The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-05
Rakeoff Fixed at 4 P. G.,
One More Than Exacted
From Individuals.
CALLED HETTRICK JOB.
Agreement Paper Missing
His Lawyer Says 1t
Is Lost.
5 CONTRACTORS TESTIFY
Declare They Paid Brindell
Council $12,976 as Tribute
to System.
5 CONTRACTORS TESTIFY


been in business for years in New
York as housewreckers told the Lock
wood Housing Committee yesterday
that under the reign of terror estab-
lished by Robert p. Brindeil, president
of the Building Tndes Council, they
were compelled to pay $12.s76 in ff-
teen transactions as tribute to the
System" TO prevent strikes.
These were separate and distinct
cases, merely fifteen OF the hundreds
OF payments known to have been made
to the graft ring in the last few
months. Honest hard working men
took the stand one after another and.
with eyes blazing and voices choked
with the anger that they had sup
/ pressed during the months they sub
| mitted to the Brindell terrorism, flung
out their stories deiantiy.
Each new witness told of the cease
less demand for money. Always II
was pay, pay to quiet the greed OF the
ring and always backed with the
threat Of being broken II the money
was not Forthcoming.
- some Principal Payments.
Albert voik testified that ne made two
payments. one of $4,000 and another OF
s2,5oo, TO Brindell In person. He made
other payments for fees owed BY work
men for limitations. Louis J. Cohen swore
he paid Brindeli $4,000 on the Manhat-
tan Hotel job and made other payments
in smaller sums for other jobs. Three
others told OF smaller transactions.
I Nine contractors were In charmed
I circle" which WIS % divide tho Court
House contracts r1e1fx 4ianieir. prclns-
4 nsrt stone contractor tie the committee.
Big graft was 20 be lsvied on the city
! In .he Court House centracts In the form
Of extortionate prices. The rake or
| had been nxed at per cent. per cent.
more than the tribute exacted from the
builder and private citizen.
The Court House was known to he
| contractors as JOHN Hattricks Job"
4 He,trick is the lawyer who devised the
I code Of procedure under which con-
I tractors were operating to maintain
prices Hanlein testified that Hettricx
would not let the contractors have the
agreement they signed. That paper, the
signing of which was described by Sam
uei Untermyer as criminal action, has
disappeared.
Lost. Says Hettrick's Lawyer.
None OF those who signed Il know
where II ,s Clarence J. shcarr. coun-
sel for Hettrick. said the paper was
lost Hanlein shed much light on tho
operation of the code 70 regulate the
bidding He showed how the con1bina-
tion was working 70 put over the court
house deal at the city's expense and
how big Insurance was paid to thoss
who were pulling the wires behind the
scenes.
The next question which the comrnit-
toe wishes 70 have answered is: What
became OF tho insurance fund in this
and other big transactions7 Member.
OF the COMMITTEES believe certain prorni-
nent politicians and city officials may
help get the answer.
During tho examination of Hanlein
/ Mr.. Unterrnyer said:
Il am trying to show that there is =
( countrywide agreement. all tied together
I from every locality. all over the United
States. that is paying tribute for the
purpose of restraining trade and throt-
Ting competition want TO know Just
what you paid into each association on
your grose business"
The Grand Jury continued in session
going over the testimony. Tho con1mit-
tee hearings will continue to-day The
contractors who told OF the. money
wrung from them followed one another
on the stand az the afternoon session.
Summoned 20 BrfndeiI's Omcee.
Louis J. Cohen OF 40. Lincoln place.
Brooklyn. with an olfice al i9s Broad
way. has been working as house
wrecker for twenty years. His bigsest
Job az present is on the Manhattan fic- !
tel. He ms. Brindell about six months |
ago. when he was asked 10 go 60 the 7
labor Kings Office in ST Marks place |
( and sign up 20 the councils agreement- \
ieter stadmiller. representing Brindeil '
told the contractor for whom the Witness
was working az Madison avenue and
Forty-hrst street. that tho Job could not
go on with the mon Cohen was en-
pioyins.
II went 20 see Brirdeli along In May
Cohen said. "Brndeli Faid . me.
Cohen. 90 you want any work. 7 said
was figuring on a job IN Twenty-thirl
street, and he asked what II was worth.
said about s2.500. He said. I can
give you that job for $4,000 for you
and $500 for me- laughed and went
away"
The witness said ne took tho Job with
another contractor. and a few days aftc<
Brlndoll sent for him and asked, How
about that $1,000 bet?"
when told him how raado this
contract he let me out OF the Office
Cohen said. Another time he sent for
me and told me I had committed a ter
rible crime by having four men on tho
jon with no foreman. He said. Thac
don't 80; how about our $500 bet?'
I'VE dickercd while and finally h>
consented to take $500 20 patch u uc.'
the witness said. He said he was boss
OF the t-ndes N New York and could
NO w on.