The New York herald., 1920-12-23
CAST IRON GROUP
GOUGED BUILDERS
HERE FOR PIPING
Ignored City Rules and Die
tated Quantity of Nate
rial to Be Used.
PILED ON 80 PER CENT.
Official Testifies That Costs
Could Be Cut in Half
Without Loss.
ONE RING WILL YIELD
Metal Ceiling Combine to
Abandon Oppressive Methods,
Untermyer Is, Told.
PILED ON 80 PER CENT.
ONE RING WILL YIELD

TIE cast iron pirc laid Tor plumbing
by the members OF the Eastern Soil
Pipe Association was not moulded any
har6e- than the rules which regulated
and restricted it's sale and which in
variarly brought groans from the New
Yorl; builder when he received his Dill
for the material and work done.
WIZ this condition existed was
shown yesterday by Samuel Inter
myer through tae examination before
Tho Lakewood committee of Charles A.
Tu:;ic. secretary o. the association
ana many other allied organizations in
the pipe industry OF ali the organiza-
tions which have been exposed in this
investigation none has been more far
reaching and effective than this little
pipe family.
The Metal Ceiling Association, an
other combination which came under
fire yesterday. joined the procession OF
penitent monopolists on the road
toward dissolution Through the Sec
retary. Otto C. Margraff, this associa-
ton agreed to mend it's ways by strik-
ing from it's rules the objectionable
features which restrict trade.
The DAYS drive not only resulted in
bringing down two new combinations
but brought the inquisitonal power OF
the State almost TO the from, door of the
Employers Trade Association. the
'Thirty-third street crowd. which con-
tfolled absolutely the whole building
situation here through its binding agree
ment with the Brindell council and
labor. The attack on the Employers
Association has been saved for a spec
tacular close next week, when the in
vestigation of the building situation Will
DC finished.
Fought Reduction i'm Plumbing.
New York was one of the worst suf-
ferers in the country from the oppres-
sion of the pipe manufacturers John
r. Leo. chairman of the city's Board OF
Standards and Appeals, the highest ad-
ministrative body in this municipality in
dealing with building, said that the ef-
fort TO substitute lighter pipe and the
auti-siphon trap in plumbing, thereby
cutting the cost Of those materials in
buildings fully so per cent, had been
unsuccessful because OF the opposition
OF the pipe association.
With a view TO changing the city's
regulations regarding plumbing and to
permit the use OF a lighter cast OF pipe
the Board OF Standards held a hearing
recently. Capt. Leo told the committee
Immediately thereafter the board was
flooded with kilograms from all parts of
the country. all worded about the same
and bearing the same date, protesting
against the change. The substitution in
buildings OF less than six stories would
reduce the plumbing cost sbou, half and
would be just as efficient, he said. The
pipe association became aggressive in
fighting the amendment "a
Such change, the witnes, aid. would
apply TO all the cheaper ella of apart
nlents and residences and W I'd greatly
reduce the amount OF pipe he builder
would have to buy. None lfn the tele-
grams offered in evidence game from
manufacturers. They we're part Of the
organized propaganda made to prevent
the cut in building costs.
The board ran into the same stubborn
opposition. the witness testified, in seek
ing to legalize here the use Of anti
siphon traps Following ruling made
last December that such construction
could be used in this city. after tests had
been made. the board learned that the
master plumbers una journeymen had
orders not TO install the siphon traps.
city Rules Ignored.
",rhe master plumbers fought the
adoption of the trap under the regula-
tions of city building and have secured
from the journeymen a resolution pun
ishing by fine, perhaps expulsion, any
journeyn1an plumber who would install
II in a building In this city" Capt. Leo
testified.
you mean the Master Plumbers As
sociation. part OF tho Building Trades
Employers Associa tion?" Mr.. Untermyer
asked.
II believe they arc affiliated" the wit
ness said
And the Journeymen are members Of
the Building Trades Council, that is. a
union that is a member OF the Brindell
Council?"
"I know there is such a union but
do not know OF its affiliations"
rs IL a fact that use of this siphon
trap would reduce largely the cost Of
plumbing construction"
THAT Is a fact. II does away with
the vent line and would eliminate a
large amount OF cast iron pipe In every
building. as well as reduce the amount
OF labor in installation"
And although that has bees approved
by the CITY the master plumbers and
The union .'ave prevented its usc?"
"Ye. sir"
Good Enough for white House.
Building plans providing for the
cheaper construction have been ap-
proved by tho building bureaus. the wit
ness said. but because OF the fact that
pipe manufacturers objected 60 cutting
down the amount OF their materials TO be
used and the unions objected to having
the work OF installing reduced Il has been
impossible In a single instance for build
ers to take advantage OF tho city rule
This anti-sphon trap Is In use in most
cities, In the Congressional buildings in
Washington. the White House and all
the large hotels in Atlantic City. only
IN New York it cannot be used It
would mako a considerable item in the
cost OF the average house or apartment
Apparently anxious TO give the COM
mittee Information and help in the
investigation. Mr.. Tuttle evaded and
parried questions for four hours Tic
was ono OF the most Elusive witnesses
Mr. Untermyer had faced on tho stand
during the whole investigation. and H.
took a long time to get definite an
swer 20 any question. The lawyer sew
eral times lost his patience. something
new for him In an examination but Mr.
Tutue. suave and gentle. never for an
tnstsnt lost his poise and seemed quite