Document NN8y6KgE6r8M3x60RVNow34jw

J2M0JWOtti RE: -- ME1L0M INSTITUTE C? IMS'.'S7RIAL RSA3CH SYMPOSIUM CS yjST PRQ31 -yS - PITTS 3UP.CH - JAM. 13. 1935 Cn or about Secerber 12, 1934 the Gallon Ir.etucice of Industrial Fasearch addressed latears to sera 83 Industries having industrial disease problems inviting then to attend a nearing to be held under tne auspices of the Institute on the 13th day of January. One of these invitations was received by the Asbestos Institute end. although the Av??t:s Institute did not accept and van not officially representad, Johns-Mar.vilia Corporation requested and obtained perzissloa to sand a repre sentative. The invitetions expressly stated that "aetar.dar.ee ec this oeeting need eneell no obligation.** . Jobne-Manville was representad et the aaeting by the writer of this caoorandua. Approxieatalv 250 people ware presant representing over 50 industries which had accsptad the ' invitation of the Mellon Institute. The Mellon Institute was .greatly surprised st the reserheble response end it is ay ^opinion that one cannot find a better indication of the serious *>naeure of the problems it ves the purpose of the casting to *rdiscuss, o . I was able to ascertain that the Mellon Institute been proapeed to cell the seating by representatives of e^tbe the sanSsgad glass end the refractories industries. Represen tatives of these Industries conferred with Mr. E.R. Keidlein, cOirector of the Institute, end after advising him of ths nature of their problea. of ice wide-spread character end numerous Sfeenacing sspsecs, suggested the nsed of sons fora of concerted --action on tne pert of those Industries presently or potentially ^Involved. I understand that Mr.^F.W. jShigyopd, .Vice-President tof Qwena-Illinols.Cldrt"Company andTTir. Roger Hltchlns, Presi dent of the Aaericen Refractories Institute, were the persons who presented the situation of the Mellon Institute. Mr. Keidlaia, on behalf of the Institute, sgrssd to cooperate to ths extent of calllng*tho oeotlng end having the representatives spend e day in. Pittsburgh as the guests of ths Institute. Thsre was sons prsliainary discussion as to ths possibility of using ' the Mellon Znstitutd aaa clearing house for information end research-.upon aspects of the problta cosarcn to all industries r but definite eomsiements were postponed until after the holding of the ceseing;' . An impressive list of experts specialising -pen various 'aspects of the dust problem ascended the ceetlng and exhbit C -i delivered addrtisti. Asmt those were Mr. a.C. Kirch, > lawyer associated with Williams, Eversnar. and Mcrgan. "elect. Ohio, attorneys for Owens Illinois Class Ccmrar.v; Dr. 5usn* ?. Pendergrass of cho X-ray laboratory, University* Hospital. rr.ila* delphia; Mr. A.J. Lanza, Assistant Medical Director*of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Dr. R.&. Savers. Radical Officer in Charge of C.S. Public Health Service;' Professor Philip A. Brisker of the School of Publie Health; Harvard Uni versity; Me. T. Robertson Jsr.es, Central Mcr.r^er, Assrcle-lcr. of Casualty and Surety Executives; and Mr. Dcr.eld D. Curries*. Assistant Director, Garanae Laboratory for Study of Tuberculosis Tha addresses delivered by these specielists. tci with' the open disaission thee followed ehea, reveeled, aser.j ct; things, the very menacing character of the problea, les ccrrl ex nature;--thn-uacsrtalntlas attending most of its aspects and the necessity of sosa-fona-of united action by the afflicted ir.dust: It was recognized that seme aspects of the prsbl< vara peculiar to spaelal industries but it was equally evident that other aspects ware cooson to all. For example, only tvs fores of duet, naaely, free silica and asbestos, are definitely known to produce disabling fibrosis of tha lung. Evan in tha case of these dusts tha probleaa rasulting therefrom arc cults different since tha fibrosis resulting from sillee is of a much aora serious character than that resulting free asbestos in tha tha foraer predisposes to tuberculosis ane is such more likely have a fatal termination. On tho other hand (and this liliestr one of tha most serious aspects of tha problea that it ccrut t all dust producing industries) tha fact'that no other dust is known to produce disability has not pravantad entirely grcur.il* claim* lagTfUS^t ** mil liens .ef rdoYlaribalng brought against industries which have no silica z asbestos dust hazard;- For axaapla, Mr. Lanza pointed out that no one had ever maintained that gynsua duse was harmful and yet nevertheless, the gjrpsua;industry had suits pending against it covering elaims la axeasa of four'aillioft dollars. Ie appear#d 'that among tha problems ccrr.cn to al industries were the followings ;.1 (1) The menace of ambulance chasinz lawyers in combination with unscrupulous doctors. The uncertainties surrounding diegnesis of any of tha various forme of pneuncr.occniosis are o many that a question of faee is presented in eVery cess. Expert testimony can be pro duced by bdeh plaintiff and defencenc and it le for the jury to decide vhese <xpc.es ira 3- correct in their interpretation*. In raking chi* decision, the Jury is not likely to favor the opinion of the experts produced oy the ecplcyer. tr o yi cs c. Mr o (2) The desirability of raking various dust dlsaases compensable under properly drawn workman's cocpeasacion lavs. Cr.e of the speakers seated chat "the strongest bulwark against future disaster for industry is the enactment of properly drawn occupational disaaee legislation.1' Such legislation would (a) eliminate the Jury and empower a Radical Board to pats upon tho axistanca of tho disaaee and the extent of the disability; (b) eliminate the shyster lawyer and the quack doctor since fees would be strictly limited by the law; and (c) permit the correctlag of initiel mistakes in the making of awards by providing for hearings to reduca * or olininato awards If proof eould bo adduced that the claimant was not disabled or chat tho extant of his disability had bean over estimated. (3) Problems of ventilation, dust collecting and . elimination, and respiratory devices. (4) The establishing of standards (a) for dust counting.and pareicle since determination. (b) for the caking of X-rays for diagnostic use. and (c) for cho interpretation of tho --markings on tho film* so produced. . At tho eloao of the discussion a Mr. Kurtz. Vice President of American Refractories Corporation, made a motion that Mr. William P. Yant. Chairman of the matting appoint a nominating committee who would nominate a group of individuals to servo as a committee for tho formulation of ways and means to bring about affective cooperation of some character between tho various industries for (Meting and combating ehese phases of tho dust problem eomaon to all. This motion was carried and a Nominating Commitcat appointed which retired and upon ^ returning presented to the masting tho names of seven individuals -to set as such Coealttee. No ocher names having been placed in nomination, the following were elected to act at the Committee and report back to cho various Industries and groups represented at the treating or to whom the invitation had been originally* extended. -4- Vandiver 3rovn representing Asbestos, Cork and Sen-Metallic Dr. B.D. Saklacwalla representing Chezical, Abrasives. All07s and Nor.-Terreus ratals E.O. Jcr.es representing Foundries A.V. Sherwood reprsenting Glass Sand, Ground Sand and Glass Manufacture A.J. Geetholes representing Iron, Steal and Ores A.J.R. Curtis representing Line, Lisestone. Cerent and Gypsua Roger A. Rltchlns representing Refractories, Caraslcs and Glas X explained to the other aeabers of the Corrdrtee that X had been seat to the easting solely as aa observer and M had no authority froa Johns-Manvi11a Corporation to accspt aaabership o the Coaalctao aad certainly nona froa tha Asbsstcs Industry as a vhola. X vis urgsd, howevar. to cast with tha . Conaitttea aad agxsad to do so on tha eenditloa that X sight . withdraw 12 approval of sy ssrving in that capacity should net F> bo forthcoming. X pointed out that Bashers of the Asbestos Industry did not earn to ba associated in tbs Binds of tha public or of caployees with thasa industries whose problea was siliccsiJ __ aad chat for this reason X fait there sight be sene opposition to ^ having a representative of ehe A-bestos Industry working with trr thea. X did indicate, however, thet X realised nuserous aspects * of our probles were the saae end- thet if cooperation could be O worked out without an undue anount of publicity. Johns-Manville Corporation and parhaps the Aabeatoa Industry as e whole, would __Eh--in all likelihood be willing to cooperate.' It was the opinicn of the Cossittae that thia condition would not present any insuperable difficulty. Mr. Rog*r Hitchins; President of American Refrattcrles Institute, was made Chalrcan of the Ccraittee which hold a seating Tuesdey evening after tbe close of the Symposium. Mr. Hltehin's'was-designated ed seat with Mr. Veldlein of the Mel.cn Institute was designated to seat wlch'Mr. Veidlein of the Me..dr. Institute and aek ala to sake a proposal in definite and concrete fora ae to the Banner in which the Mellon' Institute right be able to assist the various industries for e fee of $25,000. When' this proposal his been received and approved by the ner.bers of the CcraSittee, it will bt subnitted to the various industries with the reeoctendetlon thet it be accepted end that two varices Industries or Individual corporations agree to stand oed :cr 1 propcrcior.ate eaount of the fee not in excess of a detinit* specified sua. .: -5- X sa:h:id :>.a the ?r:::5il which would be rsie by cha Mellon Institute would r.oiuie, arcr.g others, cha following: (c) Tha cor.plI in 5 of a ttr.prahansive bibliography of all book*, treaties* and publications caallag with any sspecc cf cha dust problas; and * cha evaluation tharaof. (b) Tha ccrpiling, dictating and correlating of data and infcmatlcn frca various subscribing industries ralaciva to chair particular experi ences. (c) Tha drafting of approved workman's compensation laglslacion covering pr.ausor.aconlcs 1st~ (d) The dlgaacing of tha lavs of tha various scares which aighc sffecc `the operations of industries pressnting a dusc hazard. (a) Tho* outlining of problans requiring research or Che eseablishaanc of fixed standards and Che preveneloa of duplication of effort and expanse along these lines. The interest with which ths diseussiens vers fcl and cha enthusiasts which greeted any proposal for unified effort load up to believe that cha necessary support will be found for sosa sore of progras along cho above lints. -*ad C4 VASCSZVSit January IS. 1533