New-York tribune., 1921-01-03
L LOCKWOOD Committees
Report Will Suggest
Regulation of Builders
by Special Commission
Control of Labor
Also Is Intimated
Proposed Body May Lead
to Federal Action to
Prevent New Abuses

When Samuel Untermyer, chief coun-
sci for the Lockwood committee, turns
over to the new Legislature a complete
report OF the committees investigation
Of the housing situation he will recon-
mend the appointment of a permanent
state trade commission to correct the
abuses exposed by the committees
probe.
The recommendation will be one of
the features Of the report, which is ex-
pected to be ready in about four weeks.
By that time the committee hopes to
have gone into all the phases of the
building industry not touched upon at
its recent sessions. This is assuming
that there will be no DELAY in the pas
sage of the resolution drafted by Mr..
untermyer and his associates yesterday
lengthening the life of the committee
and broadening its powers to include
thorough probe of insurance companies
and banks. The resolution will be intro
duced in the Legislature on January. 5.
Want Corrections Made Permanent
While details of Mr.. Untermyer's pro-
posed recommendation were not availa-
Bile yesterday, it is known that mem
bers of the committee and its counsel
nave telt for a long time that there
should be some legislation to give per-
manence to the effect of the investiga-
ton. They point out that while numer-
Gus prce-hxing combinations have been
broken up, corrupt labor leaders put on
trial and prices on building materials
brought down, there was nothing to pre-
vent a recurrence Of the abuses.
1t was intimatcd that the proposed
state trade commission may serve az the
basis for Federal body of simiar scope
with powers sto regulate national trade
bodies along the same lines followed by
the Interstate Commerce Commission in
connection with railroads.
1t is understood that under its pro-
visions all trade associations would be
requlxed to register, have uniform sys-
ten3 OF accounting and keep their books
always open for inspection by state al-
thority- Where price fixing is deemed
advisable Tor any reason it always shall
pc undHr direct government supervision.
1t was h.rted that the recommendations
will include the regulation Of Ia bor
bodies along similar lines
Lobby Out TO Beat Resolution
In connection with the resolution
continuing the life of the committee
it appeared yesterday that a strong
lobby already has made itself felt al
Albany to oppose certain of its pro
visions. Agents Of the insurance com
panles, particularly, are preparing to
put up fight against that phase of
the resolution calling for an inquiry
nto their financial affairs Mr.. Inter
myer. however, is determined that thew
shall not go untouched, being con
vinced that much of the trouble Of
the hous ng situation was q result of
the lack OF financial support to build
ers from this source.
Mr.. Untermyer finished the drafting
OF the resolution yesterday and will 90
to Albany to direct the fight for it's
passage.
In the mean time the trial of Robert
?. Brindell, head Of the Building
Trades Council, indicted seven times
on charges of extortion and attempted
extortion, will begin Wednesday before
Justice McAvoy In the Supreme Court.
He will be defended by Martin w. Lit
tleton and other counsel. The prose
cution will be headed by MIR Inter
myer, W tn Deputy Attorney General
Berger and others as associates.
Following the Brindell trial the COM
mittee will contnuc is exposures OF
building trades com mbinations, Of which
about twenty remain to be invest-
gated. 1t is expected that about 150
more indictments will BE- found as q
result of the criminal evidence turned
up by the revelations.