New-York tribune., 1920-10-22
Ephraim B. Levy Testi-
fes at Untermyer In
quiry That Co-Between
Got Money for Brindell
Two Checks Bear
Evidence of Deal
Office of Attorney for Con,
tractors Raided Wher
He Holds Back Papers


committees investigation into t,-.
alleged building material trust -
a decidedly sensational turn ye.-za~-
day. when testimony was s5oElt--s
to the effect that a bribe Of s15,.~..
had been demanded and given to e..
off strike on building under coi.-
struction.
Ephraim B. Levy, a real estate
owner and contractor, of West
Seventy-second Street, said he gave
the bribe, and added that it was
his understanding that it went to
Robert P. Brindell, president of tho
Building Trades Council, and to "tha
committee"
Mr.. Levy testified that last Feb
ruary about one hundred and fifty
men employed on the construction OF
a building at Seventh Avenue ano
Thirtieth Street suddenly quit work.
There was no dispute over wages,
hours or working conditions.
He was given to understand, he
said, that by paying over $25 900 "to
Brindell and his committee the men
would return. He paid the money.
he testified, through George Backer,
his superintendent. who, he said.
acted as a go-between, in two install
ments of $4,000 and $4,000. The
work on the building was then re-
sumed, he said.
One of Many Sensations
Mr.. Levy's testimony was but one OF
numerous sensations in a session that
was filled with lively tits between
Samuel Untermyer, counsel for the
committee, and unwilling or evasive
Witnesses. There were also raids. false
swearing, contempt proceedings and i'll
timations that the Building Trades En-
ployers' Association practically con-
trolled the activities of the Building
Trades Council, the labor BODY headed
by Brindell.
Mr.. Untermyer made strenuous eff
forts to show that the joint operations
OF these two bodies was in a larpe
measure, if not wholly, responsible for
the many obstacles thrown in the way
of prospective builders of residential
lcuses.
The raids followed the refusal Of
John T. Hettrick, attorney for groups
of master plumbers, stone cutters and
heat and ventlating contractors. to
produce records relating to the volume
OF business done by these group
a.nrough ms office, under the so-cailed
code of practice"
The warrants were issued by Chief
Magistrate McAdoo. Armed with these
agents of the Attorney Generals of
nee vent to Eettrick's Office. IT 1e5
broadway, and the rooms of the Cut
Stone Contractors Association. at 16s
west Thirty first Street, and removed
papers and documents that filed a
truck and taxlcab. The COMMITTEES
expects to find in these papers evidence
concerning the alleged system whereby .
II is charged competition in the bnild,
ing industry has been completelv
tHrottied and high prices in the trade
maintained over a long period of time.
Hettrick in Contempt
Prior to the raid Hettrick was d.
clared in contempt by Chairman Ioce
wood upon his refusal to answer csr
tam questions put to him by Inter
hlyer and his subsequent refusal to
produce the documents demanded nv
me committees counsel Under tho
circumstances the committee had tbe
[ower to imprison Hettrick for tho
duration of the sttings, but the close
OF yesterdays session found him still
al liberty He viii appear at the hear
ing to-day
When Levy told the story involving
0,r 0i1nde'i the iatter's counsel. John j.
OConnor, leaped to his feet protestin,
against the line of questioning thu
brought his client into so unfavorable
llght and demanded that the testi
mony be stricken from the record
After much argument Levy was per-
mitted to go on with his story unon
condlton that Brindell be allowed TO
himself ''S
Levy said that in August. 1919 he
tegan the construction of a large bnild-
ing at Seventh Avenue and Tb;ytin,h
street, to cost about $1,000. 600 Not
being practical builder, he said he
put the work of experimenting the
operation into the hands of Georra
facker, for which the latter was In
receive $4,000 upon completion of the
loo. IL was a union job, he said. and
there had been no complaints on .hs
score Of wages, hours or working cond;-
tions. ~''N'-
Strike Lasted Eight Weeks
Nevertheless, on February 20 or
thereebouts, Backer. he said. told hin,
that nearly all the men, with the e1-
certion Of the steel workers had
struck: The men were out about six
or eight weeks and they returned a,
the end Of that time upon his pay
neht OF S2o,oOo ITO Brlndeil and his
committee" Levy said.
He said that checks for this amour.
were drawn TO his own order on the Co.
lumbia Bank. one for $4,000 and sn,
other Tor $4,000, and that the actual
cash was handed TO Backer Tn
money, he said, was in $500 and $1,000
bills ~-'0V'
Mr.. Backer informed me that ma