New-York tribune., 1921-04-07
Untermyer to
Break Brindel|
Grip ON Council
Demand Tha, Organization
Rid Self of Rule by Gear
in Sing Sing, Based or Rev
clations i'll The Tribune
Contractors Fight Strike
Outside Dockbuilders Hired
for Staten Island Jobs at
Dollar Under Demand

AS a result OF the evidence uncov-
cred by The Tribune that Robert ?.
Hrindell is still the dominating force
IN the building industry and is even
directing strike operations from Sing
Sing prison, where he Is serving q
sentence, it was declared yesterday
that when the Lockwood committee re-
sumes its investigation of the housing
situation within the next two or three
weeks it will Immediately launch an at
tack against the Building Trades Coun-
cil
This is the organization which gave
Brirdeil, as presldenr, his f-reat in{,u-
enco IN the industry and through
which he plans to continue to function
IS car OF the trade through his init
mate aids. The choice on Tuesday of
Patrick Crowley, former vice e-prcsident
and one of Brindells chief lieutenants,
as head of the council has convinced
Samuel Untermyer, counsel fox the
Lockwood committee, that the labor
kings grip has not been altogether
broken. 1t will not be the purpose of
Mr.. Untermyer, it is understood, to
smash the council, but to bring about
q housecleaning and real reorganiza-
ton.
Employers Under Scrutiny Also
IL this connection it is intimatcd
that the affairs OF the Building Trades
Employers Association, whose rela-
tons with Drindeil are said to have
afforded the latter an additional source
of power, Will be investigated and, II
possible. this phase of his influence
cut Off
of the Lockwood committee the con-
tractors aud builders in the industry
have begun finish fight OF their own
against the operations OF the council.
The latter had ordered all work on
the five piers being built for the city
at Staten Island stopped because Of
the refusal of the contractors to pay
the cement workers $3.50 a day, in
stead OF the prevailing rate of $3.50.
The dock builders replied yesterday
hy employing outside labor to do the
WORK at the $3.50 rate AT the office
Of Henry c. Hunter, counsel for the
Contracting Dock Builders Association.
it was announced that about q hundred
engineers and cement workers had been |
put to work on one Of the piers con- /
Quoted by Smith, Hauser & MacIsaac.
IT was also declared that the contrac-
tors would replace all the dockmen, if /
necessary, which was taken to indicate /
that the builders were prepared to
make final test of their strength
with the Brindell organization.
1t was recalled that Brindell last
summer, just before the beginning of
the Lockwood committee's inquiry, !
promised to obtain 81 a day more for /
all OF the 200 men organized IN the |
to get the advance for the workers |
on January OF this year, but his in
dictment and conviction interfered |
with his program and the raise failed |
TO nlaterial.2e.
Demand May Spread to All
The dock builders assert that $3.50
a day is the prevailing rate for cement
workers in pier operations, and that /
ing wedge of the council leaders to
force an increase all along the line in
accordance with Brindell's promise I
The trouble has tied Up operations on
pier work at Elizabeth and Newark /
\. j.. but here, too, the contractors are !
gradually replacing the strikers with /
outside labor
Matthew McConville, business agent
Of the hosting engineers, and John
Ryan. the active head of the dock and |
pier carpenters union since Brndell
Tas taken to Sing Sing to serve a five
to ten year sentence for eXtortion, were
at Staten Island yesterday directing
the strike of the men, and could not |
be reached for statements. Nor could |
Patrick Crowley, the new council head /