New-York tribune., 1921-12-14
Increased EfficicncyUrged
as Basis for Farley i'm
Conflict Over Proposed
Reduction in Wages
Labor's Tyranny
Barred at Hearing
Filming of Concerns and
Workers Without Right
Is Alleged by Witnesses

Samuel Untermyer, chief counsel,
at yesterdays session of the Lock
wood housing committee, made a
concrete suggestion for the set
tlement of the impending controversy
in the building industry which
threatens to tie up all operations on
the first of the year, when contracts
between the employers and employees
expire.
1t is understood to be the intention
cut of ST a day for ali the trades,
coupled with demand for increased
efficiency on the part of the workers.
The union leaders have announced
their determination to resist any re-
duction in their pay. Failure TO agree
on these questions would tie up mil
lions of dollars worth of projects and
throw hundreds of thousands of crafts
crnment has thought the matter suffi-
ciently serious to send Thomas Will
liams, a conciliator of the Departm ent
of Labor, here to assist in averting
the trouble.
Proposal by Untermyer
Mr.. untermyer proposed that the
workers and employees enter into some
agreement for a period of two years
based upon increased efficiency of labor.
He suggested that the employers con-
tinue the present rate of wages for
sixty days after January /; that the
contractors and the workers in the
mean time appoint arbitration commit
tees of three for each of the trades to
pass upon the question of efficiency in
these particular trades for these sixty
days, and that the future wage scale
be based upon the efficiency thus found.
Christian G. Norman, chairman of
the board of governors of the Building
Trades Employers Association, a wit
ness before the committee TO whom
Mr.. Untermyer made the proposal said
the board of governors at their meeting
to-day.
Mr.. Norman indicated that he was
in favor Of the proposition, saying
that the employers would prefer a 25
per cent increase in efficiency on the
part of their workers to decrease in
wages. He said the arrangement would
have to carry with it the elimination
of most of the abuses of the labor
organizations that have been uncov-
cred before the committee.
Alleged Labor Abuses
More of the alleged dominating and
tyrannical. methods" of the plaster
ers' union tending to show how this
organization "held the industry by the
throat were brought to light before the
committee yesterday. Instance after
instance was cited of contractors being
fined by unions for violating union
regulations, although they were not
members of these organizations and
had nothing to do with the making of
these rules. In one instance cited by
witness nine workmen of Italian
German and Hebrew extraction we're
fined $40 each for working on st. Pat
rick's Day, although the day is not 4
legal holiday.
That the prosecution of those indb
Gated by the evidence adduced to have
been guilty of alleged criminal offenses
is not going to be neglected is showl
by the announcement Of Acting Dis
trict Attorney Joab II. Banton ycster
day that the Appellate Division of the
| Supreme Court had granted to him ar
additional grand jury for the January
term of the Criminal Branch of the
Supreme Court.
The jury will hear first of all the
evidence developed by the committed
respecting alleged illegal acts of tn,
International Brotherhood of Electri
cal Workers, Local 3.
Grand Jury Work Laid Out
The new grand jury will be impan
eled January 3, and will sit until it.
work is completed. 1t will report it:
| findings to Justice Isador. Wasservogel
Assistant District Attorney Ferdnant
Pecora has been detailed to handle tht
case.
Mr.. Untermyer prefaced his propose
regarding the building. workers will
the remark that the committee, in be
half of the people of the city and tn,
state, is anxious to see that the i'm
pending crisis in the building industr,
is averted. 1t developed that almos
all the trade unions which have asres
ments with the building contrs tor
are affiliated with the Building Trade.
Council, and that all agreements ex
pire on the first of the year. TIL,
Unions not affiliated with the Building
Continued on page sIx)