Document J3d98RwoqwpjVy7bNzwMxGmqX

(COPY) December 4, 1936 Mr. C. J. Stover, Inquirer'Bldg., 16th FI., Philadelphia, Fa. Re: Air Hygiene Foundation of America Membership Meeting of Nov. 24th Dear Mr. Stover: I am writing to report upon the meeting of the members of Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Incorporated which Was held in Pittsburgh on November 24th. "The meeting was attended by a large and most enthusiastic group comprising approximately 200 persons. These consisted of members, guests of the Foundation and many specialists in the field of air hygiene - medical, engineer ing, legal and governmental. Dr. A. J. Lanza, Medical Director of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Chairman of the Medical Committee of the Foundation, addressed the meeting on behalf of his Committee and gave a brief summary of the initial report of the Medical Committee, which has not as yet been published but publication of which is anticipated shortly* It is my belief that this Medical Committee report will constitute a major contribution upon the question of dust diseases from the medi cal viewpoint. It will contain a summary of the best scientific opinion upon many of the difficult problems involved and its publication is eagerly awaited by all industries having an actual or potential dust hazard. Professor Philip Drinker, of the Harvard School of Public Health and Chairman of the Preventive Engineering Committee of the Foundation, discussed the problem from the engineering point of view with special emphasis upon prevention through dust eliminating apparatus and respirators. I have already provided you with a copy of Bulletin No. 1 of the Pre- oosiso R n i& 4*- <4^17 VX V, . '-W--* - *" -2- ventive Engineering Series of the Foundation. Further valuable contributions are anticipated from this Committee. Ur. Alfred C. Hirth, Chairman of the Legal Committee, summarized the work of his Committee during the first year of the existence of the Foundation. You have been provided with the seven parts of Bulletin Ho, 1 of the Legal Committee and, therefore, have some Idea of the work performed by this Committee during the first year of its operation. These Bulletins constitute a compilation of the laws and court decisions of the 48 States and the District of Columbia which have bearing upon the question of employer re sponsibility for occupational disease* They have filled a long-felt want and constitute a unique contribution. Secretary of Labor Perkins has praised these Bulletins in unqualified terms and has asserted that they have proved of great value to her and to the Committees of the Department of Labor which are conducting an in vestigation of dust diseases. __ Ur. Theodore Waters, a member of the Legal Committee, read to the meeting excerpts from Bulletin Ho. 2 of the Legal Series, which is to be published shortly. It constitutes "a study and criticism of provisions for occupational disease legislation". It is a. splendid discussion of this problem and was enthusiastically received. In view of the fact that many state legislatures will be considering .the adoption or revision of occupational disease legislation during the next few years, the importance of this thorough-going analysis of what dust disease legislation should and should not contain eannot be over-emphasized. Although the Air Hygiene Foundation is approaching various problems relating to air hygiene from an unbiased viewpoint, it is, nevertheless, the creature of industry and is the one insti tution upon which employers can rely completely for a sympathetic appreciation of their viewpoint. Its aim is to make an honest effort to appraise the evil, to advance scientific knowledge of many of its doubtful aspects and to suggest remedies, both preventa tive and curative. As such, it deserves and should receive the unqualified support of all members of industries faced with a dust disease hazard. Membership through trade associations will no longer provide employers with the benefits of the Foundation. I am enclos ing herewith a quantity of membership application forms and of schedules of membership charges for 1937. I urge that you provide copies of these applications, together with the scale of charges, to all members of the asbestos industry and I hope you will see fit to recommend that they participate, through membership, in the burdens as well as in the benefits to be derived from the continued 005191 3-- functioning of this Foundation. As you will note, provision is made for membership by "employer associations". Such associations are not required to pay the initial $25 "membership fee" and their annual dues are only $50; however, as you will note, these members receive only one file copy of publications of the Foundation which they are not permitted to publish or substantially duplicate for use by their constituent companies. I am recommending that Johns-Manville Corporation apply for membership during 1937 and I sincerely hope that a large proportion of the asbestos industry will be lilcewise represented. The plans-of the Foundation for 1937 are ambitious in scope and will necessarily call for the expenditure of relatively large sums of money. It is fortunate in having the whole-hearted co-operation of the Mellon Institute, which is providing offices and laboratory facilities together with the services of certain members of its personnel without expense to the Foundation. You will also find enclosed herewith, for your files and general information, three (3) copies of a list setting forth the names of the officers, trustees and various committees. ' ' If you require any further information; please do not hesitate to call upon me* Very truly yours. (Signed) Vandiver Brown General Attorney *VB:T Enclosures 005192.