Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-29
New York Mayor.
Answers Charges
Counsel UntermyeI

New York, April 2S-Indirect charg-
es made before the legislative COM
mittee Investigating the housing sit
uation here, by Samuel Untermeyer.
it's counsel, that Mayor Hylan and
the Board of aldermen had taken ac-
ton to prevent open competition in
the sale of water meters here, were
answered tonight by the Mayor, who
asked that the public be not misled
by Mr.. Untermeyer's inuendees."
Reference to the mayors veto of a
legislative measure permitting the
chief engineer to authorize the sale
and use here, of water meters, with
out approval of the board of aldermen
was brought up during the testimony
of Albert A. Ainsworth, secretary of
an organization of nine building ap-
pliance n1anufa cturers alleged by Mr..
Cntermeyer to be price fixing COM
bination.
Under present conditions, approval
of the board of aldermen is necessary
TO permit the purchase by the city
of meters other than those now in
use. William S. Cetti, eastern sales
manager Of the Badger Meter Manu-
featuring Company of Milwaukee.
Wisconsin, which is not connected
with the meter manufacturers eX-
change, alleged to control meter sales
and prices here testified that he had
tried, unsuccessfully to get the board
of aldernen's approval for the sale of
his grm,s products in New York.
question had passed all tests required
by the water department, that hun
dreds of thousands were in use in
other cities and that they cost slight
~ more than half as much as those
manufactured by members of the ex-
change.
Mr.. Cetti testified that for months
he had tried to obtain permits to sell
his conpanys products here, finally
asking Alderman Kenneally why the
matted had reposed so long in COM
mittee. He quoted Mr.. Kenneally as
saying:
1t isn't on its merits at all
you're one of these fellows that wont
listen TO reason. Now you won't get
it at ALL"
Later the witness said he took the
matter up with Mayor Hylan. He
quoted the mayor as saying he would
speak to Alderman kenneally in a
friendly way, but I don't promise
anything"
Mr.. Cetti then told of having a bill
introduced in the Legislature taking
the matter out of the hands of the
Aldermen and placing it up to the
city engineer. This bill MAYOR Hv-
Ian vetoed he said.
The bill had been recommended b,
the aldermanic general welfare com
mittee, but it appeared on the journal
today without the recommendation
both Mr.. Cetti and Alderman Allyn
testified
Mr.. AShsworth conceded that uni
form systems of figuring costs and
uniform gross selling prices formed
the basis of the exchanges. The leg
atty. of such practices, he admitted
had been matter of concern with
him. From the minutes of one or
ganization Mr.. Untermyer quoted
him as saying he understood the de-
pa Va was TO
inquire into them.
The scheme. he insisted. benefited
buyers and did not harm the public.
Mr.. Unterinyer asked whether he
knew the price of sapd paper had
advanced 500 per cent since the or
ganization of the abrasive cloth and
paper manufacturing exchange. The
witness said he had not He later
explained that the Armour Sandpaper
Company. a subsidiary of Armour and
Company Of Chicago. belonged to the
exchange and that the Armour Am
monia Company held membership in
another.
Mr.. Ainsworth declared one third
the articles formerly offered the pub
lie had been taken off the market
since the exchanges took up stand
ardization. There was no demand
for those eliminated, he said.
Il suppose" commented Mr.. INTER
myer. that Standardization is nee
essary to keep a lot of fool manufac-
turers from making articles for which
there is no demand"
Before the hearing recessed over
the weekend. the committee granted
permission for city officials mention
ed today to appear at the next ses-
sion on Tuesday. .-.:-