The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-13
Senator Calder Plans New
Move to Spring Federal
Trap for Witnesses.
IMMUNITY TO BE GIVEN
State Quizzers Will Fully
Divorce Employers Body
and Brindell's Bureau.
MUST SMASH DICTATOR
Untermyer's Agent in Western
New York Reports Need of
an Upheayal There.

dIl DltdN III llNlOs
Cooperation between the Lockwood
Legislative Committee on Housing and
the special United States Senate Com
mittee on Reconstruction in the hunt for
building trade grafters seemed certain
yesterday. following telephone confer
ence between Senator William NJ. Calder
and Samuel Untermyer. chief counsel for
the State investigators.
Senator Calder. who is chairman OF
the Senate committee. and who had an
nounced his intention of joining in the
investigation of the housing situation
here, said following this talk that he
thought his committee could aid the
State in many ways. 1t could be OF
greatest assistance in examining wit
nesses who have fed the State to escape
questioning by the counsel for the Lock
wood committee. and who cannot be
brought back by that body.
It was said also that Senator Calder
would discuss with the other members
of the Senate committee a proposal to
sit with the Lockwood committee In the
near future for the purpose of availing
themselves of some of the evidence dis
closed at the Lockwood hearings and of
ascertaining in what manner they best
may serve the public interests in the
investigation they are contemplating.
One point in which the Senatorial in
QUESTION promises to differ from the one
being made by the State is that i'm
will be promised to witnesses
and through this the committee MEM
bers hope to be able to induce certain
persons to talk freely concerning condi-
{ ons which they have been afraid to
discuss before the Lockwood invest:ga-
tors In such an event persons deemed
guilty of offenses against the laws will
not be called to the witness stand. but
efforts will be made to learn of tFeir
doings from other tongues
Calder Praises Unteermycr.
Before the Lockwood committee began
its hearing here an effort was made to
insert an immunity clause in the -es-
olution authorizing the hearings, but 1t
failed to pass. Senator Calder said he
would move to insert such a clause in
the resolution empowering his commit
tee to act He spoke highly of the
work of Mr.. Untermyer before the com-
mittee.
tt was said that the members of the
Lockwood committee will not consider
their work i'm connection with the Build
ing Trades Employees Association COM
plete until they have broken the ties be-
tween that body and the Building Trades
Council. the organization over which
Robert p. Brindell holds sway.
Members of the employers associa-
ton are said to have visited counsel
for the committee recently and to have
urged that they be permitted to aid the
investigators, but thus far their offers
have not been accepted. Several have
pleaded that they were forced TO join
the Building Trades Employers Asso-
citation or starve, and that they were
unwilling parties 10 agreements entered
into between that body and Brindell's
band.
II was the making Of these agree
ments which raised Brindell to the po-
sition of absolute dictator of the build
ing trades situation. because under them
the employers agree to hire all of their
labor through his organization in re-
turn for concessions made them by va
rious locals in the Building Trades
Council. which gave them an unfair adj
vantage over other concerns.
Big Cut in Costs Expected.
Members Of the committee expressed
the opinion that in smashing this COM
oination they would cut costs approx
mately so per cent. They feel that the
employers association Is crumbling al
ready and that Brindelrs power has
been curtailed greatly.
In connection with revelations OF con-
ditions in the marble industry, members
of the committee said they had become
convinced that similar conditions existed
In several other sres
This is particularly true Of the agree
rnent whereby contractors overcharged
builders for the laborers with which
they we're supplying them in such fash
ion that they made profits of from so tc
30 per cent. on the wages OF each man
who worked on a structure The COM
mittee members feel that " the contrac-
tors rake off, were eliminated the
work might be done at considerably
reduced price IN all Of these lines and
the laborer still obtain the same wage.
When hte committee resumes it's pub
lie hearings In the City Hall tomorrow
II is expected TO take up the structural
steel situation. This Is regarded as one
Of the most important phases Of thu
building situation here. and this part Of
tho inquiry promises TO be a very inter
osting one.
Dispatches from Buffalo last nigh
said that Patrick j. Mcmahon, one oi
Mr.. Untermyer's assistants, had beer
investigating conditions there, and thai
nc had recommended that the committed
undertake a thorough investigation OF
the situation In that city as soon as Il
hsa completed its inquiry here
Mr. Mcmahon Is said 20 have checked
up on many items relating TO bids foi
city buildings In Buffalo. and TO have
made careful investigation OF matters
relating 20 private building enterprises
in Buffalo.
P0PES BLESSING RECEIVED.