Document 6BD040qLwVYyn1YbGRMLyzbN4

New York, N.Y. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING April 21, 1950 A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Lead Industries Association was held on Friday, April 21, 1950, at 3:45 P.M., at the office of the Association, New York City. PRESENT REPRESENTING F. E. Wormser, Chairman S. D. Strauss George Mixter St. Joseph Lead Co. American Smelting & Refining Co. United States Smelting Refining & Mining Co. Inc. ALSO PRESENT G. H. LeFevre United States Smelting Refining & Mining Co. Inc. R. L. Ziegfeld, Secretary-^Treasurer The meeting was called to order with Ur. Felix E. Wormser in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting of July 27, 1949 were approved. TAXATION The secretary presented a rough draft of a letter urging members * support of the mine taxation program of the American Mining Congress, which he had been instructed by the Board of Directors to send to members as promptly as possible, and which is attached as Exhibit "A." The letter was approved and or dered circulated. METALLIC LEAD PRODUCTS DIVISION The secretary reported that earlier on the same day the Ad visory Committee of the Metallic Lead Products Division had met to consider the possibilities of expanding field work in the plumbing and water works field. He explained that the Advisory Committee had instructed him to write all members of that Division, inform ing them that the Committee recommended an increase of $20,000 in i;he budget, to add two additional field men to the staff. The Advisory Committee also recommended to the Executive Committee that Mr. Homer Yetman, who had been the only Association field man for the last fifteen months, and who would be responsible for securing and training the additional field men, be granted a salary increase of $1,000 a year, provided the enlarged budget was approved by the Division and the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee approved this recommended increase subject to approval of the larger budget. Meeting Minutes 2- - April 21, 1950 TARIFF The Committee then proceeded to discuss what position, if any, the Association should take with respect to the long list of lead items just published by the State Department as subject to negotiation for tariff rate changes under the General Agree ment on Tariffs and Trade in the negotiations to be conducted at Torquay, England, later in the year. The secretary informed the Committee that written state ments would have to be filed with the Committee for Reciprocity Information by May 17, 1950, and requests to be heard at the General Hearings would have to be received by May 10, 1950, the hearings to begin on May 24, 1950. It was noted that two members of the Executive Committee, Messrs. Rowlby and Martino, were not present. The secretary explained that he had discussed the matter in advance with Mr. Eowlby by telephone. Mr. Bowlby had expressed his opinion that the Association should make every effort to preserve the present duties on the manufactured products listed and that on the raw materials, such as ore and pig lead, he v/as willing to go along with the members of the Committee who were directly interested in those items, as they thought advisable. The secretary explained that he had expected Mr. Martino to be present at the meeting and that he had only learned a couple of hours earlier than he would not be able to be present. He had, therefore, been unable to obtain Mr. Martino's views although he had tried to reach him by telephone several times. The Committee asked the secretary to obtain Mr. Martino's views at the earliest possible moment inasmuch as the Committee did not wish to take a definite position without knowing the views of all members of the Committee. Those present felt that the Association should submit a brief or statement opposing any reduction in the present lead schedules, whether they be manufactured products or raw materials. They also felt that some general statement to the effect that rather than reducing the tariffs at this time an increase might e\en be considered, particularly as a result of the devaluation of cur rencies in many foreign countries producing lead and lead products. The secretary was then instructed, after obtaining Mr. Martino's views, to prepare a statement along the lines outlined for submission to the Board of Directors for approval. ' It was the general feeling of those present that the Associ ation could take no position with respect to the tariff negoti ations on lead and lead products unless it took a consistent po sition with respect to all of the items listed. Executive Committee Meeting Minutes nxhioit A April 21, 1950 LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE NEW YORK 17, N. Y. April 25, 1950 SUBJECT: TAXATION To members of the Lead Industries association: The Board of Directors of the Lead Indus tries association has asked me to send you a copy of the enclosed pamphlet mIa IHG TAXATION issued oy the American lining Congress. Previously it had authorised me to go on record with the Committee on Ways and means of the House of Representatives in support of the American Mining Congress taxa tion program, which has already been done. It is the feeling of the Board that adop tion of the American Mining Congress* recommenda tions on taxation wouxd be beneficial not only to the miners of lead in the United States out also to the consumers of lead, oy encouraging a greater amount of exploration for new ore deposits, de velopment of new mines, and a steadier supply of metal at reasonable cost. You are, therefore, urged to communicate with your own Congressman and Senators wherever you may have operations, indicating your support of the American Mining Congress' taxation program, and urging its adoption, if you agree with the Board. truly yours, 4 ?74 7- ' secretary. / LIA02PQ5 N 678.01 , v>X