New-York tribune., 1920-10-21
Lawyer for Contractors
Testifes as 20 Bid-Rais-
ing System; Receives
One Per Cent Rake-Of
Called an Attack
On Union Labor
Trades Council Head Got
SO Gents a Month From
1900 Dock Workers

Several dramatic moments
marked the opening session yester-
day of the Lockwood joint legis'a-
tive committee on housing in its in
vestigation into the alleged conspir-
acy to maintain the prices of build
ing materials at artifcially high
levels.
Interest was centered OH the tes.
timony of John T. Hettrick, a law
yer, of 165 Broadway, who said he
was counsel for three trade associ-
ations engaged in the building indus
try-plumbing, steam-heating and
limestone construction-and received
l per cent of the gross business of
his clients. One of these associa-
ton did business of about $4,000
600 last year.
Mr.. Hettrick admitted he was the
author of a card system whereby all
bids by his clients on contract jobs
were submitted to him and he ad-
vised his clients regarding accept
ance. His testimony concerning
these cards led Samuel Untermyer,
counsel for the committee, to ask:
Witness Resentful
Did you number them because
you knew it was an unlawful scheme
to throttle competition and protect
yourself against detection?"
Il resent the imputation," re-
piled the witness.
This phase of the investigation was
not completed yesterday, but will be
continued to-day. At the conclusion of
yesterdays session Mr.. Untermyer
said: "Thc facts speak for them
selves. We are progressing favora-
! bly,"
Other outstanding features were:
The Building Trades Employers AS
sociation last April voluntarily in
creased the wages of $4,000 workers
from Is to 20 per cent without any pres
sure from the employees, despite the fact
two-year wage agreement had been
signed only four months previously.
Robert P. Brindell, president of the
Building Trades Council admitted he
received so cents month from 4s0O
dock workers and that his wife owned
the house which the council held its
meeting. He admitted that the council
had no bylaws, no charter from the
A. r. of L. and was not organized un-
der any state law.
Witnesses on Defensive
The entire session resolved itself
into fight between Mr. Untermyer
and the witnesses. On three occa-
sions Mr.. Untermyer produced unex-
pected documents before his witnesses
that Immediately produced change
in their attitude on the stand.
The morning session was brought to
an abrupt close by an interruption
from the body OF the hall, where Rob
crt P. Brindeil, the labor leader, was
being examined concerning the books
of the Building Trades Council. 1t was
caused by a lawyer who said his name
was John j. O'Connor. Jumping to his
feet. O'Connor exclaimed:
THE witness need not answer any
more questions. This is merely a
direct attack on organized labor to
discredit it. l will advise all labor
witnesses not to come to the commit
tee"
When the session was resumed in
the afternoon Mr.. Untermver made the
following statement TO the conemittee.
"The bosterous gentleman. whose
name | did not gather, who broke in
on the proceedings of the committee
just before the recess has sought TO
create the false impression that some
of the questions asked one of the wit
nesses involves or implies d proposed
attack OH organized labor. This is not
true. 1t is far from true. Nothing is
further from our thoughts, although il
may become necessary in the course OF
the inquiry to expose abuses that are
injuring the legitimate cause Of organ
lied labor, just as it will be necessary
to expose unlawful combinations and
like abuses that infest the building
material trade, all Of which are retard-
ing, discouraging and adding TO the
cost OF new construction
Nest Dramatic Incident
The most dramatic incident OF the
session occurred in the afternoon dur
ing the examination of Hettrick, wh d
had been trying to fencs with Mr.
Untermyer from the moment he wen:
to the witness stand He had just de-
clared that he had not been very sue.
cessful in obtaining the money under
the per cent of gross business ar
d rangement when Mr.. untermyer brok,
in and said: Don't tell US that; Ne
know better. You see, we know few
: things ourselves"
Then pointing to several coloree
= cards lying on the table before hiir
= Mr., Untermyer continued: You recog
r nze those, don't you? They have .
e familiar look!''
d YES" replied the witness, "ver,
e familiar. think I am the or;ginasci
r of that and l think | am very proue
d of it, too"
T Then. with the color mounting :,
c his cheeks, Hettrick asked his In
s quisitor: "Are those all blank cards
e Mr.. Untermyer7" ?"