Document DGzYmZ4NpYxQ2oe7Bn4bNzy3n

r epr o d u c ed at t h e n at io n al ar c h ives / jflCB OF THE ASECRETARY HARRISON 46S2 ATIONAI DOOR MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 3 3Z SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE Ch ic a g o 4. Il l in o is May 6, 1946 Hon# Henry A Wallace Secretary of Commerce Washington 25, D. C. Dear Mr# Wallaces Y/e have read, with considerable interest, a release from the Department of Commerce dated March 4, 1946, being a copy of your letter to Mr# Charles E. Wilson, Chairman of the Policy Committee on Standards of the Department of Commerce; also an article appearing in Business Week for March 30, 1946 entitled Compromise on Standards" It is apparent from the above that there is some likelihood that the Bureau of Standards may eventually discontinue its function of initiating and promoting commercial standards which, hereto-fore have been carried on by the Division of Trade Standards# We desire to register our determined ^opposition to any such plan# There are several souiid and practical reasons for our opposition.'TM ........ ,From December 30 1943 to September 15, 1944, this association collaborated with the Division of Trade Standards in the formulation of commercial standards for Ponderosa Fine Stock Doors# The result was the publication of Commercial Standards CS120-44 on September 15, 1944* It is^ no exageration to say that this Standard lias resulted in material and wide spread economies for the general public in addition to simplifying the production of Ponderosa Pine Doors# It has unquestionably proven a boon to the Home Builders of America and will continue to benefit them for all time to come. We are definitely commited to commercial standards as a result of our experience with CS120-44. Granting that private industry could initiate and promote commercial standards without government assistance, it is our firm belief that standardization would be materially retarded, should the government step out of the picture. The Bureau of Standards has earned the confidence and respect of American Industry and Commerce. It has lent a dignity and official sanction to standardization which it would by difficult, if not impossible, for private industry groups to do alone# This is one of the fields in which government definitely has an essential function to perform. r epr o d uc ed at t h e n at io n al ar c h ives -2- May 6, 1946 We trust, therefore, that in any departmental re-organization.you may contemplate, you will strive to retain for all industry and for the consuming public the tangible benefits of commericial standards as a permanent governmental function of your department. Very truly yours '0. C. Lance/kjf Secretary-Manager c.c* to: Mr. Harry H. Steidle Prefabricated Home Manufacturers1 Institute Shoreham Building Washington 5, D. C. and Dr* E. U. Condon Director /of the National Bureau of Standards Department of Commerce Washington 25, D. C.