Document DGy2D1a4OwKLeD12ODjOZ8rVn

c Mail Order Association of America Prmiidmnt. M. J. SPIEGEL, Jn. ficacL, INO, Vic+.Pr*Mld*nt. T. V. HOUSER CAN*, ROIIUSK AND OO. aggro 1295 Uatl.Press Bldg.,Washington,D. C . D. O. RICHARDS Secretary* Treasurer O. H. KILE iatS NATIONAL Mtll LDO, WAIHINOTON, O. C. April 23, 1946. . Secretary Henry A* Wallace, H. S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C Dear Secretary Wallace* Our Association has heard in the past several weeks some rumors 'which have been somewhat disturbing to those of us who have worked with and appreciate greatly the activities being carried on by the Division of Trade Standards of the national Bureau of Standards. The rumors we have heard indicate that there has been some consideration ^ given to transferring the Division of Trade Standards from the national Bureau of Standards and placing it under the Domestic Commerce section of the Department of Commerce. I hope you wont object to our stating very foroefully that we believe this would be a great mistake. \ Our Association has had dealings with the Division of Trade Standards of the national Bureau of Standards over a period of many years.. The Division has been extremely helpful in working out standards of many items carried by members of ihe Hail order Association of America. As a result, the persons who read the mail order catalogs on the faras and do not have access to city stores where verbal explanations can be made by the sales people, have profited consid erably because proper standards have been prepared and our Association members have followed those standards in buying the merchandise and presenting it to the mail order customers when describing the various items in the catalogs. I am quite sure that you can understand What an advantage it is to the family on the farm. Also the Division of Trade Standards, by working out standards, has been most helpful to the mall order business generally. We sinoerely hope that there is nothing to these rumors we have heard and that the Division of Trade Standards of the national Bureau of Standards vrill remain right where it is, , because it seems to us that the Division is an integral part of the national Bureau of Standards and should not be removed physically or placed under the jurisdiction of any other division of the Department of Commerce. We feel that there is considerably more at stake in this contemplated move than merely moving headquarters of the Division of Trade Standards and the placing of it under the direction of some other division of your big Department. With best wishes, I Sinoerely yo DDRtEK Copy to Dr.E.U.Condon. D D. Richards Se eretary-Treasurer