The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-05-07
PRISON IS URGED
AS ONLY BAR TO
BUILDING GRAFT
Lockwood Committees Res
OlutiOn Demands Substan-
tial Sentences.
WILL AFFECT ALL CASES
Untermyer Is Instructed to
Confer With Attorney-Gen-
eral for Next Move.
WILL AFFECT ALL CASES

Samuel Untermyer. counsel for the
Lockwood committee Investigating
housing, was instructed by a resolu-
ton adopted yesterday by the COM
mittee to confer with Attorney Gem
eral Newton in regard to recommenda-
of corporations and individuals con-
victed or who pleaded guilty to in
dictments found as a result OF the
committees investigation.
The resolution sets forth that illegal
combinations cannot be abated and
building revived unless offenders are
punished by Substantial prison SEN
tences" The resolution, it was made
clear, was not directed solely at the
thirty-two corporations and individ-
uals that recently entered pleas Of
guilty and who are to be sentenced
by Supreme Court Justice Vernon M.
Davis on Monday. 1t was adopted to
apply as we'll to all future prosecu-
tions.
Mr.. Untermyer declined to indicate In
any way what his next move would be
or when he would take the matter up
with the Attorney-General His per-
sonal views, however. he set forth In
remarks before the committee last
Wednesday. when he expressed the
opinion that the full measure of bene-
fit would not be derived from the COM
mittee's investigation unless jail SEN
tences followed.
one Way to End Evil.
The resolution follows. in part:
Whereas, the Investigations thus far
conducted though still uncompieteo
have already disclosed the existence OF
widespread criminal conspiracies IN re-
straint of both State and interstate
trade in substantially every line OF IN
dustry affecting building construction
the effect of which has been to renoer
the cost of building well nigh prohipi-
tive and to greatly enhance rents and
the general cost of living; ana
Whereas, many indictments OF meni-
hers CT such illegal combinations have
been found and many convictions have
already resulted as the outcome OF such
action: and
whereas. the experiences of the COM
mittee have demonstrated that sucn
illegal combinations cannot be abated
and the evils flowing from their opera
tions ended and the construction Oh
building revived and stimulated unless
the guilty individual offenders VINO are
SHOWN to have actively. flagrantly. per-
sistently and knowingly violated the
criminal laws are punished by substan-
tial prison sentences; and
Whereas, the committee Is OF the
opinion that the views of Mr.. Inter
myer. senior counsel to the committee.
on this ubject should be brought to the
attention of the eAttorney-General of the
State to the end that he make from
time to time such recommendations to
the courts before whom these offenders
are arraigned for trial as he may deem
proper in the light Of the above recited
facts and as may be permitted by the
court; now. therefore. be 1t
Resolved, That Mr.. Untermyer. sem
Tor counsel for the committee. be and
he is hereby requested to confer with
the Attorney General and to make such
recommendations to the Attorney-Gen-
eral as he may deem warranted by the
facts"
Opposition to Resolution.
The resolution was not adopted BY
unanimous vote, although the exact
division was not disclosed. Individual
members OF the committee declined to
discuss the action. but 1t was learned
that an element present was opposed to
making any suggestion whatever 20 tho
Attorney G General on the theory that the
committees work ended when indict-
ments had been found. Two members
of the committee. Senator Salvatore a.
Gothic, Democrat. and Assemblymaa
Edward Neary. Republican, of Queens
we're excused from voting on the ground
that they had only recently been desig
mated members and were not familiar
with the subject Assemblyman Peter
a. Leininger. Democrat was not pres
pnt
Ii was stated, unofficially that The
vote on the resolution stood In favor
and 3 opposed. Those favoring the
resolution were said to be Senator
Charles G.. Lockwood, chairman: Sem
ator William A. Carson and Assembly
men James II. Caulfield and Ward "
Tolbert all Republicans Those op-
posed were said to be Senator j. j.
Dunnlgan and Assemblyman Peter
EIamill Democrats. and Assemblymaa i
Thomas w. McWhinney. Republican,