New-York tribune., 1920-12-02
Building Ring
Fixed Prices
OF Materials
Continues frun paae onel

CONTINUED frum paae one,
the city, not single application was re-
ceived for the sand, he said
Aftcr twelve local dealers had refused
to touch the valuable material, the Nun.
son Lines, according to the Witness was
forced to load the sand on a barge and
carry 1t out to sea, where it was
dumped
The sand at market prices was worth
$1,50O.
Hettrick Employees Testify
During the progress of the commit
tees hearing, it was learned that six
employees of John T. Hett1ick, alleged
promoter Of the limestone ring, were
examined by the raordinary grand
jury yesterday. No indictments, how
ever, were handed down by this body.
An effort was made to get line on
the brick situation from Wright D.
Goss, president of the Empire Brick
and Supply Company. Mr.. Goss con-
tributed little information Of value, but
better results are expected after proc
ess servers have hubpoenaed a number
of Hudson Valley brick manufacturers,
who are alleged to comprise the brick
trust. Many manufacturers have been
tee this morning with their books and
records
The session was again marked with
the persistent refusal Of members Of
the Builders Supply Bureau to answer
'he most lnconseQuential questions in
connection with the bureaus Goings.
on the ground that it might degrade or
lncrlminatc them. As a result. John
4. Philbrick. Of John A. Philbrick q
bro.' was twice cited in contempt. Goss
was cited similarly four t:mcs. Phil
orick was clted six times on Tuesday,
Steele's testimony in connection with
the operation of the bureau fell ike
a pombshell among the assembled mem
ocrs ol the bureau, who had been
SupP"naed 10 appear before the com
mltteo. The Lockwood Investigators
had almost given UP hope of forcing
any one connected with the orgnniza-
'oh TO say anything about it,
Steele an Ex-Armv Man
Steele was formerly connected with
the STANDARD Supply Bureau but lcff
tnat firm in 1918 to Join the army,
where he was 3 major in the ordnance
department. He said he was one of
the founders of the bureau. which he
declared was organized in 1917 after
meetings at the Murray Hill Hotel,
ne uniformity of price that followed
SIX weeks after the bureaus organlza-
ton, he said, developed from a card
system, whereby members fled quota
tons with the bureau. where they were
accessible to other members. This card
SYSTEM, through which 1t was alleged
the dealers in building materials could
match bids, was in The care of Miss
O'Dca. he said
W hen asked if the cards used were
similar to those in Hettrick's code OF
practice scheme Steele was unable 10
say. Members of the bureau. ne tcsti- I
ned, had to pay an initiation fee OF
81 900 and assessments of 5000 and
$500, levied quarterly, TO cover exnen-
dltures of the bureau There we're
fourteen members.
The members met weekly. he said,
and could go over the various estimate
cards lying on a table in the Office.
II was possible also, he said for mem
oers to phone in and ask what est
mates had been sent in by other Nom
bers and that it was Miss ODea's
duty to tell them. When the bids
reached the contractors, he asserted,
hey were generally uniform.
A Bureau in Brooklyn
Questioned with reference to Ma
SAID it was an organization on the
'rder Of the Builders Supply Bureau.
iS member os ,he Association of
Dealers in Masons' Building Material,
rs firm. he said, received weekly
printed quotations from the associa-
ion, which each member was expected
% maintain. Cement prices were SINH
ar throughout the United States, he
declared. No dealer who was not a
member of the association could OBJ
ain cement from the regular chan
lels, he said.
Steele testified that the organization
81 the Builders Supply Bureau was
'uggestod BY John B. Kane, 4 member
of the bureau. "There were two or
-hree dealers who thought it would be
a good idea if estimates were dis
,ussed before supplies were furnished
20 contractors,' said Steele Kane to
he best Of my recollection, made the
irst suggestion. He SAID he lad con-
suited counsel and had been informed
that there was 40 iiicgality in filing
quotation slips with the bureau
"lsn't it strangc.' commented NV.
Jntermyer. that there is no mention
II the card system in the minute books
If the meetings Of the bureau ?"
isn't is true, Mr. Steele,' asked the