The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-27
BIG SUITS THREATENED
Lockwood. and Untermyer
Busy on New Evidence
for Next Week.
GRAND JURY KEEPS GOING
Whalen Answers Attacks on
Him-ConbOy Fighting
Against Subp9nas.

committee were In conference yester-
day preparing new evidence to be pre-
scented next week showing the ramifi-
cations of the building trust opera
tions, three distinct actions bearing
on the investigation were in progress
in the courts, the Grand Jury was
working slowly toward new indict-
Inents and the city administration was
trying hard to pull itself out of the
hole into which 1t has been backed in
its fight with the State Investigators.
Payment of warrants amounting to
$1,000, 900 was suspended by the city
on municipal contracts for new school
buildings. These vouchers had been
passed by Comptroller Craig after affi-
davits had been obtained from con-
tractors stating they were not MEM
bers of any sort of combinations seek
ing TO defraud the city. The contracts
were sent recently by the Comptroller
to the Mayor after Withholding q por
ton of payments to protect the city.
The Mayor in turn sent them to the
Commissioner OF Accounts, who an
nounced yesterday that the payments
had been suspended.
Much confusion may grow out of the
city administrations handling of the
many contracts, 1t is feared. Meier
Steinbrink. named as associate counsel
for the Board Of Estirnate's investiga-
tion of municipal contracts. called yes
terday on Samuel UnterInyer counsel
for the Lockwood committee, and sought
cooperation with the city In handling the
subject.
Untermyer VIII Cooperate.
Although he has declined to deal
further with Mayor Hylan, Mr.. Inter
lnyer consented to meet officials at q
conference next Monday forenoon and
seek TO cooperate through Mr.. Stein
brink Another attempt will be made
then TO find what the Board OF Estimate
can do TO clear UP its contracts and
protect the city from the profiteers
operating through collusive bidding.
1t was reported yesterday that Mr..
Steinbrink had declined to serve the
Mr.. Untermyer made the agreement TO
go to the meeting after stipulation had
been reached that forms of nffidavlts
20 be submitted to contractors alone
should be considered and that the Mayor
would not deal in politics or personah-
lies.
There were indications yesterday that
an attempt will be made to bring many
city contractors within such safeguards
as the city may prescribe, which action
would result in cutting down the work
that might be involved in the city in
Jestigation. John +. O'Brien, Corpora
tton Counsel. said that one or two con-
tractors had asked that their sub-con-
tractors be examined and If evidence OF
collusion was found the city's contrac-
tors are under promise TO shave down
their contracts to whatever amount
such collusion might show the city had
lost.
Meanwhile the city's contractors are
growing restive under the holding up OF
their pay. Three mandamus proceed
ings were begun against Comptroller
Charles l.. Craig yesterday and It was
learned that unless the city makes pay
ment by next Monday a number Of It's
contractors have decided to cue for ap-
proximately $4,000 due them a week
ago on their contracts. but held up as
part OF the 100000 worth of warrants
Sn the possession of the Commissioner
Of Accounts.
Asphalt Company Sues City.
The mandamus writs were sued out
against the Comptroller by Edward NJ.
Grout, formerly Comptroller OF the city.
representing the Uvalde Asphalt Paving
Company, which has not been paid for
completed work on three city contracts.
the amounts due being tSs.S4o. $3.50
and $3.50.
The paving company's action Ia not
only TO compel the Comptroller to make
payment on completed work but viii
attack his power to make examinations
OF city contracts. The Comptroller con-
ceded In an interview yesterday that
while he believes he has the authority
under the charter he has in'reality as
sumed the power until It is established
In a court action.
The action OF the Mayor. through
Hrshfield, in holding Up the warrants
AppTONtu Ny Nnc OOiupltOIltl ~ ltBaANtu
afao as an attack upon the Comptrol-
lers right to investigate contracts. in
spired by the ancient feud between the
Mayor and the Comptroller and irri-
tated by the fact that the Comptroller
in holding back documentary material
for his investigation has lnterfered with
the Corporation Counsels work In the
Board Of Estimate inquiry. The war
rants held up by the Commissioner of
Accounts are not only for construction
of various sorts but include virtually
every kind OF supplies that the city
buys and are three or four hundred In
number.
Contractors who are building piers on
staten Island and whose warrants have
been held up are threatening TO begin
mandamus proceedings against the city
Continued on SiYteouth Page.
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