The New York herald., 1920-12-04
RING POLITICIANS
LINKED WITHPER
AND TOWINGTRUST
Untermyer Shows Freights
OH Brick for City Scared
300 to 500 Per Cent.
STONE AND ICE UP HIGH
Mccarthy, Murphy's Friend,
and Kane, a Big Builder,
Sought for a Week.
TUGS CHUGS ADD TO RENT
Typewriter Experts Say Min
utes of Bureau Were Writ
ten at the Same Time.
TUGS CHUGS ADD TO RENT

ten at the Same Time.
The books and records of the so
called building trust which were OBJ
tanned by the Lockwood committee
after a long struggle were sent yes
terday to the Extraordinary Grand
Jury with the charge that the records
have been falsified by the substitution
of "doctored' minutes.
With that issue. which has blocked
the investigation for nearly week,
we'll out of the way, Samuel Unte"-
myer, as counsel for the committee,
opened the attack which Is expected
! to establish a connecting link be-
tween the ring Of the politicians be-
lieved to control city piers and oper-
ators of the towing, brick and ice
trusts who are accused of maintain
| ing monopolies which exclude compe
tition and impose extortionate profits
on the public.
| The first testimony on this new
line of inquiry was given by Edward
Fowler, banker and brick manufac-
| turer of Haverstraw. who stated that
| the Cornell Towing Company holds a
complete monopoly on Hudson River
towing and has boosted the price of
carrying a barge load of brick down
the Hudson in some instances 800 per
cent. and in others as high as 500
per cent.
Seeking Friend Of Murphy.
Mr. Untermyer had expected that the
inquiry into the local combinations and
trusts in the numerous building trades
and industries would end this weok.
TIKI committee was handicapped greatly
by Martin Conboys continued fight to
prevent investigation OF the affairs OF
the Building Supply Bureau. The results
are that ulemhcrs Of that bureau already
are indicted for contempt. the commit
tee alleges that the books have been ex-
purgated and announcement is made
that John A. Mccarthy, close friend of
Charles 4. Murphy. and John p. Kane.
big man in the building industry. cannot
be reached by subpoena servers who have
been after them for week.
=
tors. truckmen. housewreckers and sand
men formed an organization known as
the Contractors Protective Association
and sought 70 improve conditions in each
Of those trades A rate of labor wages
was fixed b. the employers tor day work
whereby the contractor could make
big profit on the work done.
When r taxpayers strolls along River
side Drive and observes the little tug
boats chugging down the Hudson. with
long tows of barges trailing behind. he
may reflect. IL he cares to consider eco
nomic problems, that each chug is adding
unnecessarily 20 the high cost OF his
rent his ice and probably many other
monthly bills against which he protests
in vain.
just how 4 happens was explained TO
the committee by Mr.. Fowler. tall. white
haired and distinguished looking banker.
He is president OF the Greater New York
Brick Company. an organization in which
about IS per cent. Of all brick dealers
in this state hold stock.
Hudson Brick output Restricted.
Before taking up the tugs and their
relation to rent Mr. Fowler explained
that the total capacity OF the briclcyaris
on the Hudson is about 1900, 600 900 a
year. but that this year the output is
fewer than 500 600. 600. AS a banker.
he said. he lends money on bricks ''un-
der the she'd" but he denied those loans
we're made to weak manufacturers In
order that the bricks could be held in
reserve instead OF being thrown into the
market and prices broken. After he had
told how the Hudson River brick are
marketed Mr.. Fowler was asked by Mr..
Untermyer:
Your scows are towed down the river
by the Cornell company
eyes. sir"
"That company has a monopoly OF the
towing. hasn't it?"
Nearly. I guess
"You know it has a monopoly. Is tho
only towing company ON the Hudson
River and boosted the price?'
eyes"
How much has it boosted the price in
the last three years.
IL should think about 500 per cent"
",rhey boosted tho price from 500 to
L. 900 per cent. have they not2"
II would not wonder at ALL"
How do they cofne to be tho only
towing concern on the river. with the
tremendous business that goes up and
down the river. do you know
II don't | know we started against
ITEM once or twice but we quit--could
not keep going"
Does the towing company have tho
dockaee privileges too?"
II don't think So
what do they get now FOR towing a
bargcG"
IL think we IN Haverstraw are paying
30 cents thousand and 20 per cent
added for coat"
And the barge holds how manyT'
About 400. .O00."
"That amounts TO how muchr
"To s160 load and 20 per cent.
added"
How many barges does one tug towy-
"Freauently twenty-five or thirty"
Three tuss upon one trip earn aboot
Sh.000r' u