New-York tribune., 1920-12-17
Adopts Calder Motion
for Counsel to Take
Evidence in Leading
Cities With Committee
Coal Profteering
Also To Be Probed
lockwood Revelations of
BIackmai and Plotting
Denounced as Shocking

Fyo@, The Trj6unc'S Washington Bureou
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-Adopting
without opposition to-day the resolu-
tion Of Senator Calder to authorize the
Calder investigating committee to en-
ploy counsel, the Senate opened the
way to q sweeping investigation of the
building material situation in leading
cities and a thorough inquiry into the
coal industry.
The Calder committee, which is a
special committee to inquire into hous-
ing and other phases of reconstruction,
will enlarge the scope of the inquiry
now being made in New York by the
Lockwood committee into a national
investigation. The inquiry into build
ing material was prompted by the reve-
latiops in New York, which were re-
ferred to b. Senator's to-day as shock
ing.
Counsel will be employed in a few
days and the committee will seek to
delve much further into coal profiteer-
ing.
It is possible that Samuel Inter
myer will be called in as counsel,
though it has been said heretofore ne
would not be.
Senator Thomas. OF Colorado, prom
inent Democrat, III vigorous speech,
supported the investigation. urged en-
ployment of counsel and arraigned the
Roth lob
steel producers, who. as brought out
in the testimony of President Grace
Of the Bethlehem Company before the
Lockwood committee, refused to sell
steel to concerns not operating the
ppen shop. When the resolution was
brought up this afternoon, Senator
Thomas said:
Endorsed by Thomas
a an nc. in fas-or, as general prop
osition. of investigating committees,
because they accomplish very little and
promote the tendency to investigate
everything, we'll founded or otherwise
Bas the purpose Of the Senator from
New York in asking for this is prompted
By. and is certainly justified by, the
disclosures made by the New York leg
is'ative Investigating committee under
ne direction OF sir. Untermyer.
"Thts committee mas disclosed the
existence OF one or Two ironclad COM
binstions or conspiracies against trade
and against social and economic con-
a'tions that may surprise some, but
s.sch seem to ne to be the direct
ousgrowtli OF the tendencies of the
line. The remarkable and startling
act disclosed is that this combination
IS not peculiar to New York.
"TEQra .aeynS n ha oUoyv cifv
sufficiently large TO justify it similar
coalition between a few owners Of
certain classes Of material, a few
suil ing concerns and few labor
mons. and the combination enables
ne benefciaries OF it to work their
zlil in every community where they
sxlst, to dictate prices, to determine
sno shall and who shall not receive
contracts. ard at what figures, to de-
care strikes, and u create at any
nne differences between employee and
employer, and to levy blackmail by the
7uEoreds OF thousands Of dollars.
Yesterday the committee had be-
,ore Il Mr.. Grace, the president Of the
Se1hlehem Steel Company. He was
xsiea because the day before two of
me great contracting firms Of the
sounsry: speaking through their prin-
sapsi officers, testified that they we're
us*e!e 70 purchase any structural
rIeei from the steel manufacturers Of
tae country, because the concerns rep
,,esented in another combination had
osIermined TO refuse to sell structural
'.ssi 70 any concern which did not
operate what is called the open shop.
Holds Dictation Vicious
;so~' l am an cpen-shop man
0e'itve in it thoroughly, and must
tco"tIaued nsxt pass)