The New York herald., 1921-12-17
Electric Worker Asks News
of 100000 Strike Fund
and $4,000 in Bonds.
FIRE RATES DROPPING
Insurance Exchange Not Going
Far Enough on Premiums
Affecting Housing.

puDllc hearings next month Samuel
Untermyer will institute an investi-
cation into complaints he has received
that monopoly exists in the manu-
facture and sale of incandescent cleo
tric light bulbs. 1t is the belief Of the
counsel to the committee that the
cost of bulbs could be reduced by a
half or a third and still leave legiti-
mate profit for the manufacturer.
The committees information, it was
learned yesterday, is that the annual
output of bulbs amounts to hundreds
of millions of dollars in value, and Mr..
Untermyer is of the opinion that at
least 80 or 40 per cent. of that amount
is an out and out gouge inflicted on
the public.
Further evidence of results from the
Lockwood committees drive against the
restrictive practices of the labor unions
reached the committees counsel yester-
day. Mr.. Untermyer was informed that
Local 8 of the electrical workers union
had agreed to abolish the permit card
system and throw the organization open
membership. 1t had been shown that
this organization. of which William A.
Hogan is financial secretary, restricted
IT'S membership to about a quarter of
the total number of electricians in the
city. while it charged at the rate of
$3.50 a week for permit cards authoriz-
ing the remaining three quarters to go
to work. The testimony covering Hogan's
financial operations and the collection
and disbursement of death benefits by
his organization has been sent to the
District Attorney for action.
Asks About Liberty Bonds.
Mr.. Untermyer was interested yester-
day in a letter received from member
Of the electrical union, whose name was
not made public, but who directed the
lawyers attention to other alleged fea-
lures of its financial management He
declared that $4,000 of the organiza-
TONS funds had been invested in Liberty
bonds during the war and charged that
the members never had been able to find
out anything about them or of what be-
came of the coupons when they fell due.
He also complained that it was hard to
get any Information concerning a strike
fund of 100000. One paragraph of the
letter said:
Mr.. Hogan has five men in his office,
for two of when vouchers are read off
I'm regular meetings. but nothing ever is
said about the other three. Look 1t up"
The committees investigation of the
rates charged by fire insurance COM
panies also appears to have borne some
fruit, although the companies have not
fully complied as yet with all that the
committee asked. Henry Evans, chair
man of the board of directors of the
Continental Insurance Company. and of
the underwriters committee appointed to
negotiate with the legislative commit
tee. has written to Mr.. Untermyer that
n 10 per cent. reduction had been made
in premium schedules for theatres and
ar increase effected In the allowances
made in premiums on risks protected by
automatic sprinkler systems. While the
committee regards these as moves in the
right direction it wants to see reductions
that will bear more closely on the hous-
Ing situation and this will be taken up
on the resumption of the hearings. The
committees disclosures did result in
opening the door to mutual companies.
which now may compete on even terms
with the stock companies and have the
benefits of the rating bureau of the Fire
Insurance Exchange Mr.. Untermyer
thinks that should mean a general re-
duction of rates and Intends to be shown
why it does not.
The practices Of the insurance ex-
change have not been reformed to the
extent that Mr.. Untermyer wants and
he doesn't believe they will be until
there is a change in the management Of
the exchange. The committees LAWYER
last week wrote TO Mr.. Evans declaring
that he believed the present management
to be entirely out OF touch with present
day needs.
To Look Into Liability Insurance.
Other phases of the housing situation
that will be taken up as soon as the
committee reconvenes Will include an In
vestigation OF the rates for worltmen's
liability and plate glass and automobile
liability insurance. An effort will be
made 60 open the door for the admis-
sion of mutual casualty companies TO the
New York field as was done for the
mutual fire companies. A material re-
duction in rates would follow such a
move. the committee thinks, while a re-
duc<ion in the rates for automobile LA
bility insurance would be reflected in a
reduction in the cost of trucking. an i'm
portant feature in all building opera
tions.
From reliable quarters n was learned
yesterday that the Building Trades
Council will reject the proposal of the
Building Trades Employers Association
that the existing agreement be continued
until March ] and that future agree
ments be approved by an arbitration
board OF FIVE members The suggestion
vas that one member OF this board be
.rr-:nted b. szcl: OF the following au-
thorities: The president OF the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, the Chamber
Of Commerce of the state OF New York.
the Merchants Association of New York,
the New York Chapter OF the American
Association Of Architects and the Gov
ernor Of the state Of New York.
The proposal has yet TO be presented
70 the Building Trades Council for con-
slderation. and. although he would not
authorize comment In advance of its
Crrcial consideration. Patrick J. Crow
ley, who succeeded Robert r. BrindeIl
ms president of the council, is known to
be vigorously opposed to the method OF
selecting the arbitration board. There
is little doubt that Crowley reflects the
FEELINGS OF the members and that a
modification Of this feature OF the pro-
posal will have to be made. They feel
that Il would result In the appointment
AZ one representative Of labor and four
representatives OF capital TO pass on
\ are working agreements.