New-York tribune., 1920-11-09
Estimate Board Calls ON
Lockwood Committee
for Conference on Ques-
ton Of Canceling Them
All Fraudulent,
Unter1nyer Says
Backer Enters Not Guilty
Plea to Perjury Charge;
Gives $4,000 Bond

Mayor Hylan has in effect asked
.he Lockwood committee for a show
down in connection with the charges
of its counsel that thc Mayor has
delayed in canccling contracts for
schoolhouses and other city improve
noents. said to have been based on
collusive bidding.
The Mayor insisted that he had
instructed the proper department
heads to make immediate investiga-
ton of the matter, but that no evil
dence had so far been adduced which
would warrant any action. At a
special meeting of the Board of Es-
innate and Apportionment yesterday
the Mayor had resolution adopted
asking the Lockwood committee for a
conference on the advisability of I'M
mediately canceling all contracts for
the erection of new schools and other
public improvements.
When this was brought to the at
tention Of Samuel Untermyer, the COM
mittee's counsel, he said he would be
at any time and that his only motive
was to save the city from being
uulcted 1t was also intmated else
where that the committee would be
prepared to lay before the Mayor and
he Board Of Estimate the evidence on
the basis Of which the contracts i'll
question could be at once nullifed.
Backer Pleads Not Guilty
Another development Of the day in
the committees attack on the alleged
builaing material trust was the ar
raignmeNt Of George s. Backcr, the
millionaire builder Of 1877 Riverside
Drive, who was indicted on a charge
Of perjury in his testimony before the
committee. Backer appeared before
Judge Mulqueen IN General Sessions
with q battery OF we'll known lawyers
He pleaded not guilty to the charge
ard. despite the strenuous objections
of Mr.. Uutermyer, obtained a dclayvof
week for motions. His bail OF S25 600
was continned
An cxams-Ation Of the city records
shows that the contracts for all kinds
of improvements within the last eigh-
teen months amount to So ,594 sol, of
which Sl4l30. .252 has been paid The
school contracts amount to ST., ,S27 ,3l9,
upon which about $4,000, 600 has been
paid. All Of these contracts were sent
last night BY Comptroller Craig to Mr.
untermyer for his scrutiny.
In addition Commissioner Of Ac-
counts Hirshtield has submitted TO the
committees counsel an affidavit made
b. Dennis f. Nonnors, a contractor in
Large of public school repair work.
In letter which accompanied the at
leld made public he said: "Erom the
affidavit you viii see that Connors
spears tat he paid various sums Of
money ~ various persons, including
iaDor union delegates, and judging
from my previous experience with you
II occurred TO ne that you would pre-
Ter to examine the various persons
mentioned in Mr.. Connors's affidavit"
The affidavit is said to have been OBJ
talned by DR.. John A. Ferguson, Com
missioner Of the Board of Education.
Combinations Alleged
Members of the Lockwood committee
point out that they will have little
trouble IN proving that the school con-
tracts were fraudulent. They referred
10 the testimony of Arthur Greenfe eld,
mead Of the Metallic Lathers and Fur
f'rs Employers Assoc iation, in the
course Of which he virtually admitted
price liking for school work.
IN addition, nearly all contractors
mat did plumbing, furnished cut stone
or installed heating and ventilatinr
systems We're members Of Hettrick's 5
,Code Of Practice" combination. Com
ntnatlons OF dealers in brick, terra
GOTTA, glass and other materials used
n school construction have also been
IN order that no time might be lost
81 es'aoiishing the status of all con-
''ac'S Assistant Corporation Counsel
'Contoued on paas eishtscn)