The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-09
HOROWlTZSHOWS
MORE GRATING
BUILDING TRADES
Limestone Rings Profits on
Court House Contracts to
Have Been 1000, 900.
INSTEAD OF 100000
Head of Thompson-S tarrett
Company Outwitted Het-
tflck group on Cut Stone.
LARGE SAVING EFFECTED
Lockwood Committee Told of
Obsolete Ordinance That
Penalties This City.
INSTEAD OF 100000
LARGE SAVING EFFECTED

Profits from the limestone contracts
ON the proposed Court House, which
city officials were trying to rush
through when they were held up by
the Lockwood committee, would have
been somewhat in excess of 100000
instead of $4,000 as heretofore esti-
mated. according to new evidence OBJ
tanned yesterday by the State investi-
gators at the hearing in City Hall.
Further exposing the grip held on
the city by the Hettrick limestone
. ling. Ii was shown that New York Is
paying tremendous penalty because
Of an obsolete ordinance which re-
ouires that all stone used here shall
he cut here. This was designed to pro-
tect local union stone cutters. but ex-
ncalculable damage because 1T is
stifiing building.
Louis Horowitz. president OF the
-starrett Company. one of
he biggest contractors IN the building
industry in the world. testified yester-
Gay before the Lockwood committee
hat he outwitted the limestone ring
md obtained stone In Indiana for
ss.25 a cubic foot. The price demanded
~ the ring here was from 30 to s12 q
GOT.
Testimony Causes Surprise.
To the surprise of the committee Mr.
Iiorowitz said that the cost OF cutting
nine foot blocks OF stone was less than
he cost of five foot blocks, such as ne
fought in Indiana. In all the testi-
ncny SO far given before the committee
egarding the contract for limestone for
he proposed New York Court House
has been asserted that the cost of the
larger blocks "a greater than the smaller
locks
Based upon the evidence supplied by
Ir. Horowitz from his own experience
N beating the ring, the committee re-
Used It's figures dealing with the Court
Fouse project, and found they were
! -obably away under the actual profits
covered In the Hanlein contract.
The limestone contract fer the Court
louise, as thrown out by the Board Of
estimate after its fight with the Lock-
yrood committee called for an expendi.
4 xperts have figured heretofore that the
probable profit TO be obtained was
round s40O. 900. This contract was one
~ many arranged under the Hettrick
ode of bidding.
Figuring on PROFITS.
The revised figures worked out last
night on the basis OF Mr.. Horowitz's
cures. indicating a probable profit In
cess of 81, 000. 600, did not provide for
e,tting the stone In Indiana But with
any kind OF open competition instead of
the xhrottilng method employed by the
rrx. the city cou have clipped upward
~ 81. 900. 600 from the contract which
s,Sne OF the city officials were In such a
rash to award. II is recalled that the
{ contract was not rejected until II had
been attacked by Mr. Untermyer and the
{ fficials assailed for trying TO get II
through.
incidentally. Mr.. Horowitz gave the
committee much valuable information
fter struggling for two weeks with
Stubborn and silent witnesses, searching
f,r destroyed papers and tripping over
.ldiess obstacles thrown IN its way by
iilders who are charged with being In
combination 20 hold up the city, this
testimony was as refreshing as q June
4 eeze to members OF the committee and
is counsel.
Big steel manufacturers Of the coun-
t-y have an arrangement with the Iron
l eagrie Association Of New York, where
~ builders are prohibited doing their
& Vn steel work unless II IL done with