Imperial Valley press., 1920-11-24
(By Associated Press)


= igation of New York's 'buildin
. trust" has gained such momentum
the last few weeks that its roar hs
been heard from coast to coast.
!. Here are a few of the results t
date:
1 l. The city of New York alread
has rescinded several contracts fo
I public work reaching into the million
and now has considered the advis
ability of cancelling all contracts fo
public buildings. lest the trust" ha
hand in the bidding.
z. One indictment, charging per
Jury, has been returned by the gran,
jury and threats of more crimina
prosecutions are in the air.
3. Testimony already entered i,
the record of the Joint Legislativ,
Committee investigating the trust
has given hints that combinations il
restraint of trade, charged by com
mittee counsel, may be nationwide il
scope
a. Sensational disclosures have at
tracted the attention of the depart.
lnont of justice, which assigned g
special official to watch develop.
ments, and the senate committee or
production and reconstruction, which
with subpoena power, has itself
studied the housing situation through
! out the country.
Samuel Untermyer, who is con-
Quoting the investigation for the
joint legislative committee aft er
claiming year ago that he had "es-
tablished clear case of criminal
conspiracy in the building trades, is
confident that the inquiry soon will
! assume wider scope. He has openly
charged that the most important of
these criminal combinations and sec
ret agreements in the building
trades are nationwide in their scope
and cannot effectively be reached by
local prosecutions.
Mr.. Untermyer krst started out
on the trial of the building trust"
n 1919 after he had grilled witnesses
who appeared at that time before the
mayors committee on profiteering.
One, brick dealer, had testified that
a remarkably uniform" price for
brick and cement prevailed in New
York and that dealers who cut prices
had been quickly put ont of business.
No legal action was. taken at this
time, but when the housing situation
in New. York and other cities Of the
state became more discomforting, the
| Legislature took notice of charges
that combination in the building
| trades was holding the construction
situation in vise-like grip, and ord
cred a sweeping inquiry. ,-.s 1gg
M1- Ipfa xx-oc oci-ol 70 4o1
charge. Meeting in the city hall on
October 20, the Joint Legislative COM
mittee to which he was appointed
counsel proceeded to unfold from
witnesses tale of an alleged "con-
tractor-labor combine, which recalled
the reign of Sam Parks, corrupt New
York labor leader, who died in prison
n 1904 after having been convicted
of eXtorting sums from contractors
on a threat to block their work il
bribes were not paid him. .
Stirred by testimony brought out
by Mr.. Unteryer, who promised to
send prices tumbling by smashing
the alleged trust and putting "these
criminals behind the bars where they
belong" New Workers are crowding
their way into city hall each day the
committee sits.
All types are to be found there in
the aldermanc chamber. Affluent
bankers jostle grimy laborers while
watching an array of millionaire
builders, labor leaders and lawyers
pass in aii out of the witness stand
under the merciless fire Of committee
counsel.
Many of these witnesses are seer
to squirm under the volley of ques-
tions. Once in while one pleads fol
mercy as Mr.. Untermyer pins him
down.
"For Gods sake, Mr. Untermyer
don't sacrifice me on this altar" i'm.
plored one contractor who had testi
fed to the domination of certain in
terests. "You don't want me to have
my doors closed with a million dollar!
worth of business on hand, by answer
ing you here"
But, day after day, the investiga
ton goes on before crowds of wit
neses, and in seclusion a grand jur.
goes over testimony from the hearing
selected for it's attention.
Constantly there occurs mention O.
COQS VI pIdCtlCt. liio u pIi
term crops out ever and again among
charges that combinations exis
among building men to restrict out
puts, control prices and choke compe
tition. One witness admitted that
certain trade was controlled the ma
on over by a national association.
Embedded in this testimony is 9Th
code of practice" alleged to hav
been operated by John T. Hettrick,
lawyer, with several hundred sub
scribers including cut stone, plumb
ing, heating and ventilating contract
ors. It was charged that thes
building men submitted their bid
through a central clearing house an
the work was apportioned.
Through the "code", clients wer
numbered and colored cards wer
mailed to them notifying them of tn
status of their bids. Production Q
the key sheets to the mysterious car
sysem was one Of the sensations O
| the invetigation. Mr.. Hettrick charg
ing that the cards, and other dat
! had been stolen from his mail.
Witnesses testified that thousand
| of dollars were paid by clients t
II Hattrick undar tho "codeD and that