The evening world., 1920-11-24

threat OF causing a strike on the Pa
efno bindings at No. 22O West fist
street, and No SS4 West End Avenue.
Palermo offered $1,000. Chap
man offered 10 compromise for
5000, and Palermo paid IT, Pa.
tzrno also told Of paying St,750
-'iaitiat,on foes" for using thirty
,five men Of zaranko's union in
wrsoking three buildings in West
11st Street.
LEfdncy II. SOM, contractor for
S1aking a hotel out Of the Peter Stuy-
xtsnnt apartment house at Central
NIX West and seth Street, said he
ut the plumbing contract TO Joseph
Lipkof for SS7 900. Lipkof had tenn
porcTy membership IN the Master
Plumbers Association. This MEM
bership was revoked and Lpkof. who
could no longer hire union plumbers,
bad 10 throw UP his contract.
Delegate Chapman appeared with
nbtice 10 that effect.
Albert Dcischel took over the con-
tract lie had continual trouble with
,abor and begged off the contract,
Mr.. Som said, on the ground that
Influences which were too big FOR
him we're at work"
Then. Mr. Som said, he decided 20
give the contract to "a member OF the
Clique Of plumbers who had been
supposed TO get the job" lie said
Chapman did not indicate the par
ticplar contractor who must have the
contract. Mr.. SOM said he selected
Jsfoho Brothers, whose original bid
had been $4,000. ellie had to pay
$4,000 to Jarcho Brothers to finish
taa Dob though he had already paid |
5sNeral thousand dollars to the un-
successful contractors. The COM
pleted plumbing. he said, cost him |
about $4,000, exclusive OF $4,000
worth of extras.
Charles G. Cornell jro OF Cornell 4
Underwood. dealers in pipe and ut
tinks, told Of the monthly luncheons
At the Wool Club OF the representa-
tives OF tho eighteen firms in the |
National Pipe and supply Company.
lie admitted they met on the first
Wednesday in each month to talk |
business, and the firms paid the |
luncheon bill. These lunchoons have |
continued for ten years.
q. Do you know there is a great
Uniformity in prices OF pipe IN this
community? A. think there IS
@. A practical unanimity, isn't
there? A. No.
Q. At stated intervals the prices
Change? A. Yes, according to the
ron market.
q. Isn't it true that all the gentle
men who attend these lunchcons send |
DOT these price lists? A. think 80.
q. Are they not identical? A. No.
1 Wouldn't 90 30 far as that,
q, You send these lists TO all your
competitors? A. | do.
@. And they send you theirs: A, No
Q. Do all the members Of your
luncheon party change their LISTS at
the same timer A. think so.
O. Do you sell outside OF New York?
A. No. New York is our territory.
Q. You do not sell in Philadelphia
and Philadelphia does not sell here?
A. we don't sell in Philadelphia, but
J Philadelphia encroaches on this ter
Iitory some.
q. White the matter with your
National Association? Can't it stop
that7 A. ] think it ought ~.
Q. Can't your little luncheons start
the machinery to make the National
Association? A. There is no way Of
doing that, apparently.
q. DO you discuss these price lists
at your luncheons? A. We are very
careful not TO. We were advised some
years ago that would be regarded rs
Illegal, We talk past business, gen
,eral business, but we do not fix prices
No, sir.
The witness explained that pipe |
prices are based on list price" OF .
40 cents a pound. Prices vary accord
ing to the liberality OF the discounts |
allowed by the dealers.
Mr.. Cornell at length admitted that
MS firm set the pace in MAILING |
prices. He admitted having told !
lseonard Mtllstein, assistant counsel, |
that the othcr dealers generally fol-
loved his lead. There was a 0ro-
longed discussion az to whether M.
Cornell had answered Mr.. WaHstein's
question by saying Sure" 'or
Surely"
Mr. Untermyer then turned to an
inquiry as TO whether there were
combinations OF pipe manufacturers.
There are nine manufacturers Of steel
pine and four Of iron pipe, the wit
ness explained. Nearly all are by
concerns like the Republic steel Com
pany, the National Tube Works and
the Reading Iron Company. This
last with the A. ". Bycrs Company
practically control the wrought iron
pipe market. Strikes have hampered
one of them within a year, he said
There is not enough wrought iron
pipe 20 go around
Edgar J. White, now superintendent