New-York tribune., 1921-06-15

were permitted to operate. In this
connection it developed that the brick
men here did not infringe on the terri
tory of the Hudson Valley Brick Manu-
facturers' Association, The combine
along the Hudson exposed by the COM
mittee in New York City. Reinhardt
had signed himself as secretary of the
western New York branch of the ma
t'onal association, according TO papers
introduced as evidence
Agreed Against Competition
Reinhardt concluded his testimony
with the blunt statement that these
firms got together to avoid competition
with each other and to fix prices.
That's about it,"
William P. Volgamore, builder, told
Of the high price of glass and the diff
hcuity he encountered in obtaining
loans for his operations. He said he
mad TO pay 2la per cent commission in
addition to the regular 6 per cent for
loan He said that there was short
age of at least 5000 houses in Buffalo
to-day.
Theodore Metz, of Metz Brothers, Inc,
a contracting firm, told OF the Mason
Building Materials Dealers Credit As
sociation, composed of twenty-five to
thirty members, he said, the biggest
dealers in the district. He testified to
a great uniformity of prices in build
ing materials. "ln the last few years"
added Metz. "The builder simply had to
pay what the dealer asked and ask no
questions. He was glad to get it at
that"
Metz also referred to the situation in
plaster, in which, he thought, there
was also n monopoly.
Morris Gevirtzman, another builder
of one and two family houses, told of
the difficulty in obtaining loans for
his crerations, despite the recent law
permitting savings banks to loan on
building work. He said there would
be great Improvement in the building
situation if the banks would lend money
for such surposes. Under conditions
to-day row money can be obtained
until buildings are completed
AT this point David Hyman, presi-
dent Of the Buffalo Sand Company:
Wallace Tubevill, of the Holloway Sand
Company; Harry Brokus. of the Buffalo
Builders Supply Company; Henry
Schaeffer. secretary and treasurer of
the Mason's Association: Menno A.
Reeh, president of the associations
George L. Gaskel, of the Buffalo Supply
Company. and L. Lyth were excused
from testifying when they declined to
sign waivers of immunity
Untermyer Rebukes Dealers
When the men gave as their reason
for declining to sign that they would
have to consult their counsel, Edward
E. O'Malley, former State Attorney
General, Mr.. Untermyer remarked with
some impatience:
What ia ala this talk about consult
ing your attorney? Hasn't Mr.. O'Mal-
ley been sitting in the sessions of the
committee in New York City for day
in and day out. and haven't you men
known of these proceedings and haven't
you consulted your counsel many times
before this hearing began?''
In each case they stated that they
had not spoken on the waiver point.
It was at this point that Mr.. OMallev
arose and demanded to be heard N
view Of the fact that his name had
been brought into the proceedings
Senator Lockwood ordered him to keep
silent. When Mr.. O'Malley persisted
il speaking, Mr.. Lockwood threatened
to have him silenced by the sergeant
at arms.
The hearings will be resumed in the
City Hall at 10 a. m. tomorrow.