The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-23

Z / ~ -
cents TO one would probably in
! crease postal revenue.
I objected to the committee receiving the
7 statement Mr.. UConnor began telling
/ of the meeting yesterday of organized
/ labor in opposition TO the inquiry.
/ Il won't allow you to make any state
/ rnent like that" Senator Lockwood said.
i'-if Brindeli wants 20 come here and
make a statement let bin take the
stand"
( Reviewing the proceedings OF other
Legislative and Congress committees.
I Mr., Untermyer said this legislative body
was being particularly fair to any one
named and added that notice was sent
I yesterday to Brindell that his name was
! 20 be brought in and offering him an
/ opportunity 10 be heard In his defence.
"IIe would have been here II the letter
sent yesterday had not been delayed
purposely," O'Connor said.
That is a slur on this committee. /
4 Z SIX O'Connor to take the witness stand
Cntermyer said.
Lawyer Dehes Untermyer.
II refuse now or at any other time to
take the stand. and will test your right
to subpoena me-" O'Connor said
This man gave out statement last
4 right in the nature of threat to the
newspapers that they would have labor
trouble If they dared print what hap
pened here" Unternyer continued.
4 IF he did not mean that he ought to
90 on the stand and under oath say so.
Nobody Is going 10 be permitted to In
suit the committee or Its proceedings.
] now. Mr. O'Connor, ask you TO take the
4 stand. I ask the chairman to direct MN
TO take the witness stand
O'Connor refused and said;
"I refuse TO take the witness stand
7 and deny the false statements made oy
counsel for the committee. l stand on
my constitutional rights against any
Rus sian inquisitIon such as Is pelng
practised by counsel for this commute
toward the witnesses who are on ms
stand" -
4 0connor's attitude was defiant. He
/. asked whether the committee purposed
Using physical force to make him tes-
tify. Senator Lockwood said there was
no such intention, and O'Connor lett the
room.
When he was out of the chamber Mr.
OConnor handed out the statement
which the committee had declined to ac-
cent. Therein Brindell said the tesu-
u.ony of Levy and Backer rs anso-
lutely hearsay and Illegally produced
from improper motives as typical OF the
methods of the counsel employed by the
ycomm!ttee."
statement Issued by Brtnden.
3 10 quoted from the testimony given
hy the two, and continued:
IF 1t has come to such pass .nas W
public hearing before hundreds or
naonla s,,ch an attack can be made on
n5,rely hearsay evidence II is time that
some stems should be taken to prevent
ouch rank and outrageous. inuuisllions.
n Is the duty of this committee, II they
believe any crime has been commit'eu
ty me or anybody else. to present such
evidence as they have at once 20 .he
presecuting attorney. l welcome an m
, vestigation.
, s.,This committee was appointed Tor the
nurpose of Investigating alleged COM
hines between material, men Wnlcn IN
creased the cost of housing, and imme-
diately after choosing their ss nse
whom, I am informed, is vitality sahtes-
ested fina ncially in such supplies ana ma,
; terial as the Otis Elevator Company anu
3atbIahem steel. They proceeded to
start an attack on organized LABOR mop
! ing TO switch the inquiry from the ma
. tnrIal men 20 labor. Organized ianor pe'
. Iteves that such a method has been IN
stigated by the real estate interests OF
, TIE CITY OF New York and the poiiuers
Not one iota OF testimony has been pro-
duccd or sought along the line for whicf
the committee was appointed. cnai'
lanae any man. real estate operator
buIlder. employer or employee, to prove
before a court OF justice that ever tool
, one dollar in my life from an employer
, OF labor"
Milton Schnaicr. head OF the contract
ing corporation by that name. or zo'
West Seventy-sixth street. said MS pusi
ness amounted TO about Sl,O0O'e0o =
wear. The first he heard about Hettricl
was when he had a telephone call iron
: Mr. Knight suggesting that he go U
: the LAWYERS office The idea was tina
Hettrick had some new scheme for END
. ing abuses in the plumbing trade, IN
witness said.
: schnaier knew Of some trade agree
= monts 70 fix prices. rs in the case OF east
iron pipe Although he had FOR year
- employed counsel. he did not seek iesa
advice before going 20 Hettrick. Abou
y, twenty big plumbing contractors wer
present at the first meeting. At the TIM
there were two organizations III IN
traae-the Master Plumbers Association
which takes IN large number OF mas
I, ter plumbers. and the Contractors Plumb
ing Association of the Building Trades
rxp,afn. 5sth street Association
., what is the 5sth Street Associa
tlon?r the witness was asked.
- "That Is an association composed o
r. licensed master plumbers. the majorit
q OF whom do small contract Jobbing an
plumbing work"
a IAN members of the Master Plumber
- Association are IN that Ssth Street or
panization?" Correct, SIR
How large an organization is thatI
"Nhout 4g5 to the best OF my Know
% edge"
/. and Is that more Of social OF
Is ganizationg' mo; we meet there I
r. discuss questions relative 70 plumbing.
Il, "yau mean the big men meet TO prs
~ tect their smaller competitorsY Nv
r. all protect one another. tho little ma
,e sometimes
a How do you do that" "Gf mer
Der complains he has not been pale, IN
IN other member takes notice OF II an
h does not do any work in that house 2
n.