The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
20 MORE COMBINES
IN BUILDING TRADES
Lockwood Committee Gets Evi-
dence That May Go Only
to the Grand JurieS.
BLOCKED BY TIME LIMIT
VIII Ask More Power to In
quire Into Insurance and
Savings Institutions.

The Lockwood committee has compiled
evidence showing the existence of
twenty-nine combinations in the building
trades none of which has been touched
as yet at the committees public hear
ings. Nearly a dozen hard and fast
monopolies for regulation of prices and
the amount Of materials released for
building have been shown up already
and the Grand Juries are fixing the re-
sponsibility in each case.
Samuel Untermyer. counsel for the
committee. said after comforting yester-
day with associate counsel that it would
be impossible for the committee in the
limited time left for the inquiry TO
-, present all of the evidence in hand deal
ng with the twenty-nine cases
The intention, AR Untermyer said. Is
/ to drive ahead with all possible speed
| for the next six days OF the hearings.
which will wind up the work for this
year. 1t is expected that possibly a
| dozen or fifteen of the combinations
may be covered in that time. All Of the
evidence in possession of the committee
not reached at the sessions in City Hall
will be turned over TO the Grand Juries
The latter bodies will be asked to carry
along the inquiry relating to all COM
binations not exposed by the committee
Only Six More Sessions.
The collision and grating phases OF
the investigation will be wound up next
week. regardless of how many of the
combinations remain untouched The
committee will meet three days this
week and three next and then adjourn
as it's life expires this year
The moment the Legislature convenes
on January the Lockwood committee
will present its resolution asking fol
continuance of its existence and broad
cning of its powers to cope adequately
with the issues involved In the proposed
investigation Of the insurance companie;
and savings banks
The committee has authority to in
quire into the finances of these institu
tons, but not into their management anC
other important questions. Three new
members will be named by the Legisla
ture to take the places OF those who dc
not return TO Albany and the hearing.
will be resumed here about January /:
and continue three days week for tn,
rest of the month.
Members of the committee viii be ex
cused from attending the sessions of til,
Senate and Assembly while sitting here
II Is the purpose to complete the entir,
inquiry by the end of next month
The alleged combination of stone cutter!
probably will be one Of the first taker
up to-day
silent as to Men Higher Up.
Mr.. Cntermyer refused to say VIII,
are the men higher up in the limeston,
Graftins ring. and whom he charge
Senator Kap!an, Tammany member o
The committee. with trying to shield
Mr.. Cnrermyer had explained in
formal statement that the guilty pie;
OF the limestone contractors was &C
cepted because they had turned State
evidence and supplied information whicl
would lead TO the real culprits, said 4
be connected with the city administra
ton.
Il am not attempting to shield an
one" Senator Kaplan said in answer
ing the charge. The only explanation
that Mr.. Cntermyer gave the commit
tee as TO why leniency should be show
the limestone ring was that they wer
aiding in the case against John
Hettrick, head Of the system. and noN
under indictment. / do not know {
whom Mr.. Untermyer refers as the me
higher up. He has not told the com
mittee. Hettrick was only a tool @
the members of the ring who were lie
off with a fine. and until l am show
who are the men higher up / shall nc
I change NV DOgitiOr