The New York herald., 1920-12-25

committee may be sent TO the upstate
city.
Already the committee has had its in
vestigators at work In Buffalo and
report is now in the hands of the COM
mittee. Persons who profess TO be IA
miliar with that report state that II
shows not only that a system pervades
every part of the building and supplies
business in Buffalo, just as has been
shown to be the circumstance here, but
that virtually all of the State outside OF
New York city is in the grip of an as
sociation which controls and fixes the
prices of building supplies.
1t was said that a monthly magazine
is published and sent to building supply
men quoting the prices which must be
charged for materials. Persistent re-
fusal to abide by the fixed prices, 1t
was stated further. would result in a
dealer being cut off from supplies.
The price of brick was cited as an
illustration of the conditions up State.
Bricks have dropped 10 approximately
SIT thousand in New York, while in
Buffalo bricks are quoted at S32, and
in one or two other upstate cities at as
high as $37 a thousand. as against 81
or SS before the war There is a differ
ence of about So between the price of
brick in Syracuse and the price of brick
in Utica, 1t is understood.
The report made TO the Lockwood
Committee is said TO show that the grip
of the alleged building ring in Buffalo
extends to public work as we'll as
private construction. The housing situa-
ton in Buffalo is critical, and the
tardiness of relief Is blamed largely
upon the alleged building rings. Buffalo
has a population of SOC, 775. according
I'D f- ch
apartments, which means that there are
10000 persons in Buffalo without proper
housing Accommodations and the room
ing house evil Is greatly accentuated.
There is no prospect however that
the committee will be able to get around
to the Buffalo situation until after the
first of the new yer. The opening OF
the Legislature may have some bearing
upon the prospective Buffalo hearing.
The committee in any event, will ex-
perlence great difficulty in finding time
for the Buffalo investigation.
II is expected that the resolution ex-
tending the powers of the committee
will be introduced in the Legislature as
possibly the very first measure 1t Will
receive. 1t is understood the resolution
will ask that power to grant Immunity
TO witnesses be given to the committees
counsel which would facilitate greatly
the obtaining of evidence.
The Board of Standards and Appeals
will meet Monday to decide upon
amendments to the building code to
eliminate the methods by which. ac-
cordlng to the testimony of Chairman
John p. Leo before the Lockwood Com
mittee the plumbers have been able to
keep prices of materials high in New
York. Chairman Leo said yesterday
that il is virtually certain that the
board will decide upon an amendment
which will permit the use of light weight
soil mining in buildings of six stories
or less Of the standard" or extra
heavy piping now required.
The change is one which has been
advocated by the board frequently. but
which always has been combatted sue
cessfully by the plumbing supply men,
Cant. Leo stated. Tests, he said. have
convinced the board that the lighte"
piping is amply able TO withstand the
thirty pounds of pressure developed at
the pipe base Of a six story building.
The saving to be accomplished by the
change and also the reason why, he
says. the supply men have fought the
change may be seen in the fact that
foot length of heavy pipe OF four men
diameter is quoted at S4.2O, while the
light piping may be had at $3.50, diff
ference which amounts to substantial
item in the construction of any large
building.
Within ten days after the boards
decision upon amendments to the build
ing code a public hearing will be held
upon the proposed changes.