New-York tribune., 1921-02-17
Bill Edwards
Mentioned i'm
Hettricl1 Trial
Contractors Letter to Code
Head Telling of Aid
Promised i'm One Job
Is Offered i'm Evidence
Stimson Clears Collector
Plumber Says His Business
Was ThrotiIed by Pact
With the Accused LAWYER

Big Bill" Edwards, Collector Of In
ternal Revenue for this port, figured in
yesterdays testimony at the trial 81
John I. Hettrick before Supreme Court
Justice McAvoy. Hettrick and three
co-defendants are charged with conspir-
ing to force plumbing contractors into
ms code of practice" clearing house
Tor bids in the plumbing industry.
The Collectors name was brought to
the fore in two letters which had
passed between Milton Schnaier. a
plumbing contractor, and Hettrick in
connection with the detrimental effect,
ochnaler complained, the "code Of
practice was having on his business.
The letters were introduced in evidence
by the prosecution.
In the first letter. written IN fbs
early part of 1920, Schnaier informed
Hettrlck that there was a plumbing con-
tract to be let for the Bilt,nore Country
Club, which John Nee. Bowman, head
OF the bowman string of hotels, in
ciudlng the Biltmore, Commodore and
others, was planning to build in Vest
chester County. Schnaier pointed out
that he hoped to obtain this contract
with the assistance OF Collector Ed
wards, of whom he was an intimate
friend. and who in turn was on friend
~ terms with Mr.. Bowman.
Wants Job "Code or No Code"
In another letter to Hettrick the fol
lowing day Schnaier reminds Hettrick
that the Biltmore Country Club lob
must not be allotted to any one else.
"code of practice or no code of prac
tice," as the work practically had been
promised him through the kind assist
ance of the Collector
Colonel Henry L. Stimson, chief pros
ecutor, explained to reporters that
there was nothing unusual about the
references in these letters to Collector
Edwards. that the letters were simply
introduced by the prosecution to show
the hold Hettrick had on the Industry
and that no plumber subscribing to the
scheme could get a contract except
through Hettrick's 0 x. He added
that he regretted the letters were in
troduced, as they appeared to be OF
little consequence and had no vital
bearing on the case.
Collector Edwards said at his rooms
n the Hotel Commodore last night
'naL IL WAS Trivial matter, that he
had merely done a small favor for a
friend, as any one might do.
In another letter Schnaier COM
planned that his business was being
throttled by Hettrick's code Of prac-
tice scheme and served notice that he
was going to get out.
81 am not going to sit idly by" he
wrote, "and give up the opportunity of
obtaining contracts while my overhead
charges go on, just to make the code of
practice a success, when it means the
curtailment of my business. II your
rules provide for general sharing of
business without regard to ability or
hard work, you can count me OUT"
Schnaier was a member of the code
. Of practice when he wrote these let
ters.
Oral Agreement Prevented
Henry S. Lion, an architect for
Schnaier, told how his firm had bid
100000 for some work for a building
operation of Fred S. French Company,
I at Seventy second Street and Fifth
Avenue. He sent the bid to Hettrick
he said, who told him he must revise
/ it upward. Schnaier declined and tried
to make an oral arrangement to do the