New-York tribune., 1920-11-13

Snyder on the stand yesterday insist
ed that the decision had been made on
J1nrarg 23, 1919, and that the action
was taken because it was thought the
superior quality of limestone over terra
Gotta WAS worth the extra money. lie
said the difference in the price of the
two materials amounted to only $4,000
building. This was denied by Mr..
'ntermyer. who said that instead of
the front of a building being only about
| per cent of the cost Of a structure.
It is 10, Is and as high as 30 per cent
of the entire cost of the structure
The latest contractor who tcstifies to
giving up money to Brindell is Hugh S.
Robertson, of Todd, Irons & Robertson.
building contracting firm of this city.
he said he gave S32 600 to Brindell in
five payments between March 23 and
October IA Of this year, He asserted
that Brindell referred TO the money as
strike Insurance"
Robertson says the money was part
payment on an agreement to give the
labor leader s50,ooO for protection
against strikes. Te said his firm had
contracts for dock work and the Cunard
Building amounting to from $50, 900 600
70 $40 900 O00. and that it wanted to be
free Of all troubles on thase operations.
The builder said the money was not
only for prevention against strikes, but
for a "lor Of information as to future
labor conditions"
Robertson declares he made the first
payment on March 23.
Following dinner at the Commo-
dore Hotel, he said, the labor leader
took him in an automobile 10 his Office
lust before he got out, he said, he laid
$40 900 on the seat beside Brindell,
saying at the same time;
10 ret ~
count The money. nc says, was in
$1,000 and $500 bills.
Makes Second Payment
About May :, after another luncheon
with Brindell at the same hotel, he
said he rode s~oGud tho block in the
same car with Brndell and. alightng
at Fortietn Street and Park Avenue,
left S6.l19 on the seat as he got out
of the machine romarkiug:
Here is the second payment on
account"
The third payment Of $3,s5l was
made on May II, he said, on the first
ioor Of the Guaranty Trust Building.
Two more payments Of $1,000 each
we're made, ne testified, one on Septem-
Der II and the other on October a.
These last two, he said, we're made
under the same circumstances as the
'liNt Two.
Nh Untcrmyer suggested that in
view OF has agreement he was about
$4,000 Shy Yet.
YES replied Robertson
Are you going TO stay shy
Il hope So
Robertson said the checks drawn 10
pay Brindell had been charged TO pre-
llminary expenses and that the amounts
were added 70 the contract figures. He
said the york his firm was doing Wa
on a cost Plus basis and thaA the
constructors had 20 foot the bill.
Wanted Brindeli's Friendship
When asked why he had sought Brin-
dell and the circumstances of meeting
aim, he SAID
eve had strike on the Cunard
Building in course of construction and
then discovered that Brindel was
cutie power in the labor world and
] wanted his friendship. | mentioned
The fact that We had the big docks
coming on the New Jersey side and
invited him to look at the plans
It was while viewing the plans.
thc witness said, that Rrindell suggest
hing if strike insurance could he got
fon so there would not be any strike
on tho Jobs WITH the view of get
ing protection on the Cunard work
Robertson said he negotiated with Brln-
dell on several occasions and that
Rrindell had given him great deal
Of valuab' e information.
Il net him on the third floor Of the
Guaranty Trust Building,' Robertson
continued "on March %. aud suggested
that il would be nice thing to- get the
labor question -traightened out. He
quoted $50 600 for strike insurance. I
.nggestcA | would need his alvice on
many tabor questions. | asked hlm
how he wanted the money. lie wanted
500 oo0 Immediately and the rest at his
request. but was to use my Judgment
! offered $4,000, but he SAID he needed
100000 right away.
Lef; $4,000 in Automobile
J saw him at tae Commodore the
next day, and he drove me back after
luncheon 90 his Office. Just before !
cot out Of the car | left the $4,000 on
he seat next to him. saying. a. left.
'Uerc's ~ur hlst payment ON account
Among the valuable bats of in
formation he said Rrindoll gave him
was That there would bo no rise in the
wages Of labor for 1890 bat that there
would bo rise early in 1921. He eN
planned the odd sums handed over bv
asserting tnat it was done 10 focl the
hooAkeeper OF the firm. so that nothing
would he suspected.
u want 20 say this about the mat
ter concluded Robertson. Eve agreed
to give IA the $50 00o and he has been
of assistance to us in cur work.
The Nuyof prefaced that part Of his
statement when counsel for the com
mittec permitted him to road with
some remarks about thc headlines re
ferrlug to him in The Tribune aud
The lerald Of yesterday morning.
an this mornings Tribunc.' he said
there appears the following headline;
'iylan Admits Altering $4,000 00t
Scnoo Bids at Request Of .ttrick
desire 20 brand this "A vicious and de-
li0er4to faisehood. In The New York
Herald the following headline appears
Terra Gotta School Contracts InYolN-
ing $4,000 ,oo0 Changed by Board oi
Education After Receipt o. tylan LcI-
,er' This also is Il malicious, false an(
untrue statement.
"Thc records OF the Board OF Educa-
ION viii prove this to be = deliberat {,
and malicious attempt to mislcad th'
people Of the citY. and submit The
Following official correspondence t'
substantiatc tni> statement.
Letter to SNYDER Read
The Mayor here read Il letter wh,cl
81 css - :: g: = 81, i, f, e =, s.