The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-13
II. s. Robertson, With $780,
100000 Pier Job, Was Gil
ent of LabOr's Master
GOT SECRETS OF UNION
Paid $4,000 Of Large Fee
and Calls Price Cheap for
Preventing Losses.
SNYDER DEFENDS MAYOR
School Specifications Changed
to Limestone Before Hettrick
Letter Was Sent.

Letter was Sent.
The building inquiry developed into
turbulent session in City Hall yes
terday when Mayor Hylan and Samuel
Cntermyer, chief counsel for the Lock
wood committee, clashed repeatedly in
their controversy over city contracts.
Denouncing the committees proceed
ings as unfair, the Mayor fought fol
hours to break down attacks aimed AT
him.
Then the committee suddenly
switched its investigation from munic
! ipal affaiys back to Robert L. Brin
dell, head of the Building Trades
| Council. Hugh $. Robertson of Todd.
Robertson & Todd. builders and con
tractors, was called to the stand
for the last twenty minutes of the
hearing and testified to having paid
| $50, 900 on n $4,000 retainer 10 Brin-
dell as strike insurance and for ad-
vance information regarding wage in
creases which the labor king" in
tended to impose on New York. The
money was left in bills on n seat In
! Brindel's automobile, the witness said.
Bitterness marked each step in the
fight between the Mayor and Mr.. Tn
termyer. and the crowd which packed
every corner of the Council Chamber
had a series of thrills ending in the
Brindell sensation.
Mayor Alleges Unfairne-s.
The Mayor charged that he had
been treated unfairly, that Mr.. Inter
myer had sought by inference to
create an entirely wrong impression
IN the public mind Of Mr.. Hylans ac-
tivities. He protested that contracts
for public schools were not changed
or altered as a result of his sending
out as his own the letter drafted by
John T. Hettrick. agent of the lime
stone ring The letter was issued
from City Hail on February 8, 1919
and the Mayor contcnded that the
Board of Education changed the
specifications from terra Gotta 10
limestone in the later part Of January
Mr. Untermyer produced a series o.
letters from the Board Of Education
files written by school officials to one
another and 20 tho Mayor. and souGh.
to establish as a fact that the lime
stone ring which the Mayor admitted
fooled and tricked him. had carried on
an organized crusade to bring about
the change and that the alteration OF
specifications was not completed until
some time in March last year. The
concerted fight for limestone was con-
tinuous over many weeks, the chief
counsel insisted
Denied tho right 70 read a statement
he had prepared. the Mayor issued II
from his Office. That provoked sharp
criticism from Mr. Cntermyer. who
said it was discourteous to the com
mittee.
Morning Meeting Ends in Row.
IN his position as Mayor Mr.. Hylan
insisted he had q right to read state
ments. lie wanted to spread on the
record letter received yesterday from
G.. p. ]. Snyder. Superintendent o,
! School Buildings. The Mayor had no
more right than any other citizen, Mr..
Cntermyer contended. and the commit
tee upheld him. Then tho Mayor de-
manded that Mr.. Snyder be called as
witness and he was called at the after
noon session, after the brief morning
meeting had broken up IN a row.
Sustaining tho Mayors contention NJ,
Snyder testified that tho change 'I
specifications 70 limestone was made IN
January 1919. and without knowieds
Of limestone combination. He deuics
\ having acted under instructions COR
\ tanned IN tho Hettrick letter. as copied
" the Mayor. Mr.. Cntermyer read
bheaf OF correspondence All dealing WI
The limestone controversy. and INSISTED
I there was no record 90 show that tir
| change in specifications was maic untI
after the Mayors lettcr was sent out
/ II fact he reread lines from the lettcrr
/ tending 60 uphold hif contention the
the terra Gotta was thrown out Ions
af,er the Mayors letter was Issued.
] William j. Bryan had called at City
\ Ifall TO SEQ the Mayor Mr. Hylan had
/ just finished a lively tilt with Mr.. I'm
\ termyer when Nlr Bryan entered N
/ chamber and was invited TO a seat 9a
/ the rostrtm with the committee.
/ Mr.. fIylan went up and sat beside NJ.
\ Bryan. At tho close OF Mr.. Snyder
/ testimony the Mayor rose and again de
uandod the privilege Of asking soms
\ at stions Of the witness. Mr. Cnter-
uycr refused 90 allow tho questioning
ard appealed 20 the committee. rio wa
I 81 stained. The counsel told the Mayor
u,at if Re would walk down 20 the coup.
eel table ard make known what ru
wanted asked the questions wou,l
be put Tho crowd chcored Tor thc
Mayor and Senator Lockwood dcmsndsj
orCer.
The strain broke IN about q ulputs