New-York tribune., 1920-10-25
Mayor Promised Backing
of 115,OOO in Building
Trades to Sanction New
Courthouse Contracts
Facts Presented
10 investigators
$2,372,OOO Limestone
Award to Code of Prac-
tice' Member Mentioned

Following close upon the heels of the
Board Of Estimates action last Friday
in cancelling s600O,O0O worth of con-
tracts on the proposed new courthouse
at the instigation Of Mayor Hylan, it
developed yesterday that the Mayor
recently had been offered strong in
ducement to sign certain of these con-
tracts.
The offer was made by man whose
name has been mentioned in connec-
tion with the Lockwood Joint Legisla-
tive Committees investigation of the
alleged building material trust. The
proposition, according to the informa-
ton, was that if the Mayor would i'm
mediately sign these contracts the man
would promise to obtain for the Mayor
the enthusiastic political indorsement'
of the l15,000 members Of the unions
in the Building Trades Council.
$2,372,000 Limestone Bid
The particular contracts referred to
are said to include the $2.372, 900 lime
be $S00,000 more than the actual value
of the material The contract had been
originally approved by the Board of
Estimate The bid was entered by
Henry Hanlein, member of the al
legged code of practice" group Of
building material dealers, headed by
John T. Hettrck. The operations of
this circle are alleged to have elmi
mated completely all competition in the
building industry, resulting in the
present acute housing shortage.
When the Lockwood committee in
vestigation brought out the fact that
Hanlein was a member of this combine
and that the bid was entered funder an
alleged collusive arrangement, the
Mayor went before the Board of Es
innate and moved that this, with sew
era other contracts for the new court
house be cancelled.
The Lockw I'd committee has full
knowledge of he proposal to Mayor
Hylan, and it ntimated that the man
who made the offer will be placed on
the stand at the committees hearing
next Thursday. Efforts will be made by
the committees counsel to have this
man tell just how he proposed to de-
liver the political Endorsement of the
large membersb Of Brindell's Build
ing Trades Council.
The council has no constitution or
bylaws, but under set Of rules gov
crning its membership no political ac
ton of any nature can be taken with
out the consent of the executive COM
mittee of the body.
The committee also has important
leads as to the disposal of the huge
"insurance" funds, as Hettrick termed
- ort ha
ceipts turned over to him by the con-
tractors in thirty-two industries sub
scribing to his "code Of practice"
Big Sum Unaccounted for
1t has been testified that IN the
plum bing industry alone business or
$4,000 900 was done by members Of the
circle. of winch A per cent, or $4,000,
was turned over to Hettrick. Nettrlck
said that the total of the plumbing
business was between SO 900 900 and $4,-
OOe 900. and that he received for his
personal service only l per cent OF this
sum.
What became Of the other 8 per cent
has not been divulged. Hcttrick has
said that ii was ''for the elimination OF
various evils incident to the plumbing
business
According to information now in
NOSSoSSlOn OF lue cOIllil tNct Aeti = :
slices Of it went to labor leaders and
some other prominent men to insure
immunity from strikes, or TO tiN
strikers leaders Hettrick had at first
offered to support his statements By
his books on the subject, but later re-
fused to turn them over, whereupor
they were seized by the committee
agents.
Counsel for Hettrick has intimatet
that he intends to bring proceeding
to prevent the use Of these books DA
the committee They are techHicaiiN y
IN the possession of the Chief MagIs
trate and are now under guard IN th'
Attorney Generals office at ol Cham
bers Street. -
The question OF the appointment o
the extraordinary grand jury by TN
Governor to handle the crimlna, phas'
of the inquiry has brought apout
rather embarrassing political siSua u m
ton. It was pointed out that the Gov
ernor might be loath to ask the sam
Jury to handle the present contro
versy which had indicted Charies I3 r
Murphy, the leader Of Tammany Hal,
1t is emphasized, moreover' 'ha0 :
7. O'Connor, attorney Tor hoperl
CONTINUED on page four)