The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-09

non-union labor, Mr.. Horowitz testified
The steel barons will not sell to builders.
even like the Thompson-Starrett Com
pany, unless II Is agreed to erect the
material under s0-called open shop con-
ditions, he said.
This subject was only touched upon
lightly. Mr.. Untermyer explaining ne In
tended going thoroughly into every phase
OF II next week when Mr.. Horowitz will
be recalled This phase Of the inquiry
may cover two OF three full days and q
mass OF evidence IL 20 be offered on the
subject
Experiences of HIS Company.
Summarizing and verifying much Of
the evidence that has been given over
a period of five weeks concerning com
binatlons OF denlers In nearly every
line OF the building industry. Mr.. Horo.
witz related the experiences of his own
company. He said that his cone ern
does a SIS, 000. 600 business, and in every
branch. at every corner and every floor
OF every structure he has attempted
to build in recent years he has en-
countered the Illicit combinations and
the dish nest Individuals, all seeking
10 hold up the builder for excessive
profit The result always has been ex.
pressed In higher cost OF building. That
meant only one thing-higher rent.
In almost every detail Mr. Horowitz
was substantiated by James A. Mears.
ce-presldent-pf the Fred T. Ley Com
pany, concern doing about s15.0C0.O 600
worth OF building here annually. and
A. 4. Whitney. president of the Whit
ney Company, which has erected re-
Gently big bank buildings, the Borden
and Zeigier residences and many other
high class structures:
These builders. among the biggest in
the business, are weary of the endless
imposition on their industry by self
appointed and dishonest masters. and
they affirmed they welcomed any move.
ment which would free the trade and
open to honest competition and
greater activity. Endless grating In
combination with profiteerinS is kilHnS
building. they testified.
Mr. Hon owitx took up q series OF con-
tracts covering the bidding and cost OF
sand, stone, lime, csment and other ma
teriais. In the list of buildings are the
Ambassador Hotel, the 800 Park Ave
nue. Building, a structure at Park ave-
nue. and Fifty-second street and the
Strauss Building, Fifth avenue anc
Forty sixth sti Get
II was In a discussion of the goo Park
Avenue Building contract that the VIII
ness gave testimony which caused tbs
committee 20 sit up and start hguring
over again on the Court House pros"
pective" profits.
Explanation by witness.
Asked to explain the papers. Mr..
Horowitz said:
THE fret statement deals with the
method of dlsposing OF the limestone
for the No. 800 Park Avenue But ding.
We took no estimate on II. because we
knew 1t was futile. SO we went TO In
diana and bought the material and
brought the material on here and Sc
lected a contractor. We selected Will
lam Bradley & Son to do the work on
the basic OF actual cost plus fixed fee
to exceed $4,000. The cost was 1925
per cube foot put In place That was
Septe mber Of this year"
You know that the Court House peo-
pie had In an estimate for $s7' asked
Mr.. Untermyer.
THAT is what we would have had had
we taken bids In the same manner"
"But you were able TO go to the
quarry and get the goods and then con-
tract to have the stone cut and set and
this is the result?"
yes: II we are able 20 get away
from the ring and squeeze out all that IS
indecent graft, then we can buy stun
at a favorable price"
''How does II happen you were abs
TO go over the heads OF the contractor.
md dealers here in limestone and reach
the ouarrymen direct?"
fafl re 10 ~,
Bradley & Son TO the quarry and nom
inally he bought the limestone. There
g nothing in their association prevent
ing any man taking job at any price
he pleases. The control is when COM
petltive figures are asked for. There
fore, we have act away from comp IT,
tive figures where this condition existed
We knew that to ask competitive esti-
mates would be farce and would sim
ply give an excuse to a lot Of them 10
add to the estimates enough money to
div De among themselves. according TO
our figures"
"The International Cut stone Associa-
ton. you know Of them. don't your"
They are just as bad, sir"
do you know what that IL rnade up
or"
YES. Il In made up Of manufacturers
or fabrics tors Of limestone OF quarries
ooated in Tndiana--at the quarry"
''It Is made UP Of the quarrymen.
and is not each local association also
represented In the membership Of the
internationally
Composition of Membershfp.
at is chiefly made up of members
who manufacture the limestone. There
are aorne manufacturers of limestone
who do not own their quarries."
do you know whether nose ASSOC
Citations are also members of the inter-
nationslT'
Perhaps. The control here IL that
in New York you cannot set limestone
unless II Is cut in this district"
The witness said his firm supplied
the limestone for the big General Motors
Building In Detroit. He was asked how
the blocks OF stone for that structure
compared with those specified for the
Court House in New York and sRid the