New-York tribune., 1920-11-15
Unternyer to
List Suspicious
City Contracts
$l.876.139 i'm % School
Awards Involved in Data
To Be Given the Board
of Estimate TODAY
Plot to Cloud the Issue
Will Fight Backer's Effort
to Have Housing Inquiry
Outlawed by Court

Outlawed by Court t
When the Lockwood committee in
vestigating the building industry con-
fers with the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment this morning on the
matter OF alleged fraudulent city con-
tracts, Samuel Untermyer, the commit
tees counsel, Will submit to the board
q preliminary lis, of suspicious con-
tracts for its investigation.
These contracts cover work on twen-
ty-eight schoolhouses 81 an aggregate
cost Of $1.S76.l39. of which $575 1O0.11
had been paid out up to November Of
this year. The contracts were let under
the December so, 1918, appropriation
of S2062,5 500, and included expenses
for heating and ventilatng apparatus,
plumbing, sanitary appliances, electric
plants and other equipment in these
schools. The names Of most of the
firms who did the work are said by
members of the Lockwood committee
10 have been in the little Red Book of
john T. Hettrick, the lawyer head of
the Code of Practice group of contrac-
tors.
The contracts in question range from
$4,000 to Sl55,994 and affect the fol-
lowing schoolhouses: No. 81, the
Bronx; No g. the Bronx; Nos. 1853, 20,
1872, 80. 20, 100, 144, os, 81 and % in
Brooklyn; Bryant High School in
Queens; Nos. and SO in Queens; No.
IL, in Richmond, and Nos. S3 and 130
in Manhattan.
Mr.. Untermyer already has made it
plain that the Lockwood committee
under no circumstances would under
"a 70 int oil ho
worth of outstanding city contracts,
eontending that that is entirely within
the jurisdiction of the various city de-
paltments. In addition, the immense
amount of work entailed would side
track the committees activities and
take it away from the housing inquiry,
Tor which purpose it was primarily
created.
1t Is sthe purpose of this mornings
conference TO devise some plan prop
erly to safeguard the city's interest IS
and to scrutinize all contracts under
suspicion. There have been intima-
tions that certain forces are at wor:,
trying to shift the responsibility for
his phase of the inquiry onto the
shoulders of the Lockwood Committee
in an effort to so clog its wheels that
very little time or energy would re-
main for its moro pertinent duties.
Any pressure in this direction at this
mornings meeting, ii was SAID, will be
vigorously fought
At noon to-day Mr.. Untcrmyer viii
also appear before Judge Muloueen
and argue the motion Of counsel for
George : Backcr that his case be dis
missed on the ground that tho powers
Of the Lockwood Joint Legislative Com
mittec ceased when the Legislature
from which it obtained its authority
adjourned Backcr is a millionaire
builder who was indicted for perjury
in connection with the inquiry. having
told alleged conflicting stories on the
witness stand of the disposal Of s25, 900
SAID TO have been paid TO Robert P.
Rrlndcll TO call off strike
If Backer's counsel succeeds in his
motion it would put an end to the in
quily and render invalid III the work
50 far accomplished by the committee
4 is Untelmyer's contention that the
eommittee's powers continue during the
life of the present administration.
1t is announced that another lawyer
has been added to the legal forces or
the committee handling the criminal
phases OF the investigation. He is
Kenneth Spence. of so Wall Street.
Mr.. Spence was formerly Assistant
United States District Attorney and
has had wide experience in handling
criminal cases. Mr.. Untern,yer in
tends to obtain from six to eight more
well-knoWn lawyers to assist in han
ding the numerous criminal prosecu-
tlons expected to grow out of the in
quiry. 1t is the intention of the
committees counsel to be careful in
obtaining indictments and then to push
fol carly and quick trials, with several
proceedings going on at the same time,
Il Mr. Untermyer wins his point in the
Backer case the trial will begin about
a week later.
William Znrenko head of the House.
wreckcrs Union, Local No 95. Inter
national Hod Carriers, Building and
Common Laborers of America, made
public letter which he sent yester.
day TO Samuel Gompers, president OF
the American Federation of Labor
complaining of the activities of Brin.
oell in attempting to break up his or
ganlzatlon and requesting that he be
thrown out Of the labor movement.
IarenHo describes how Brndell il
said to have been prosecuting tn,
$500 men of zarenko's union because
OF their refusal to join Brindcll's
Building Trades Council
He concludes: "The riddance from
the labor movement of the whole dirt,
crew, that have been q constant mock
cry to our ideals and claims. is nov
within your reach, and at leas. 1906
workers in the house -wrecking indus
try will then be rendered Justice ano
delivered from the severest despotisn
that has ever plagued union men i,
New York City"