New-York tribune., 1920-12-31

600 worth Of business, and that It did
sn sl annuai business of $4,000 900 to
T1oo0O,0 700. He said he was not a COM
fetltor-t that he did not have to fqht
comp petiton-because he was selected +"
You @ are in a class by yourself. are
you asked Mr.. Untermyer.
"Yes" 1op''eo'
He said there were between seventy
and ninety members in the emplovers'
association, representing about sixtv
SUBSIDIARY organizations.
tie denied he was Brindell's boss and
asserted that he had never paid him
any, graft money" and had but few
strikes. ~"
When Eidltz resented Mr.. Inter
myers questions regarding the en-
ployefs action in discharging expert
eps enceo union housewreckers and hiring
"brindelPs rump wreckers," MIR. Unter-
myer remarked
I'VE regard you the worst factor in
the building situation in New York
to-day. You have been the princinal
stumbling block in the way Of the re-
organization of the Building Trades
Employers Association"
nat is absolutely false" snapped
back Eidlitz NpNN
A-fNiiNA Sdlu ludC t1G DQllQlNP trades
department of the American Federation
OF Labor was "freo of graft and thiev-
cry and administered by "men of un-
lmpeachable integrity" He said that
his association was probably in error
IN dealing with the "one-man Brindell
organization" without first investi-
eating its standing and activities.
When Eidlitz denied that the board
OF governors had approved agreements
with the Building Trades Council Civ
ing members of the association pref
erence on the exclusive use Of union
labor, MIR. Untermver produced numer-
o-s such alleged agreements approved
by the organization. Mr.. Untermycr
asserted further that as a result of
these agreements the association had
driven many builders into its organiza-
tlon or ruin.
Letters from architects were read
showing that they were forced to award
work to members of the Employers AS
soclahon II they were to get insurance
against strikes"
"This plan didn't work" commented
Eidlitz
But don't you know that the laws
OF your association provided for Just
this sort of despotism ?" asked Unter
myer.
Eidlitz admitted that all sub-con-
tractors also had to join the associa-
ton to obtain union labor. Evidence
was submitted showing that member
was fined $1,000 for letting a contract
to non-member sub-contractor.
Did you ever hear 0 a more ruinous
CT arbitrary procedure? ?" asked Mr.. U1-
termyer.
Harbor for Alleged Rings
81 admit it Is rather arbitrary" re-
rlied Eidlitz, "and l don't approve of
it,"
"You are still harboring under the
wing Of the association the numerous
associations which we have proved to
operate price-fxing arrangements,
aren't you?"
"Yes"
You haven't attempted to e1pel
them ?"
"No."
"The only ones that have gotten out
are those we have broken up. Are you
going to make it necessary for this
committee to indict and punish all
to get rid of them in the association ?"
I'VE have started to do something
We have gotten up a program"
Mr.. Eidlitz said that the association
had considered the question of in
vestigating all codes of practices used
by member associations, but that the
matter had been tabled temporarily. A
resolution to this effect, he said, had
been passed by his Mason Builders
Association and referred to the en-
ployers' organization.
Told to See Brindell
"Yes"
Here it developed that on December
a committee of the Mason Builders
AccpriatiOp Jr.f+oJ
warded it to the board of governors of
the Employers Association, providing
for the elimination of corrupt officials
in the Building Trades Council by ap-
peal to the American Federation of
Labor
Eidlitz said that in their efforts to
find a central body with which to deal
in all labor disputes they had been re-
ferred by the A. F. OF l.. to the Build
ing Trades Council, and that was how
they came to have relations with Brin-
dell's crowd.
This plan provided for calling on
the A. F. Of L.. building trades depart
ment, to rcorganze the council, elimi-
mating such officers and delegates as
tre guilty of extortion or other acts
detrimental to tho welfare of tho in
dustry and mako Of the council a re-
sponsible body
ElGDtZ SAID nc VOLeC IOI Inlh EeSOIu-
.ion. and when pressed as to whom. he
meant by the "offlcers and delegates"
fc re!rctant.y admitted he had Brndell
in mind. Eidlitz concluded by saying
that there was no question thot his Pc
socation was going to reorganizos with
the elimination of all Objectionable .
features.
The Soil pipe Manufacturers Asso-
citation notified the committee that it
had decided TO disband it's organization
for the exchange Of information on |
prices and price fixing. The association
said it purposed only to keep an organ
ization together to conduct an adver
tisipg campaign already contracted for.
Mr. Untcrmycr declared that while not
entirely satisfactory. he thought the |
offer was made in good faith.
letter from the Metal Ceiling Asso-
citation, promising to mend it's ways, |
was far from satisfactory, he declared,
and was "Sssxs empty words."