New-York tribune., 1920-10-14
Senators Near
Blows, Pass Lie
In Price w ar
i'unnigan Calls Abeles Liar
and Faker in Row Over
Counsel for State Inauiry
of Building Material Rates
Coat Is Shed, Fight Ends
Samuel Untermyer May Take
Part i'll the Investigation
OF the Alleged Conspiracy

Samuel Untermver, who CHARGED re.
Gently there vas conspiracy among
manv 'actrrcrs and dealers in bc ......:ne
materials to maintain prices at arti-
iically high levels, will be associate
counsel to the Joint Legislative Com
mittee on Housing in its investigation
into the alleged conspiracy. This was
assured last night when Mr.. Inter
nyer replied to letter received from
Senator Charles c. Lockwood, chairman
of the committee a conference be-
tween Mr.. Untermyer and the com
mittee will be held to arrange final de-
tails before work commences.
This action came as climax to a
stormy meeting of the committee YES
terday afternoon in the Bar Association
rooms and clears up the deadlock which
has rendered the committee inactive
through inability to obtain services of
associate counsel.
The meeting yesterday developed into
bitter wordy duel between Senators
John ]. Dunnigan and Peter A. Abeles.
which at one moment threatened to
lead to blows This fight came during
a discussion on Mr.. Utermyer's letter
announcing the conditions under which
he would agree to serve as the com
mlttee's associate counsel. One of the
Senators was accused Of issuing an un-
authorized account of ehe last meeting
of the committee.
Calls Abeles Liar and Faker
The trouble arose when Senator
Dunnigan jumped angrily to his feet
and pointing at Senator Abeles, said:
when you said that we didn't agree
to support all counsel you told a damn
lie. You are trying to make votes in
your district. You are faker, and
hate d faker'
Senator Abeles promptly jumped up
from his seat and shouted back: 81
don't care how much Of liar you call
me, you are liar if you call me
liar. At the last meeting you said
that you were not going to give carte
blanche TO any COUNSEL
"That's lie" retorted Senator
Dunnigan, q never said any such
thing. You are taking it. You had
better go back to your district and tell
your people where you have stood on
the housing question. You have been
against us all the time"
The wordy battle continued for some
time, until finally Senator Dunnigan
rushed over to his adversary and said:
This is the first committee | ever
acted on where we had skunk on it.
III say that with my coat off too"
Removes Coat to Fight
Suiting action to his words, Senator
Dunngan began to remove his coat,
and it looked for a moment as though
the two Senators would debate under
the Marquis of Queensberry rules.
Cooler members of the committee, how
ever. prevailed upon the two and
possible Senatorial pugilistic decision
was lost
The incident came to a rapid close
when the other Senators present took
sides with Senator Dunnigan in their
version of the previous meeting, to
which Senator Abeles replied cynically:
oh! | can see l am among friends"
throughout the controversy Senator
Lockwood refrained from any action
that would end the affair, until this
stage was reached Then he said:
The committee cannot expect to get het
services of Mr.. Untermyer or any other
eminent counsel, if YOU are going to
quarrel among yourselves like that"
tntermyer's Acceptance Terms
When a semblance of decorum had
returned to the meeting, the letter of
MIR. Untermyer announcing the terms
under which he would accept the task
was discussed. This letter will not
DC made public until to-day. From
the discussion that took place at the
meeting, however, it was ascertained
that among the conditions specified by
Mr. Untermyer were the followine:
ha hn
nesses fully himself
That during the period of his ex-
animation Of a witness no member of
the cornmttee viii interrupt with oucs