The New York herald., 1921-04-29
Kenneally, a Brindell Man
of Murphy's District, Ac-
cused of Blocking Rival
Concern in Sales.
HYLAN'S VETO HELPED
Measure Passed at Albany
Would Have Broken Grip
Il of Ring, Lockwood
Testimony Shows.
CUT IN PRICE BALKED
Wisconsin Concern Offered in
Vain to Sell Approved De-
vice at One-third Less
Cost.
CUT IN PRICE BALKED

Disclosures indica ting the existence
of an alright monopoly in the sale or
water meters in New York city and
which revealed the futile efforts OF
Wisconsin concern. not a member OF
the Meter Manufacturers Exchange,
TO invade the field, despite the fact
that its product was approved by the
chief engineer of the commission or
. the Board Of Water Supply, Gas and
Electricity after rigorous tests, were
among the outstanding features OF
Yesterdays developments by the Lock
wood legislative committee Fon hous-
ng.
Mayor Hylan's name crept into the
record when William Stanislaus Cetti,
! Eastern sales manager of the Badger
letter Company of Milwaukee, told
his efforts to get favorable action
the Board of Aldermen on his
leters. But 1t appeared most con-
picuously when Cetti related how,
having failed in this attempt. he OBJ
tained legislation at Albany which
took from the Board of Aldermen the
light of approving water meters sold
. py licensed plumbers In New York
I. and placed that authority with the
chief engineer Of the Board of Water
Supply. This BILL II was testified,
Mayor Hylan disapproved last Sat
urday without explanation, merely
returning the bill TO Albany with the
notation "Disapproved.'
Alderman Kenneally whose opposi-
ton Cetti claims resulted In his fail
,re to place his product with plumbers
anxious to buy 1t, has for many years
presented the Tenth Aldermanic dis
Il in the board. This Is the district
which Charles f. Murphy, leader
81 Tammany Hall. lives. kenneally
"a member Of Robert p BrindelPs
xocutive committee of the old Build
4 nv Trades Council. and now IS dele
y q Of the plumbers union to the
formed organization at salary OF
90 Il week for life.
Mayor Defends veto.
- after adjournment Mayor Hylan,
en- Informed of the trend the in
litigation had taken, issued the fol-
ing statement:
Mr.. Untermyer was quoted by the
IS as making the following state
mt before the Lockwood committee
81 hat Mayor Hylan had vetoed a bill
ich was designed to break up "a
LIT taking and extorting monopoly
So that the public may know the
II facts and not he misled by Mr..
ternyer's inuendoes, here are the
ts u
The so-called water meter bill,
ending section AS of the city
rter, had for it's purpose the taking
the power at present lodged in the
lrd Of Aldermen. composed of
ty-seven members and five borous II
sidents. elected by the people. and
cling the arbitrary power of APP
val in the hands of one man. the
ef engineer of n department under
Jurisdiction In my judgment no
In arbitrary power should be lodged
any one man. Therefore. the veto"
lderman William p. Kenneally. II
X testified. allowed a communica-
Il Of Commissioner Nicholas J.
YES approving the Badger Meter
npanys instrument to die in COM
!tee. Mr. Cetti testified that when
approached Alderman Kenneally on
i matter the Alderman replied:
VI You are one OF them fellows who
uses to listen to reason and now
j will not get II at all, and I don't
II -e a good - who asks for It,"
Charges OF Forgery Made.
! Mr.. Cetti had the Alderman from
home district. Robert Starr Al
y, reintroduce the Hayes communi-
lion last year This time Il was re-
red to the committee on general
flare. of which Alderman william
Collins IS chairman. In response
a request from Cetti Alderman Col
held a hearing on the matter. after
iich, according 10 the witness he
clared that he was convinced the
lsconsin company's product was "on
Level and that he was for It. The
mmittee vote was eight in favor and
q not voting.
was there any opposition" Mr..
htermyer asked.
NO public opposition" the witness
piled.
AIR. Cctti went on with his story.
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