commits
sioner Nicholas j. Hayes has recon-
niended to the Board of Aldermen the
approval Of the said Badger water
meter. the entire subject matter is a
business proposition and strictly on
its merit"
I'm answer. Alderman Kenneally
said to me: The thing is not on it's
merit at all; you arc one OF them fell
lows who refuses 10 listen to reason
and now YOU will not get IL at all
and | don't give a good -----
---- who asks for it,"
Mr.. Cetti said he followed this com
munication up with second. inspired
by Mayor Hylans 1920 Neg iear's
proclamation, la which nc pledged
continued vigils for he peoples
rights AS in the first instance, Mr..
Cetti said. he received an acknowl-
edgment saying that the Mayor had
referred the matter to Commissioners
Hayes. Finally, in desperation. Mr..
Cetti went to see Commissioner Hayes,
who. he says. assured him that every
thing that could be done had been done
by his office to obtain approval for his
meter. Then he went to see Mayor
Hylan himself.
What happened?" asked Mr.. Inter
myer
Made a "Pnrty Issue.o
The witness said that the Mayor ex-
planned that he had no Jurisdiction
over the Board of Aldermen II don't
mix in their affairs, and they don't
mix in NINE" was the way the Mayor
was quoted.
II said TO the Mayor Mr.. Cetti
continued. ~ appeal to you as Chief
Magistrate OF the city for a square
DEAL He said: What do you mean by
a square deal?' Well I said. L
thought perhaps you could help me-
Under the charter you have unlimited
power, as I read It, In fact your power
has never been clearly defined He
Mayor Hylan) said: We'll. now. will
speak to Alderman Kenneally only in
kindly way to see what | can do for
you, but won't promise anything"
One Of the unusual features of Cetti's
determined effort to get the approval
of the Board of Aldermen for his
meter was the party lineup in the
board on the vote when the second
resolution finally was brought out of
Alderman Collins's committee without
recommendation. The vote was 36 to
26-36 Democrats voting against 1t and
26 Republicans in favor. Mr.. Inter
myer wanted TO know from former
Alderman Allyn If he knew who was
responsible for this peculiar political