The New York herald., 1921-05-25
PRICE LIFTED 70 PC.
| BY POOL IN CRATES,
| TILES AND MANTELS
Setter and His Helper Got
$14 a Day, but S24 Was
Put Upon Owners Bill.
ARCHITECTS IN REVOLT
Builders Hardware Bureau
Held Up Jobs on Stop
Orders Arbitrarily.
EXCUSE FOR BLACKMAIL
Untermyer Digs Up Fresh Evi-
dence on High Costs of
Erecting Houses.
EXCUSE FOR BLACKMAIL

| successfully in most cases-to hoist
their profits on labor from Is per
cent. in 1919 to something better than
70 per cent. in 1920 was shown from
documentary evidence presented to
the Lockwood legislative committee
yesterday by Samuel Untermyer.
That the attempt was not hailed
with enthusiasm by architects and
owners also was shown by letters from,
some Of the indignant recipients of the
associations notices. One from +. G.
Cobb. architect, addressed to Charles
r. Cheney, secretary OF the associa-
ton, expressed the wish Il hope you
choke" Another from Hugo Kohler
reminded the secretary that he had
overlooked mentioning the necessity
OF sending expensive limousines to
carry the workmen whose services
were required.
These and other caustic comments
followed the issuance in 1920 Of cir
cular notice to members fixing rate
OF s24 a day to be charged owners for
| the services of q tile setter and helper
for an eight hour day. The setter re-
ceived $8 and the helper So, giving
profit Of $40 day on every setter and
helper employed. In 1919 the rate OF
pay was $3.50 for setter and $3.50 for
| a helper, or $13 for the pair, which was
charged for at the rate of $1b.
| Other tables of figures the correctness
! OF which was testified to by Hartwell A.
Taylor. secretary of the Builders Hard
| ware Manufacturers Service Bureau.
and HaIlock w. Beals, secretary of the
Riddle Purchasing Agency. showed the
steady upward trend of manufacturers
prices for a variety-Uf materials enter
| ing into building construction. Some OF
| these advances were in excess OF 800 per
cent. Mr.. Beals yentured the suggestion
| that labor costs were largely responsible,
but on being pressed by Mr.. Untcrmyer
| was unable to cite a single article In
which the labor factor in its produc-
ton had advanced at corresponding
rate.
Protection Given Contractors.
| The principal other feature of yester-
DAVIS session of the committee was the
disclosure in the Tile, Crate and Mantel
Association OF an elaborate system OF
protection" for contract holders. This
system was operated through the circu-
lation OF TX. O." or IS. o." cards when
for any reason member of the associa-
ton requested it. They meant that the
contractor receiving such card should
keep or or stay on the Job involved
until the dispute with the original con-
tractor was settled to the latter's salts
faction.
II was the old system existing, as the
committee has shown. in most Of the
| other combinations investigated, but
worked out to a little more effective
degree For instance, in the case Of the
tile, CRATE and mantel contractors pro-
vision Is made for an arbitration board
to consider disputes. This board con-
! sisted OF two and sometimes three meni-
bers. but the Joker in the arrangement
was that these men were paid at the
/ rate Of SIS a day apiece and the amount
| charged up against the unfortunate
owner that had the dispute.
Mr.. Cheney, whose connection in the
| capacity of secretary extends 10 four c.
\ five similar organizations. was reluc-
| tant witness at tinbss, but Mr.. Unter-
myer. by persuasion and the production
of documentary proof. managed usually
| to get at the facts.
do YOU know OF any instance where
the members OF the arbitration board
| ever found that the owner. who was
paying than $50 day each. had the
| right end OF the dispute?" Mr.. Unter-
| myer asked. Mr.. Cheney thought he
could dig UP the record of such case
| IL time were given to him. and Mr.. Tn
! terinyer asked him TO produoe IL. re-
marking that the committee would con-
slider it quite curiosity
| Mr.. Untermyer showed that the vari-
| GUS forms of orders. grouped under the
general term of stop ordars." were the
usual reliance OF contractors TO protect
| themselves In any sort of emergency
Contractors. he showed. resorted to
them for such resasons as change OF
| plan" "unabls to get material" or be
cause of non payment" In most cases
Secretary Cheney issued the order auto
matically and II had the effect OF hold
| Ing up all work on the job.
| Mr.. Cheney admitted that IL the owner
should prefer TO go to the courts rather
than to the organizations hand picked
arbitration board he probably would be
unable TO get any work done while the
case was pending.
stop Orders Always Obeyed.
| Failure to comply with stop order"
Cheney said, probably would result in a
demand for an explanation by the other
members Of the association. He wasn't
sure what might happen. because tho or
ders generally were observed 10 the let
ter. He could give no instance Of a case
where stop order" had been issued
against a job and the work completed
without the consent Of tho contractor
asking for the order.
/ Don't you see that such procedure
constitutes a prolific source OF oppres-
sion and biackmail?" Mr.. Untermyer
asked. The witness admitted that II
might, but wouldn't agree that Il did.
Some firms II was shown. had issued as
many as dozen requests for stop or
ders' on Jobs during 1920.
Mr.. Taylor of the Building Hardware
Manufacturers Service Bureau reused
the anger OF the committee by his fine
discrimination In his answers. He per-
sisted that his orga nization did not send