New-York tribune., 1921-01-17
Builders Urged
To Discontinue
Practice Codes
Trades Association Asks the
Elimination of Parts That
Might Cause Criticism i'm
Light of Recent Inquiry
New BrindeIl Move To-day
Littleton Is Expected to
Charge Indictment Error;
Untermyer Plans Fight

Members of the Building Trades En-
ployers' Association have been asked
to discontinue any code-of- practice
scheme, such as was shown to have
existed in testimony relating to John
T. Hettrick brought out before the Lock
wood committee in it's investigation of
the housing situation, according to an
announcement made yesterday by Sam
uel B. Donnelly, secretary of the as-
sociation. The announcement was pub
lished in the Real Estate Record and
Builders Guide.
Mr.. Donnelly asserts that during
the present investigation it has not
been shown that any member Of the as
sociation ever paid or offered graft to
business agent"
Asked to Submit Codes
All members are asked by Mr.. DON
nelly to submit any code Of practice
to the board Of governors. The state
ment says:
During the state investigation it
has been shown that some Of the trade
regulations under the name of Code
of Ethics or Code of Practice The
Building Trades Employers Associa-
ton has been accused of neglecting its
duty in that it has made no effort to
restrain its trade associations. While
the association has had no part in
these alleged combinations, your ex-
ecutive committee fully realizes that
the association is held to some extent
responsible by the public for the con-
duct of the. trade organizations. The
executive committee Of the board Of
governors, therefore, requests you to
carefully examine the constitution and
bylaws of your associations and elimi-
nate therefrom any provision that, in
the light of the recent investigation,
might render you subject to criticism.
"If you have adopted code Of
ethics or code of practice you are re-
quested to discontinue the same unless
you feel that you are acting abso-
lutely within your legal rights. and, if
SO, please submit such code Of ethics
or code of practice through your rep
resentatives on the board of governors
to the board at it's next regular meet
ing"
Mr.. Hettrick, who was among those
indicted as a result of the Lockwood
committees disclosures, was charged
with being the originator Of the code
Of practice between the heads Of the
unions and contractors.
Brindell Trial Resumes To-day
Important developments are expected
at the resumption to-day before Justice
McAvoy in the criminal branch of the
Supreme Court of the trial of Robert
P. Brindell, head of the Building Trades
Council.
When the case was adjourned last
Thursday hints were made by Martin
W. Littleton, counsel for Brindell, of
the existence of an error in the in
dictment of which the defense would
attempt to take advantage. 1t is under
stood that Samuel Untermyer, chief
prosecutor, and also chief counsel for
the Lockwood committee, has prepared
to combat any plan to delay the case
on the ground Of alleged error. Brin-
dell is charged specifically with having
extorted $4,000 from Max Aronson in
| return for calling off strike ordered
on construction work at 229 West
Thirty sixth Street. Mr.. Untermyer
obtained ruling from the court per-
mitting him to attempt to show that
the alleged extortion against Aronson
was part of an organized system of
extortiOn