New-York tribune., 1920-12-17
Scheme to Fix
Wage of Steel
Workers Barred
Continued from page ene)

tContnuee from page ene)
| Fertig, secretary of the Marble Indus
try Employers Association, that he had
raid these men various sums of money
am ounting to $4,000, which he said were
in effect gratuities.
Preece admitted yesterday that he
had received 81 500 from Fertig during
the last week of September of this year
for Expenses" in connection with the
international convention at Cleveland
in October
Fertig Repeats Testimony
Fertig, however, took the stand again
and stood by his original testimony
He said he gave the international off
GERS various sums amounting to $4,000
and recollected distinctly giving Bowen
$1,000 in cash az the Park Avenue
Hotel in December last for "expenses. /"
At the same time, he said, he knew
that the expenses of these officers were
paid by their international.
He said he made other payments to
the union chief, as we'll as to Preece
and Dobson. The last named, how
ever. he exonerated, saying that while
ne had given Dobson loans of $500 and
$35O, this money was advanced as q
loan and was later returned by Dobson.
With respect to the payments to Preec q
and Bowen, he said they were gif IS.
Inc hrst payments to these men, he
said, were voluntary, but the latter
gifts "for expenses" were in compli-
ance with requests
Our expenses are heavy" is the way
Fertig said they put in their bids for
cash.
Dobson, who was the first to take
the stand, denied he had received any
money from the employers, and said
that all expenses for trips to this city
nad been paid by the International He
mad learned. however, he said. that
Preece had taken $500 for convention
expenses.
Bowen, whose salary is $4,000 a
year, said that Fertig's testimony was
absolutely false" adding: II have
never in my life, or in our association
with each other, received any cash from
him." viz
Endorsed "Code Of Practice"
While trying to show that his inter-
national was not involved in the unions
refusal to give certain contractors
union labor because of their refusal to
JOIN the Marble Industry EMPLOYERS
Assoclatlon he admitted the inlerna
elonal lndorsed the "code of practice"
of the National Association Of Marble
Dealers.
This code compels builders to accept
the lowest bid of its members under
penalty of withdrawal of union labor.
preece said he used The $500 "for
refreshments and the entertainment of
ms fr ends" at the Cleveland conven-
tlon. lie said the money was not given
to purchase votes, as the campaigning
ended two months before that date.
"ANd Won NiI,,,t +b;~l, ~
thing improper in you, as vice-presi
dent of an international labor union.
taking $1,000 from an officer of the en-
ployers' association" ?" asked Mr.. Inter
myer.
Not Conscience Stricken
Not in the way that Fertig put it
20 me. He said that had many friends
'mong the contractors and that thew
we're getting together little pot for
me-" replied Preccc.
And you weren't conscience
stricken ?"
''Well, the money answered the pur-
,ose very we'll"
he United States Steel Corporation
md the National Erectors' Association
we're working in conjunction was placed !
n evidence by Mr., Untermyer during
he examination Of Cheney The letter
vas from John w. Bouchet, former
manager of the association at Pitts
'urgh, to Mr.. Cheney, reporting
meeting of the executive committee in
'ittsburgh in December, 1916.
The letter said that at this meeting
he executive committee arpointod a
ommittee to see the officers of the
United States Steel Corpol alton to ar
ange fer notification of the associa-
ion before the corporation made any
hangeA in the rate Of wages on cree
ion work.
Mr.. Drew was to see Ebert II. Gary
lead of the corporation, in the matter
The committee also approved the me-,
wage rate of the c0rnoration whic'
vas to go into effect January I, 1917
Alleged False Records
Cheney admitted he had made no
cccrds in the minute book of the asso-
iation Of the meeting, although Drew