The New York herald., 1921-12-16
some LABOR UNIONS
YIELD UNTERMYER
Will Let Lockwood Probe
Counsel Revise Bylaws
to End Bad Habits.
EXTORTION MUST STOP
Plasterers' Local Accepts
Reforms and the Others
Will Follow Soon.
PUBLIC HEARINGS HALT
Only Private Sessions Until
Jan. 5, Pending Report to
Legislature.
PUBLIC HEARINGS HALT

Officials of most Of the labor unions
that have been under investigation by
the Lockwood Legislative Committee
on Housing yesterday told the men,
bers of the committee and Samuel
Untermyer, chief counsel, that they
would use every effort to reform and
revise their bylaws and practices
within the limits prescribed by the
committee. Mr.. Untermyer gave them
until January to put these promises
into. effect on pain Of prosecution on
charges of extortion and conspiracy.
Plasterers' Local Union so of Man
haitian and The Bronx was the first
organization to see the wisdom of re-
Colleran, president; John Pearl, vice.
president, and Michael Gallagher, re-
cording secretary, visited Mr.. Inter.
myer and expressed willingness to
provided they were allowed to consult
their own counsel first. Pearl did not
agree to the necessity for any changes
in the constitution and bylaws of the
organization, but he was overridden by
his two colleagues. Several Of the
other organizations that have been
under fire followed the plasterers' lead
at the end Of the afternoon session at
a private conference with the commit
tee, and arrangements have been made
for conferences with the officials Of
other unions who were not represented
yesterday.
told the repentant leaders was that
they must get back to the job Of being
labor organizations and quit setting
themselves up as dictators to owners and
employers. The plasterers. for instance
must agree to let the owner Of a build
ing decide in future whether he will
have a piece Of work "set" or run" on !;
whether he will have imitation or real
marble and otherwise determine certain
details that heretofore have been de-
termined for him by the unions, invari-
ably at additional expense. That the
reformation is likely to be fairly
thorough is indicated by the fact that
several of the organizations concerned
have invited Mr.. Untermyer to redraft
their bylaws for them.
Union Members Also object.
It Is only fair to the members of
some of the unions to say that unless
these reforms are made Immediately ef-
fective there are likely to be several
good sized rows within the organiza-
tions. THE NEW YORK HERALD was in
formed yesterday that certain of these
unions had sent delegations to Mr.. I'm
termyer assuring him that the great ma
jority of the members either were un-
aware or not In sympathy with the more
vicious of the practices that have been
complained of. They added that they
were prepared to demand that the prac-
tices be stopped even il It meant repudia-
tion Of existing leaders. Mr.. Untermyer
would not discuss this phase of the sit
uation nor make public the names OF
these organizations. Nevertheless the
committee is aware OF the sentiment, and
Ia prepared to take advantage OF II In
putting reforms into effect.
Mr.. Untermyer also announced that 1t
was the committees intention to ask for
tho reindictment Of certain members OF
the Tile. Crate and Mantel Association
who escaped with fines after pleading
guilty to violations In the Federal Court
He believes the evidence disclosed at the
recent sessions of the committee has
shown that these men have not aban-
doned the practices for which they were
indicted.
"They evidently have overlooked the
fact that they can be punished twice for
the same offence that their punishment
for the offence against the Federal Law
does not interfere with their punish
ment for the offence against the state
law" Mr.. Untermyer told the commit
tee. He also announced that the felony
indictment against William II. Chap
man, who was convicted and served a
sentence for coercing plumbers into
Joining the Hettrick combine. VIII be
tried in the January term OF the SUI
preme Court. Mr.. Untermyer probably
will conduct the prosecution as spe-
cial deputy attorney general.
Conditions in the brick industry were
touched upon yesterday, and the indica-
tions were that a thorough investiga-
ton of the price fixing and sales prac-
tices Of the Havcrstraw brickyards VIII
follow. When the brick dealers, men,
bers of the Association of Dealers In
Masons' Building Materials, were I'm
dicted last summer for violation OF the
State laws several of them pleaded
guilty and were fined by Supreme Court
Justice Vernon M. Davis. Others, in
cluding several of the Haverstraw man.
ufacturers, pleaded not guilty and have
not vet been tried. Several of them who
were called in connection with the In
vestigation refused to waive immunity
on account of the pending indictments,
and this phase Of the investigation was
suspended temporarily.
substitutc for Brick Trust.
Tt IL the committees belief that
since the exposure OF the operation OF
the brick trust through the dealers as
sociation the material men are getting
practically the same results through the
Greater New York Brick Company,
which Mr.. Untermycr contends is merely
a selling agency created and maintained
to keep prices uniform. Proof OF this, =
Mr.. Untermyer told the committee. rs
intended to he directed toward showing
that tho brick combination has not
abated it's activities"
Through Denton Fowler, member of
the firms of u. r. Washburn & Co. and
u. Fowler. Jr., g. Co, II was shown that
the Greater New York Brick Company
was organized with $4,000 capital
stock divided among the Haverstraw
brick manufacturers In proportion TO
the capacity OF their plants.
what was the purpose Of organizing