The New York herald., 1922-03-06
All Committee Members Sign
1t and Differ Only on
Minor Points.
PERSONALITIES OMITTED
Building Trades Employers
Association Denounced for
It's Price Fixing.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Albany March g. (

Special Dispatch to THE NEw YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, March 5. {
The intermediate report of the Lock
wood legislative housing committee.
upon which the proposed remedial
legislation already and yet to be intro
duced is based. was made public IT,
day. 1t will be presented to the Legis-
lature when it convenes tomorrow
night.
The report covers more than ESQ
printed pages and is signed by all ten
members of tie committee. In only a
few cases, which are noted in the re-
port, do some of the committee men,
bers dissent from the findings ana
recommendations of the majority. Ex-
cept for these, which are of compare
lively minor significance. the report Is
unanimous.
The document as finally approved
represents a modification of the oriei-
nal draft prepared by Somuel Inter
myer, counsel to the committee. Witt.
the accompanying bills that have been
already introduced. and recommenda-
tions yet to be made, the committee
has adopted practically everything
Mr.. Untermyer has asked in the way
of Legislation to relieve the housing
crisis. Some Of his suggestions. row
ever, notably that for State monopoly
in the sale of worlSmen's compensation
insurance, have been incorporated in
the report without recommends ton,
while others have been stressed or
amplified by the committee.
Personalities Eliminated.
All personalities Of a critical nature
rejecting upon Mayor Hylan or any
members OF municipal administrations
where the committee has invest igated
have been eliminated, while generous
acknowledgment is made TO municipal.
state and Federal officials who have as
sisted the committee and to former
members OF the Legislature who served
upon il.
One Of the outstanding features of the
report. however, is the committee's
statement that II Is far from finished
with the investigation OF the Building
Trades Employers Association the or
ganization Of big and wealthy builders
which the committee holds to be mainly
responsible FOR the whole vicious sys-
tenn and the main source Of Brindelrs
power. The report indicates that sam
uel Untermycr will go after these big
tttsg ossff ~.
sumes hearings and this testimonv is
expected TO furnisl the fireworks OF the
renewed investigation. on this point
the report says
The employers association and the
constituent associations entering into it's
membership are more largely than any
other single factor responsible for the
acts that have done so much to cripple
building operations in the city OF New
York. Various combinations above re-
ferred to Ito some Of which reference
win hereafter be more specifically made)
found protection under the sheltering
wing Of the employers association. II
was largely through the assistance and
encouragement Of this association by
reason OF the character of its contracts
with the council and with other labor
unions that these constituent agsocia-
tions we're able to force unwilling MEM
bers into their fold and TO impose upon
them unlawful restraints upon competi-
ton.
Cover FOR Unfair Practices.
MANY OF such constituent associations
were a mere cover for price fixing. re-
striction of output or division OF terri
tory and for the practice OF the many
other devices that had for their pur-
poses the exaction of tribute from own
ers. builders and contractors.
Members were supposed to join the
employers association solely to he in po-
sition through that instrumcntaity and
through the other constituent associa-
tions that we're members Of the cm-
ployers association to deal as unit
with the labor unions that were banded
together under the leadership and pro-
lection Of the council. n the employers
association had confined it's activities 70
tfat legitimate purpose II would have
been or valuable aid in stabilizing labor
conditions.
"Brindell had apparently almost as
much power among The officials OF the
employers association a. he had IN his
own council Your committee tas been
unable 70 discover single instance in
-
,