Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-11-23

pleads for mercy as Mr.. Inter
myer pins him down, tG
For Gods sake. Mr. inter
myer, don't sacrifice me on this
altar" implored one contractor
who had testified TO the Domino
ton of certain interests. you don't
want me to have my doors closed
with a million dollars worth of
business on hand, by answering
you here"
But, day after day, the investiga-
ton goes on before crowds of wit
nesses, and in seClusion a grand
jury goes over testimony from the
hearing selected for its attention.
Constantly there occurs mention
Of a code of practice" This
cryptic term crops out ever and
.aRain among charges that combi-
nations exist among building men
to restrict outputs, control prices
and choke competitor. One witness
admitted that q certain trade was
controlled the nation over by
n0 tional association.
THE Code of Practice"
Embedded in this testimony is,
"the code of practice" alleged to
have been operated by John T
Hettrick, lawyer, with several
hundred subscribers including cut
stone, plumbing. heating and ven
tiiating contractors, 1t was charg-
ed that these building men sub
mitted their bids through a central
clearing house and the work was
apportioned.
Through the "code" clients were
numbered and colored cards were
mailed them notifying them of the
status of their bids. Production of
the key sheets to the mysterious
card system was one of the sensa-
tons of the investigation. Mr..
Hettrick charging that the cards
and other data had been stolen
from his mail.
Witnesses testified that thou
sands Of dollars were paid by
clients to Hettrick under the
"code" and that large insurance
fund" was maintained by the vari-
Gus building groups. the purpose
OF which has not been explained.
Running along with the charges
that under the code" competitive
bidding was throttled. was testi- !
mony by various witnesses of pay !
ments involving thousands Of dol !
lars to Robert p. Brindell, presi- |
dent of the Building Trades Coun-
Gil. and his walking delegates.
Brindell, who testified that he
rad been employed as a drug clerk |
at Providence, r. l.. eight years |
ago, is one of the highest paid !
10 Dor leaders in the United States |
and has been described by wit
nesses as a "king," riding con- |
tractors with a high hand. He has
publicly denied the charges but has |
declined to return to the witness |
stand after one appeara0"e. at !
which time he objected to being /
questioned as to his personal life" |
Brindell i'm Full Control.
According to witnesses, Brindell |
had absolute control over the u.s. |
900 union men in the Building |
Trades Council and could strike"
n lob at any time IL the contractor |
did not meet his demands. one
witness declared that the labor
leader figured $1,000 floor for
himself on construction Job. On
several occasions it was testified
that Brindell had declined to take
$500 or smaller amounts offered
him with the statement that he
was mo piker,"
One housewrecking contractor
declared that his "million dollar
business had been ruined when
he refused to pay tribute.
Throughout. the hearings have
heen marked by sharp clashes be-
tween Mr.. Untermyer and certain
witnesses, including Hettrick. who
was declared in contempt and his
offices raided for documents which
he had declined to produce.
Is Aiding Cause of Labor.
Mr.. Tntermyer in a statement
had declared that he is not war
ring on the American Federation
of Labor adding that in driving
out the "vulture" he was rendering
the labor cause "the greatest as
sstance,"
Several times during the investi-
CATION, Mr.. Untermyer has com
planned of obstacles placed In the
path of the investigation and as
serted that important witnesses
could not be found by subpoena
servers. Although it is not sum-
mer," he said, summer resorts
outside the state seem to be quite
popular"
!, r-l n Fl 1l@l DIH