The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-22
HYLAN'S POWER
IN GRAFT PROBE
AT TEST TO-DAY
Supreme Court to Settle Al
legged Move to Block Lock
wood Body.
DOCK MONOPOLY SEEN
Committee After Facts on
Holding Up of Supplies
at Piers Here.
CITY INVESTIGATION ON
"a Guardia and Curran May
Oppose Having John 0'Brien
Conduct Action.
DOCK MONOPOLY SEEN
CITY INVESTIGATION ON


regular hornets nest of trouble the
moment he began poking around the
docks and the building material trust
in his investigation for the Lockwood
Housing Committee,
The city's piers, how they are con-
frolled and in turn are used TO regu-
late the amount of supplies allowed
TO come through the gates of the
city for building purposes-all is a
mysterious and complicated thing on
which the committee evidently is not
TO be allowed tosget mucn information
without making hard fight.
There have been many references
in many inquiries to the piers. Wit
nesses told last week how impossible
it was for builders TO bring brick, Ce-
fnent and other essential supplies into
the city because of the hard and fast
monopoly which held the piers and
refused to permit the landing Of car
goes which the building trust" did
not want landed: Limitless supplies
of materials might be available-are
available, in fact, within a few miles
of the city-and still beyond the reach
of the builder. The committee was told
that four firms control the docks
where building materials are landed
and are masters of the situation.
Matters Approach Crisis.
Senator Lockwood and his associates
believe that to-day will mark the critical
stage in the development of their inves-
tgation. The Board OF Estimates in
quiry into city contracts called by
Untermyer embarrassing" proceeding
designed to cover politicians and con-
tractors is scheduled to start in City
Hall. Members OF the committee are
summoned to appear in the Supreme
Court to show cause why a subpoena
issued for the appearance of Miss Eliza
beth O'Dea of the Builders Supply Blu
reau should not be vacated The court
action is looked upon by the committee
as direct challenge TO block the inves-
tigation before it goes further into the
building trust. The order was obtained
by Martin Conboy. representing John A
Mccarthy. a contractor, with whom
Charles F. Murphy the Tammany leader.
one year ago. Miss O'Dea was sum-
uoned 10 produce books and papers.
Through the alleged combinations in
rontrol of building supplies such as
brick, cement. gravel and lime. Mr.
rntermyer is seeking 10 show how the
system operated always through certain
piers. The next step would be to SOW
who ran the piers and how they did It..
ia
are believed TO be interviewer. and Mr..
Untermyer's wish is believed TO be to
pull apart the tangle and show exactly
who's who in both lines.
The committee already has In hand
much information on this subject. But
SC they are blocked by the courts ~ this
stage by the Mccarthy case. it undoubt-
edy will be a blow. The committee will
fight the action. but a delay such as an
appeal would drag the case along until
she investigation is ended. There may
be other ways of going to the bottom of
the matter. even II the committee is
. baked in getting the so-called trust
books" but Il will be a much harder
way.
Mr.. Conboy bases his plea on the
ground that Miss O'Dea Is n paid en-
ployee OF the bureau and that this
method of obtaining books Is not legal
but constitutes search and seizure with
out due process OF law
G.. O. II. Men Oppose O'Brien.
Mr.. Untermyer will not make any
move to-day 10 halt the Board Of Esti-
mates investigation of city contracts
Mayor Hylan has asserted several times
that he proposes to conduct a sweeping
inquiry" OF all city contracts in a search
for collision and graft. John OBrien,
Corporation Counsel, has been examin-
ing the contracts in preparation for the
city's own inquiry.
+. II. La Guardia, President of the
Board Of Aldermen. and Henry II. Cur
ran, Borough President Of Manhattan
Republican members Of the board are
expected to oppose having Mr.. OBrien
conduct the inquiry They will insist
that they be allowed to name counsel
for the committee.
Members ~ the Lockwood committee
agree with Mr.. Untermyer in opposing
the boards goine ahead in this way. and
say - Is merely bluff" on the part OF
the city officials 20 cover something o.
somebody and embarrass the state in
uuiry.
What Mr. Untermyer suggested was
for the city officials to take evidence
relating to municipal contracts as fast
as II Is turned out by the Lockwood
committed, make a careful investigation
10 check up on the facts, and then be
prepared % take action
Bit instead. the Mayor and his ASSOC
ciatcs are understood 20 be preparing r.
rush into tho fields Of city contracts not
got reached by the Lockwood committee
Although the board has not the states
power Of subpoena and cannot compel
witnesses to answer, Il might hinder The
work Of the Lockwood committee by get
ting possession Of some Of the books and
records of certain branches ~ the build.
ing combinations and refusing 10 give ua
those documents 90 the Lockwood com
mittee.
Mr. Untermyer threatens 20 summon
before his committee every with. IS
called by the Board OF Estimate inves.
tigators Mr. Untern1yer warns the c.t,
officials that he viii snow no mercy Sc
rich witnesses. and esp c'ally 10 those
g. whom the officials may ~ 10 eve q
slean bill.