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(564) MINUTES of the eighty-third meeting of the Directors of the Manufacturing Chemists ' Ass ociation, Inc., held at Wilmington, De|laware, on October 14, 1958, at 11:0 0 a. m. (ED T). There were present: Mes srs. Henry Bower John T, Connor R. L. Cunningham Lee V. Dauler David H. Dawson Raymond F. Evans J. Robert Fisher Joseph Fistere D. S. Frederick Marlin G. Geiger J ohn E. Hull Harry B, McClure R. C. McCurdy S. B. Penick, Jr. Mark E. Putnam Hans Stauffer R. W. Thomas George R. Vila M. F. Crass, Jr. Alternates: A. E. Albright (for Hans Stauffer) Howard S. Bunn (for Harry B. McClure) Lee H. Clark (for W illiam P. Drake) John F. Daley (for D avid H. Dawson) Harry S. Ferguson (for Glen B. Miller) Henry L. Ford (for James C. White) William P. Gage (for Marlin G. Geiger) John A. Hill (for Charles S, Munson) R, W. Hooker (for R L. Murray) Kenneth H. Klipstein (for W. G. Malcolm) William H. McLean (for John T. Connor) A. D. Penick (for S. B. Penick, Jr. ) P. C. Reilly (for C. B. Edwards) Willard P. Scott (for Peter Colefax) Harold E. Thayer (for Joseph Fistere) Donald Williams (for Mark E. Putnam) General Counsel: Marx Leva - Fowler Leva, Hawes & Symington Present by Invitation: Attached to these Minutes as Exhibit "A" is a list of registrants for the da y-long program. Many of these attended the Director s meeting, which had a total attendance of 5 1. i1 In calling the meeting to order at 11:00 a. m. Chairman McClure welcomed the Directors, alternates, and guests to the 1958 Fall Regional Meeting of the Board, On behalf of those present, he thanked the Committee on Arrangements, Messrs, Dawson, Forster, and Gottshall, together with their deputies, Messrs. Perry, Burslem, and Steele, as well as their companies. He invited th oge present to enter actively into the discussion. Attendees then introduced themselves and mentioned their company affiliations. CMA 067574 1 (565) At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Perry then summarized the day's pro gram and explained that transportation facilities would be available for those who wished to catch early evening trains or planes. Mr. McClure then briefly discussed the general MCA program as a prelude to the next item on the agenda. I. THE MCA PROGRAM -- A REVIEW. General Hull presented a ten-minute report covering current MCA opera tions and program. A copy of this report is attached to these Minutes as Exhibit "B. " II. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 9, 1958, MEETING. bers. The Minutes of this meeting were duly approved as submitted to the mem m. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Mr. Connor stated that a breakfast meeting of the Executive Committee had taken place that day and that a number of the items discussed would be taken up in their respective places on the Board agenda. He referred also to the recent resignation of Mr. Claude E. Hobbs, MCA Staff Counsel. Mr. Hobbs' resignation will take effect as of October 22, 1958. IV. REPORT OF THE TREASURER. (a) Financial Report, June - September 1958. The financial report for the four months ending September 30, 1958, was reviewed in detail. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the report be accepted and placed on file. (b) Status of Membership Fee Collections. The Treasurer reported that all moneys had been collected and that there were no members in arrears. One member -- Barium Reduction Corporation -- is now in the process of dissolution and will no longer qualify as a chemical manufacturer. Hence, this company has not renewed its membership, and it will be necessary, therefore, to remove the name of this member from the Association's roster. V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (&) Appointment of Alternates. The Chairman advised that the following Board members have requested the appointment of alternates: Board Member Marlin G. Geiger W. G. Malcolm Alternate and Company William P. Gage, W. R. Grace & Co. Kenneth H. Klipstein, American Cyanamid Company CMA 067575 (566) ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That these appointment be approved. (b) Program Committee. Those present were handed copies of a multi color, printed program brochure for the 8th Semi-Annual Meeting, copies of which were circulated to the membership, together with registration forms, on October 13. program Committee Chairman Penick stated that all arrangements for the meeting, including both program and facilities, had been concluded and that a record turnout is expected. (c) Metals Activity. Mr, R. L. Cunningham stated that a meeting of member metals producers had been held in Cleveland on October 8, with staff repre sentation present, to make final recommendations concerning participation of metalsI producing members in existing technical and functional committees of the Association (see Item V, page 558, of the September 9, 1958, Directors meeting for committee I appointments) and to suggest projects along technical lines which would be pertinent and advantageous to the metals members. He stated that producers had indicated definite interest in the following technical committees: Air and Water Pollution Abatement General Safety Chemical Packaging Traffic International Trade and Tariff On these committees, the metals members have suggested one nominee for membership on the parent committee, with the understanding that metals subcom' mittees would be considered under each category if and when needed. Metals producers also recommended that provision be made for (1) continued participation in the Govern ment's barter program for strategic metals and minerals (for implementation of this recommendation, see Item VII(e) of these Minutes), and (2) assistance to the Government in connection with protection of stockpiles of strategic materials against deterioration and erosion. Interest in both projects has stemmed from*Governmental requests. Pro ducers also requested staff assistance on statistics relating to metals imports, as well as bulletin service relating to other items of specific interest. (d) Policy Study Committee. In accordance with action taken at the pre, vious meeting, copies of the preliminary report of the Policy Study Committee were circularized to Directors on September 22, 1958. Mr. McClure then requested Dr. Frederick, as Chairman of the Policy Study Committee, to lead the discussion on this ` report. Dr, Frederick first read the report and then called on those present to discuss its contents. Inasmuch as the report was limited, for the most part, to the possible advantages and disadvantages of a divisional organization within MCA, comments expressed by individual members and guests dealt with both sides of the matter. All agreed that the study was an important one from the standpoint of the Association's future and that the views of as many MCA members as possible should be obtained before a policy decision on a future program is made. All speakers stressed the impor tance of maintaining the Association's current technical and functional program as the CMA 067576 (567) cornerstone of any future expansion and the fact that the Association's strength in the field of technical problems, public relations, and legislative interest should not, .under any circumstances, be compromised. Other speakers expressed the view that main tenance of both a technical and functional organization and broad product classification groupings would not be incompatible and would, in their opinion, strengthen the Associa tion ties rather than weaken them. Other speakers opposed the concept of product groupings. Following this expression of views, Dr, Frederick thanked those present for their guidance and stated that additional views would be welcomed and that the work of the Committee would continue. (e) Russian Chemical Trade Proposal. General Hull reported that the staff had been contacted on two occasions by Government officials in order to determine whether or not specific cases of Government concern at the moment were in accordance with MCA policy previously expressed. On both occasions, an opinion was furnished. In accordance with action taken at the September 9, 1958, Directors meeting and in accordance with terms of reference established thereunder (see Item VX(f) of the Minutes of that meeting), the establishment of a Trade Policy Advisory Com mittee was proposed with the following membership: O. V. Tracy - Enjay Company, Inc. - Chairman Earle S. Ebers - United States Rubber Company Richard F. Hansen - Allied Chemical Corporation Carl S. Oldach - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. , Inc. George C. Wells - Union Carbide Corporation (one or two additional members to be named) ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was: VOTED: That the setting up of the Committee and the appointment of its members be confirmed as reported. A suggestion was then made, but no action taken, on the possibility of making arrangements for the Committee to visit Russia to examine chemical facilities and requirements firsthand, particularly as related to the four classes of products on which Russia evidenced recent interest from the standpoint of obtaining plants and technical know-how. General Hull stated that he had received an inquiry from the Government indicating that the Government was interested in determining specific cases where the Soviets had defaulted on payments to U. S. chemical firms for services furnished during previous years. Members knowing of any such cases were invited to report them to General Hull. VI. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. The following committee appointments were approved: CMA 067577 (568) (a) Food Additives Committee. Charles F. Hagan, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., for Thomas J. Connors. (b) General Safety Committee. S, F. Spence, American Cyanamid Company, as Chairman. J. S. Queener, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. , Inc. , as Vice Chair man. (c) Insurance Committee. E, M. Morgan, Jr., Rohm & Haas Company. Miss Julia Sullivan, The General Tire & Rubber Company. (d) Labels and Precautionary Information Committee. R. H. Dewey, Commercial Solvents Corporation. E. J. Masek, Diamond Alkali Company. Dr. John F. Osterritter, Celanese Corporation of America. R. F. Philpitt, Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Dr. L. J. Waldbauer, General Aniline & Film Corporation. Dr. N. G. White, Shell Chemical Corporation, replacing G. E, Brewer. (e) Public Relations Advisory Committee. John J. Horan, Merck & Co., Inc., replacing T. E. Jennings. VII. STAFF REPORT AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. (a) Public Relations and Education. Those present were handed copies of interim activity reports relating to the Public Relations and Aid-to-Education Programs. (b) ASTM Committee on Analysis and Testing of Industrial Chemicals. In accordance with requests made at the September 9, 1958, meeting, a staff report was prepared and sent to Directors on September 17, outlining details of the proposed ASTM Committee and its request that MCA function as secretariat for at least the initial period of this project. It was made clear that ASTM does not have staff facilities to provide secretariat services to its 80-odd committees and that this function has been undertaken in past years either by national trade associations or by industry personnel who are members of specific committees. Following discussion, ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the Association accept the ASTM invitation and provide secretariat services for a two-year period. At the end of this time, the project will be reviewed and evaluated in order to determine the feasibility and practicability of continuing such services for an addi tional period. (c) State and Local Legislation. It was reported that two staff representtives had appeared before state and local bodies during the past week as follows: CMA 067578 (569) (1) The Oklahoma State Legislative Council in connection with proposed labeling legislation covering household and industrial products, and (2) The City Council of Baltimore, Maryland, to oppose a municipal ordinance which would seriously restrict the handling, shipping, and storage of ammonium nitrate and which would deviate in other respects from the nation-wide practice of adopting and utilizing Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations for handling and shipping dangerous materials. It is expected that further appearances before state legislative groups will become necessary inasmuch as 44 state legislatures will be in session during the year beginning January 1 next. The Association will endeavor to handle these assignments with staff personnel aided by technical committee and member firm representation in the areas affected. (d) Technical Workshops. The Secretary reported that two additional workshops would be held during the balance of the year, one on air pollution abatement in New York City on October 15 and one on water pollution abatement in Atlanta during December. Subjects covered in previous workshops included insurance, safety, and labeling. Most of the attendees were plant and departmental managers. (e) Metals -- Government Liaison Technical Committee. A recommenda tion has been received from member metals producers that ad hoc activities in con nection with the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act, initiated during the past Session of Congress, be continued by the Association. This is considered important inasmuch as the U. S. Department of Agriculture will shortly begin the writing of regulations under the Act, these applying to the barter transfer and the up grading of imported strategic minerals and metals. Another problem facing the pro ducers is that of responding to a Government request concerning providing technical information to the Government on how to prevent the deterioration of stockpiled items through weathering and erosion. The Association has been invited by the Government to participate in both matters. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That a Government Liaison Technical Committee on Metals be set up within the Association on an ad hoc basis to deal with the above problems; that the Committee scope of activity be strictly limited to the two matters named; that, should other matters come before the Committee, they be referred to the Board of Directors for consideration before any activity is instigated in connection therewith; and that MCA staff and Counsel assist the ad hoc Committee. CMA 067579 (570) There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was unanimously resolved to adjourn. APPROVED: Harry B. McClure Chairman M. F. Crass, Jr. Secretary 2 Attachments * CMA 067580 Exhibit "A" Registrants for MCA Board of Directors Meeting and Related Events Wilmington, Delaware -- October 14, 1958 Albright, A. E. - Stauffer Chemical Company Alles, G. J. - American Viscose Corporation Bates, Joseph S. - Bates Chemical Company Bliss, L. G. - Foote Mineral Company t Bonyun, H. A,, Jr. - Publicker Industries Inc. Bower, Henry - Henry Bower Chemical Manufacturing Co. Bunn, Howard S. - Union Carbide Corporation Burslem, Ashworth - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Carpenter, Donald F. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Clark, Lee H. - Pettnsalt Chemicals Corporation Clark, Ralph A. - J. T. Baker Chemical Co. Connor, John T. - Merck & Co. , Inc. Crass, M. F., Jr. - Manufacturing Chemists1 Association, Inc. Cunningham, R. L. - Ohio Ferro-Alloys Corporation Daley, John F. - E, I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Dart, J. C. - Houdry Process Corporation Dauler, Lee V. - Neville Chemical Company Dawson, David H. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Evans, Raymond F. - Diamond Alkali Company Ferguson, Harry S. - Allied Chemical Corporation Fisher, J. Robert - Gamma Chemical Corporation Fistere, Joseph - Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Ford, Henry L. - Tennessee Eastman Company Forster, A, E. - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Frederick, D. S. - Rohm & Haas Company Fulenwider, J. J, B, - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Gage, William P. - W. R. Grace & Co. Gammons, C. C. - Atlas Powder Company Geiger, Marlin G. - W. R. Grace & Co. Goett, Edward J. - Atlas Powder Company Gordon, W. E. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Gottshall, Ralph K. - Atlas Powder Company Greenewalt, Crawford H. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours St Co. , Inc. Gunther, J. D. - Air Reduction Company, Inc. Hart, Ernest - Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation Hershey, R, L. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Hill, John A. - Air Reduction Company, Inc. Hinner, E. F, - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. CMA 067581 (OVER) 2- - Holbrook, G. E. - E. X. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Hooker, R. W, - Hooker Chemical Corporation Hoover, John R. - B. F. Goodrich Chemical CompanyHull, John E. - Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. Johnson, J. R. L., Jr. - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Kay, William C. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Kirkbride, C. G. - Sun Oil Company Klipstein, Kenneth H. - American. Cyanamid C ompany Ladley, E. S. - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Lenher, Samuel - E, I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Leva, Marx - Fowler, Leva, Hawes & Symington Lytle, W. C. - Atlas Powder Company Maddock, C. S. - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Massaglia, Edward J, - Atlas Powder Company Mayfield, Paul - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. McClure, Harry B. - Union Carbide Corporation McCoy, C. B. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. McCurdy, R. G. - Shell Chemical Corporation McLean, William H. - Merck St Co., Inc. Morrow, E. B. - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Penick, A. D. - S. B. Penick & Company Penick, S, B., Jr, - S. B. Penick & Company Perry, Glen - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Prutton, C. F. - Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation Putnam, Mark E. - The Dow Chemical Company Reilly, P. C. - Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation Salzenberg, W. H. - E. 1. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Scott, Willard P. - American Potash & Chemical Corporation Stauffer, Hans - Stauffer Chemical Company Steele, Sydney - Atlas Powder Company Stull, P. B. - Hercules Powder Company, Inc. Thayer, Harold E. - Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Thomas, R. W. - Phillips Petroleum Company Vila, George R. - United States Rubber Company Ward, William H. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Weismuller, F. H. - E. I. du Pont de Nemours &t Co., Inc. Williams, Donald - The Dow Chemical Company CMA 067582 Remarks by the President of MCA Board of Directors Meeting Wilmington, Delaware -- October 14, 1958 Exhibit "B " Chairman McClure, Members of the Board: I should like to say first that I always look forward with pleasure to a Wilmington visit. The prospect of a day or two in Wilmington calls to mind the many rewarding associations I have had here. The Manufacturing Chemists' Association has continued to accelerate its activity in many fields since my last formal report to you. This activity has embraced virtually the full scope of -our various committee and staff operations. Of importance to all, I think, has been the working out of a practical program for our new metals producing members, whereby the facilities of our technical and functional committees are made available to them, with representation accorded through membership and, in some cases, subcommittee organizations. The MCA was very much involved in legislative liaison during the recent session of Congress. At the end of this last session of Congress a law entitled the "Food Additives Amendment of 1958" was enacted to require the pretesting of food additives and the advance approval by the Food and Drug Administration for the use of such substances in food. While the new law did not follow the pattern preferred by MCA, I believe many member firms welcomed the enactment of a law which will permit the regulated use of food additives in keeping with modern scientific concepts of safety for the public. The Industrial Alcohol Technical Committee was formed several years ago on invitation of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division of the Internal Revenue Service to assist that Division in the modernization of regulations governing production and use of industrial alcohol. After extensive work by this Committee, a major part of our effort came to fruition this year when Congress enacted Public Law 85-859, which includes modernization of Chapter 5 1 of the Internal Revenue Code. It is hoped that this new law will permit the expansion of use of ethyl alcohol as an industrial chemical. When hearings were held by the House Ways and Means Committee in January of this year, the Chairman of the MCA Tax Policy Committee presented testimony recommending a realistic reduction of the present high corporate and individual income tax rates. It asked also for a number of tax changes to correct substantive inequities in the present law. The changes recommended include liberalized depreciation of obsolete assets and of goodwill, elimination of the inequity now accorded to cooperatives which engage in manufacturing and selling a substantial portion of their output to others than their stockholders, and a tax policy to stimulate private investment in foreign countries. In 1956 Congress nearly enacted a law to amend Section 2 (b) of the RobinsonPatman Act by curtailing the right of sellers to meet in good faith a lower price offered (OVER) CMA 067583 2- - to their customer by a competing seller unless the- same price were given to all m similar customers. In 1956, and again in 1957, MCA testified before the Senate 1 Antitrust and Monopoly Subcommittee in opposition to this legislation. The MCA was ' gratified when the second session of the 85th Congress adjourned last August without having enacted this objectionable legislation. Our International Trade and Tariff Committee Chairman appeared before the Senate Finance Committee to recommend certain changes in the Administration pro posal for a five-year extension of the Trade Agreements Act, with 25 percent rate cutting authority and other details. The Act as finally passed gives 20 percent rate cutting authority with a four-year extension. However, the escape clause and National Security Amendment were materially strengthened as proposed by our spokesman and those for many other industries. The Antidumping Act has been amended, and we believe it will permit greater speed and efficiency in enforcement. Most of the MCA's recommendations were enacted into law. Representatives of the metals-producing members prepared testimony supporting extension of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act. The testimony supported legislation that would direct the Department of Agriculture to allow American metal processing industries to compete with foreign processors for conversion of strategic materials into more readily usable forms. The amendment received support from the House Committee on Agriculture; however, the directive was eliminated in conference. The Labels and Precautionary Information Committee has engaged in two major activities pertaining to legislation during the summer months. The first was the development and presentation of a statement to the American Medical Association pertaining to their proposed Model Labeling Act, which is applicable both to household and industrial chemicals. The MCA statement was presented to the AMA Committee on Toxicology by Dr. Thomas Nale of Union Carbide and Mr. Sanford Hill of du Pont. It was endorsed by other industry representatives. Second was a statement on the proposed revision of the New York City Sanitary Code relating to the labeling of hazardous substances. The LAPI Committee will continue to follow state legislative matters very closely inasmuch as 44 state legislatures will be in session next January. Activities in the pollution abatement field included plans for an Air Pollution Abatement Workshop and a Water Pollution Abatement Workshop this fall. In addition, the Pollution Abatement Committees are cooperating in a panel for the Semi-Annual Meeting. This has the tentative title of "Pollution Abatement -- A Cooperative Task." i The Air Pollution Abatement Committee has been active this summer in the plans which the Public Health Service is making for a National Conference on Air Pollution which will take place in Washington, D. C., during November. A number of representatives of the chemical industry including myself will be on the program. CMA 067584 -3* The Nuclear Committee has been expanded and the scope of its activities increased to include nuclear fuels and materials of construction. The Committee has scheduled a panel for the MCA Semi-Annual Meeting to discuss how the chemical industry can assist further in the commercial application of nuclear energy. The General Safety Committee recently held a successful Chemical Industry Safety Workshop in Houston, Texas, with Texas Chemical Council as joint sponsor. Approximately 100 safety engineers from the Southwest attended the regional work shop, second of its kind. A number of new sheets are ready for publication as a part of our popular Safety Data Sheet program. Meanwhile, a manual listing suggested abbreviations for chemical terms used in the reagent and fine chemicals field has been issued. These abbreviations are proposed primarily for use by companies using mechanical data processing systems and accounting procedures. ican Several projects already mentioned in my previous reports to you as being under consideration or under way are beginning to pay off for us. For example, after almost two years of negotiations between the MCA and American Petroleum Institute representatives on the one hand, and the Association of American Railroads on the other, an increase in the tank car mileage compensation rate from four cents to four and one-half cents per mile was obtained, effective November 1. It is conservatively estimated that shippers will benefit to the extent of $ 1 million annually. Further negotiations are in progress with the Association of American Rail roads to devise a means whereby the tank car compensation settlement basis can be kept up to date to conform to actual operating costs. On August 28 the National Classification Board approved the MCA proposals for amendment of appropriate motor carrier classification tariffs to provide for the inclusion of 55-gallon tight-head 20/18-gauge steel drums for multiple trip service in the transportation of liquid products. It is expected that the railroads will soon follow suit. Approval by both rail and trucking groups will bring to full realization container savings estimated at $ 8 million annually for chemical shippers alone. ry Following approval by the Board of Directors, the Mechanical Technical Com mittee recently initiated through the American Standards Association a new project covering a broad program to develop standards for shop-fabricated tanks. Annual savings to member firms approximating $ 5. 2 million could result when such standards are fully operative. on. The MCA Plastics Group is cooperating with three other organizations in financing a meeting of the International Standards Organization on plastics test methods to be held in the United States in October. Code work in building activities sponsored by the Plastics Group in cooperation 'with The Society of the Plastics Industry has been concentrated in recent months with the West Coast Building Officials1 Organization. Negotiations are under way also with 067585 (OVER) -4- several testing laboratories and the National Fire Protection Association on a long term program to establish the fire hazard involvement in buildings. As a result of a direct-mail profnotion sent out in early September, the MCA has received thousands of requests for its junior and senior high school aid-to-education materials. These include schools that have not participated heretofore. The high school chemistry films "Combustion" and "Chlorine -- A Representa tive Halogen" have been widely publicized, notably in the September 1 issue of Time. Public showings to educators and to the education press have been well attended and productive of praise in Washington, Wilmington, Dover, and Seattle. Work on the next two films in the series, "Oxidation-Reduction" and "The Chemistry of Water, " is now under way. A report on company aid-to-education activities is virtually complete. The College Chemistry Teacher Awards Program will be conducted for the third year in 1958-59. The only major change will be the division of the country into three regions, with two recipients to be chosen from each. Contributions to the Education Fund as of September 29, 1958, amounted to $ 162, 391. This assures adequate funds to carry out projects set forth in the budget proposals. Financing of the fundamental research project at Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been reduced, and a special technical subcommittee has completed a survey of other institutions for placement of such funds and recommends a new project at Case Institute of Technology. Their proposal is now out for review by technical representatives and the Plastics Committee, which already has authority and funds to go ahead with a new project. * MCA's project at Carnegie Institute of Technology on properties of chemical compounds is now in its fourth year. The sixth lot of tables giving selected values of physical and thermodynamic properties was released to members and others. At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the MCA Information Service was set up as a separate staff function. The new operating procedure will facilitate the dissemination of information to staff members, member companies, the press, other associations, Government agencies, students, and others. By the end of this year, the Information Service will have processed more than 1, 700 inquiries from these s ources. The annual chemical industry construction survey is one of the Information Service's major efforts each year. The material thus provided enables the Public delations Department to issue one of MCA's most extensive and most widely reproduce news releases. News clippings continue to come in from the MCA release issued last January, CMA 067586 -5Also under way by the Information Service is the assembly and validation of material to appear in the upcoming edition of the Chemical Industry Facts Book, scheduled for publication in 1959. The Public Relations Department continues to concern itself with the many facets of a program to enhance our industrial image. One of the most interesting of these, to my mind, is that of the Chemical Industry Activity Committees. This pro gram, as you know, is an over-all public relations effort geared to the plant-community level. To date we can report approximately 900 CIAC representatives situated in 28 state organizations and 26 areas with no state organizations as such. These representa tives now are geared to begin functioning in earnest this fall. In connection with CIAC, it has been recommended that Chemical Progress Week be conducted on a local option basis during the week of April 13 - 17. We have published a booklet entitled "MCA -- What It Is; What It Does" as a basic explanatory piece for general distribution, on request. Other public relations projects of more than casual interest include the development of a plant-community safety program to acquaint the public with our enviable record of safety achievement and a positive program on the contributions of food additives. I hope that you believe as I do, gentlemen -- that the MCA is contributing more and more through the years toward the enhancement of the chemical industry's position, and that it will continue to do so for many years to come. Thank you. CMA 067587