The New York herald., 1921-06-17
DAUCHERTY SENDS
CALL TO UN7ERMYER
Asks Conference to Plan
Prosecutions; Buffalo
Combines Broken Up.
SCHOOL BIDS TOO HIGH
Committee Urges Rejection
of Bids Amounting to
$10,00O,OOO.
OBSTRUCTION PLANS FAIL
Record in. Sand and Gravel Dis
closures Sent to District At
torney-Plea to Miller.

Special Despatch TO THE New YORK HERALD.
BUFFALO, June 16.-Although some
of the principal witnesses continued
their obstructive tactics by withhold
ing their books, and in some cases de-
stroying them, and by refusing to
testify without immunity being prom
ised, real progress was made to-day
by the Lockwood legislative inquiry in
the housing situation here.
When adjournment was taken of
hcials of three price-fixing organiza-
tions In the plumbing and sheet metal
trades publicly had announced their
intention Immediately to call meetings
and adopt resolutions of dissolution,
and the committee formally had sug-
gested to the Board Of Education the
advisability of rejecting existing bids
for new schools amounting to $10,-
100000 and calling for new estimates
In this connection 1t was brought
out that bids now under consideration
for number of school buildings are
s1,900,000 less than the first estimates.
Samuel UnterInyer announced 1t was
his belief that in view of the testi-
mony adduced several hundred thou
sand dollars more might be saved IL
bids were again advertised for.
The entire record of the testimony
concerning the sand and gravel combina-
ton Of the four producing companies In
this part Of the State, and the Buffalo
Gravel Corporation, which acted as a
sales agent was transmitted to District
Attorney Guy b. Moore of Erie county,
who at once asked Gov. Miller to sum-
mon an extraordinary term Of the Su-
preme Court to deal with the cases he
expects to present.
Mr.. Untermyer to-day received a letter
from Attorney-General Daugherty sug-
gesting a joint conference next week In
Washington with United States Attorney
William Hayward of New York. to con-
slider plans for the prosecution of the
Federal indictments found as a result
Of the committees exposures in New
York. Mr.. Untermyer Is in conference
here tonight with United States Attor-
ney Louis P. Carlin and District Attorney
Moore on the question of State and Fed
eral prosecutions here.
Attorney II Elected.
william Carroll, secretary Of the BUT.
falo Gravel Corporation.gsu gsubpoSlaed TO
produce the stock ledger and stock GER
tifcate book of that corporation. ap-
peared without them, and was ordered
by Mr.. Untermyer to produce them within
an hour He engaged In a whispered
conversation with Henry w. Killeen.
leading local attorney, who advised him
to resume his seat. The incident caused
Mr.. Killeens election from the hearing.
The books eventually were produced.
The first organization to promise to
disband was the Sheet Metal Contractors
Association of Buffalo. James w. Far
rell. secretary-treasurer. identified corre-
spondenoe showing that the association
was operating as price fixing agency
for labor and material under the general
direction of the national association.
whose headquarters are in Philadelphia.
This organization operated through a
reference card" system, not unlike the
Hettrick "code of practice" plan. He