The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-06
LAW FORCES SCOIE.
 IN FIGHT AGAINST
 BUILDING TRUST'
Bench Warrants Issued for , Three Persons-MilIionaire Builder Ordered to Appear
 at Inquiry Today
By Associated Pres.

law scored their first point today in the fight against the alleged building
 trust" when bench warrants were issued for the arrest of three persons indicted by the additional grand jury investigat ing the scandal. Officers immediately 1 searched the city and initial arrests were looked for soon. George Backer, millionaire builder and alleged "go-between'' in the trust of contractors and laborers, was driected to be present at court tomorrow morning with bail of $25, 900. He had appeared at criminal courts building with his counsel. It was understood an indictment for per jury had been sought against him. When Samuel Untermyer counsel for the Investigating committee, heard the name of Backer mentioned by newspaper men, following refusals of court off cials to make public the names of those indicted by the grand jury. he said: Wait a minute, who gave that out, We will see that greater precautions are taken next time.
 He then announced that Backer was in custody of his counsel.
 Robert P. Brindel, president of the 
 to in testimony of contractors as king in the alleged trust, alsos went to the criminal courts building with his coun- sel after it became known bench war rants had been issned.
 SECURE MUCH EVIDENCE
 While the grand jury launched it's drive against the alleged trust, it's ser vices of information supply and it's intel ligence department continued active. | drr11e irfn tho Wal of ip- formation held by members of the build ing trades council and participants in the ''code of ptactices' Evidence which con- tinued to be amassed was expected to play a part in subsequent indictments
 Possibility that exposes revealing the building industry were in the offer
 ing of the dramatic scene before the joint legislative committees inquiry also seemed strong.
 sSDne witness testified that the line- stone business trade of the United States was tight in the grip of the National Association of Stone Cutters.
 Shortly after this Senator Caldwer, who possesses nationwide subpoena as chairman of the Senate committee on housing. was called into the inquiry He was informed that John T. Hettrick,s guiding hand in the code of practice" system, said to regulate competition in New York. had fled the city.
 walking delegates of the Building trust" also have deserted their usual habitats and men armed with subpoenas have failed to find them, said Samuel Untermyer counsel for the Investigating committee.
 One witness testified that delegate of the king of the admittedly all-power- ful building trades council, warned him to 'swatch his step and 'sit tight r,1sxx To thraafenAd with exterrnination from business in the metropolis if he faiIaa +o do sn
 REvERSES TESTIMONY
 One witness, Walter Melton, appeared on the stand to reverse his testimony os yesterday when he denied having paid Robert P. Brindell. head of the building trades council $2,5O0 in connection with a wrecking contract. Melton claimed he was induced to retract his first story by his brother and other friends
 The city of New York, which last week rescinded millions in contracts for a new courthouse. showed signs of fearing the city had been fleeced in other construction jobs. Borough presidents and department heads were instructed to begin scrutinizing every contract let during the past IS mo lths and the board of estimate and appor> tionment postponed consideration For week of new contracts for reno val of snow this winter.
 Robert P. Brindell. was pictured i. domineering liking" by his assistants in the building trades council in .es- tifying before the committee. They told, each of them. of his insistent de- mands for large sums of money before he would give them contract to VT sck or erect a building or allow the svork to proceed without strikes.
 "a c 70 A-sA A~~A- Broadway skyscrapers. saying he fig witness declared. Testimony revealing the turning over of thousands of dol lars to Brindell accumulated today on top of similar previous witnesses. Brindell has been riding on a higl horse and brow beating" contractors and house wreckers. said Albert A. yolk, head of large demolition firm that had paid tribute to the king"
 T could not get work because I had had trouble with Brindel1," testified Walter Melton a house wrecker.
 Mr. Untermyer questioned Henry Handlein again for several hours today in an effort to learn all the arrange ments between him and the scharmed circle" of eight other limestone con tractors, by which Handlein became the solitary bidder on this work on tho courthouse.
 Handlein admitted learning the writ ten agreement had been destroyed, and said that after each contractor. esti- mated what should be his share of th profits, the total amounted to "150 per cent"
 Well. Mr. Handlein." asked MT. Un- termyer later, you say these men were going to help share in the profits Tor. if there were none. to divide the loss"
 ..There wasn't going to be any loss" replied the witness.
 Because Of the large mass of evil dence and the necessity of increasing the legal and clerical forces. MT. Jn- termyer asked the committee 10 ed- journ until next Thursday morning, and this was done.
 NEER0 IS I YMcAEn