New-York tribune., 1920-12-07

demand will not be allowed to go un-
answered"
The committees counsel takes an
other dig at the boards "dreary farce
N asking contractors if they were
guilty of colluston in bidding on city
contracts, and points out that Cor
poration Counsel O'Brien has entirely
overlooked some heating, limestone
and sandstone contracts affecting GER
tain schools and Wards Island, "all
bearing the most conclusive evidence
OF matched and collusive bidding"
Mr. Untermyer's letter, after quot
ing his earlier letter to the board
reads:
Il desire now TO know whether this
suggestion was formally put before
the board and il so. what, if any
action was taken upon it. The board
may rest assured that this demand
VIII not be allowed to GO unanswered
Mr.. Whalen and his firm and any
contractor who dumped ashes into the
courthouse site Will have to repay the
city the cost OF their removal. which
the city is now paying for st the exor-
bitant price Of S5.70 per load under a
contract that should have been cam
ccled when the other contracts re-
garding the courthouse site were an
nulled.
"Permit me to suggest that the pros
ecution Of these suits be placed in
the hands of vour special counsel
Meier Steinbrink. who can be relied
upon to see to it that the suits viii
not be allowed to die and that the
city's rights viii be safeguarded Every
100000 saved to the city in this way
counts for something.
Those Hetlrick Papers
"While we are upon this general sub
icct you may recall That a month or
moro ago, at the request Of the Cor
poration Counsel, the Hettrck paper
were placed at his disposal and he h.l
some ono examining and taking notes
from them.
"presumably the contents of these
papers were investigated, but. if so,
fear that the work was very super
ticially done Our committee has now
had the subject gone over and we find
Important evidence apparently over
looked by Mr.. Q Bricn's representative
relating to:
"Heating contract affecting Public
rhinestone contracts affecting Pub
liz Schools 81, New York; 14i. Brook
iyn; 81, New York, and 43. New York;
also with respect to sandstone for
Wards Island, New York, all bearing
the most conclusive evidence of
matched and collusive bidding.
The heating contract with respcct
to Public School No. 1C0, amounting to
nearly 100000, is particularly flagrant
May | suggest that instead Of the
board spending day or more of every
able amount OF the taxpayers money
involved, in going through this dreary
farce of asking contractors the futile
question of whether they were parties
to combinations or matched or col
lusve bids, to which they would Of
course answer "No,' the board M ight
devote itself to taking up the mass of
bids that have ripencd into contracts
and that are already shown TO be col
lusive.
"Reverting again to the primary pur-
pose of this letter, will you kindly Sc
cure for me definite reply from the
with respect TO the ash removal claim
and how soon and through whom i.
proposed to do it?
"Nery truly yours,
"SAML UNTERMYER."
No trace OF the six contractors
sought by the Lockwood committee for
questioning in connection with alleged
combines in building materials has
been found. Among those sought arc
John A. Mccarthy and John ?. Kane.
Of the Builders Supply Bureau Me
Carthy is an intimate friend Of Charles
T. Murphy, the Tammany leader, with
whom he was at one time associate 4
in business.
The committees hearings will be re-
sumed in City Hall this morning, in
the course of which. t is said. the
brick and sand situation will be gone
into thOrOuChlV