Document X7YKexB2Z4Rqwy5M0pM7pKjQy

January 20, 1955 (286) MINUTES of the forty-fifth meeting of the Directors of the Manufac turing Chemists' Association, Inc., held at The Union Club, Park Avenue and 69th Street, New York, New York, on January 11, 1955, at 11:00 a.m. (EST). There were present: Messrs. Alternates: Present by Invitation: I. GUESTS E. T. Asplundh Howard S. Bunn J. Clarke Cassidy Leland I. Doan F. J. Emmerich John Fennebresque Joseph Fistere A. E. Forster William C. Foster John L. Gillis R. K. Gottshall J, R. Hoover J. J. Kerrigan R. C. McCurdy Charles S. Munson Ernest W. Reid John A. Sargent George M. Walker William H. Ward Rothe Weigel J. Albert Woods M. F. Crass, Jr. M. Y. Seaton (for Paul L. Davies) W. P. Gage (for Charles E. Wilson) John R. Bates - Sun Oil Company John A, Hill - Air Reduction Company, Inc. Harry Krehbiel - Catalin Corporation of America J. P. Remensnyder - Heyden Chemical Corp. B. M. Taylor - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. Marx Leva - Fowler, Leva, Hawes & Symington On behalf of those present. Chairman Emmerich extended a cordial welcome to the guests who were present by invitation. II. MINUTES OF MEETING The minutes of the December 14, 1954, meeting were duly approved as sent to the members. CMA 067224 (287) m. TREASURER'S REPORT (a) Monthly Report. The financial report for the period December 1 31, 1954, was reviewed, and ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the report be accepted and placed on file. (b) Six Months' Summary. The Treasurer reviewed the fiscal position of the Association on the basis of six months' operations. Although a deficit between budget and projected income of $19, 150 was contemplated for the year's operations, it now appears that, with increased membership fee income and income from special meetings, a near balance may be obtained at the close of the fiscal year. This estimate takes into account previously unforeseen expendi tures in public relations and customs classification categories, but is contingent upon the absence of further non-budgetary items. IV. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. (a) Release of Unclassified Information. The Association has been successful in speeding up the release of specific technical information already declassified by the Defense establishment but not heretofore made available by the Chemical Corps. We have been advised that the Chief Chemical Officer, after a follow-up of proprietary considerations, will forward the material to the Office of Technical Services, Department of Commerce, for dissemination to industry in general. (b) Renegotiation. A letter from Mr. G. W. Naylor, Chairman, Chemical Paperwork Task Force, Hoover Commission, on the subject of renegotiation, was read to those present. The letter suggested that consideration be given to the possibility that the Act may be extended by the 84th Congress, and that, in such case, amendments to eliminate some of the unnecessarily complicated and burdensome procedural and administrative aspects of the Act as related to the chemical industry, may be in order. It was agreed that the matter should be transmitted to the executive contacts with a request for recom mendations and comments. (c) Chemical Progress Week. Mr. Foster reported that satisfactory progress was being made on developing state organizations. Further, that requests would shortly be made to specific executive contacts, including Board members, inviting their participation in the program. (d) Chemicals in Foods. A brief report was made of the Committee meeting held in Washington January 4. The President will outline the Associa tion's legislative position in an address to be presented January 27 before the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Section of the New York State Bar Association. The address has been carefully reviewed by Committee members and counsel and copies will be sent shortly to members of the Board, on which comments are invited. CMA 067225 (288) (e) National Conference on Education. A White House Conference 0n Education will be held next November and, under Public Law 530, a sum of' $700,000 has been made available by the Congress for use by states in organiz ing and carrying on preliminary conferences which will stress problems in the field of public, elementary, and high school education. Feeling that our industry is presented with an opportunity for calling attention to existing problems involv ing science teaching and science student enrollments, it was suggested; (1) that Chemical Progress Week chairmen and vice-chairmen be alerted for appropriate action in connection with conferences in their respective states, (2) that-reports be secured from state CPW officials as to progress made and that an over-all report be compiled for distribution to MCA members, and (3) that the Association sponsor a one-day conference in April or May, to which would be invited repre sentatives of other interested industries, to discuss such problems in specific terms at the state level. In his discussion, Mr. Foster presented four charts dealing with science student enrollments and degrees granted. Following consideration, it was agreed that the Association's staff, in conjunction with the Public Relations Industry-Education Subcommittee, should work out detailed plans of such a program for presentation to the Board at the february 8 meeting. Copies of the charts will be reproduced for circulation to Board members. V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) Report on Alternates. The Chairman advised that the following Board members had requested the appointment of alternates: Board Member Alternate and Company J. D. Fennebresque George Schneider, Celanese Corporation of America George M. Walker B. J. C. van der Hoeven, Koppers Co., Inc. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the appointments be approved. (b) Membership Committee. (1) Resignation. The resignation of Godfrey L. Cabot, Inc. from Association membership was announced and accepted, (2) New Applications. It was reported that applications for membership in the Association have been received from the following firms: Cosden Petroleum Corporation The Girdler Company Rayonier, Incorporated CMA 067226 (289) and that the applicants appear to be qualified for membership under the Asso ciation's By-Laws. ON MOTION duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the applications be approved subject to the 30-day notice to members provided under Article III, Section 4, of the By-Laws. (c) ODM Executive Manpower Program. At the September 14, -1954, meeting, a consensus was established that, rather than earmark specific personnel for emergency governmental service, job descriptions be set up and, at the proper time, individual firms be requested to assume responsibility for filling such positions. In the Secretary's letter of November 17, it was pointed out that ODM was proceeding on the basis of naming names rather than specifying jobs and was receiving support for this policy from other industry groups. Mr. Ward stated that present Government policy, while earmarking specific personnel, gives respective employers the right to withdraw names or provide replacements. Following discussion, it was the consensus that the Board concur with present ODM policy as set forth above. (d) MCA General Bulletin. See Item VI (c)(5) of these Minutes. VL COMMITTEES. (a) Industrial Relations Advisory Committee. The appointment of Carl Hageman, Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation, replacing Birny Mason as a member of the Committee, was approved. (b) Public Relations Advisory Committee. The appointment of George H. Weiler, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., replacing R. J. Ludwig as a member of the Committee, was approved. The appointment of Thomas Trimble, Hooker Electrochemical Company, as a member of the Committee, was also approved. (c) International Trade and Tariff Committee . (1) Customs Classification Study. The Secretary reported that the Subcommittee on Customs Classification Study, working through ten task groups, was making good progress and that its final report would be ready for presentation to the Tariff Commission before the end of the month. (2) Trade Agreements Act. It was announced that H. R. 1, setting forth the Administration's recommendations for a three-year extension of the Trade Agreements Act, and incorporating provisions at odds with policy as set forth in the MCA Statement to the Randall Commission, would come to hearing January 17 before the Ways and Means Committee of the House. The MCA International Trade and Tariff Committee will meet in Washington January 13 to consider this matter, among others, and to arrange for preparation of a statement of Association position on the Bill. (See Item (4), below. ) CMA 067227 (3) CED Report. The recent Tariff Policy statement of the Research and Policy Committee of the Committee on Economic Development was discussed. An excerpt from the General Bulletin dated December 6, 1954, which presented a brief summary of the CED position, together with a descrip tion of that group's organizational structure, was criticized by members of the Board. Basis for criticism was that the item was misleading to members since it did not set forth, in countering terms, an equivalent statement of MCA policy on the subject. The criticism also included the official listing in the CED report of our President's name and his Association connection without emphasizing that he was reflecting his individual concurrence and not that of the Association. Exception was also taken to an item appearing in the General Bulletin of January 10, which excerpted portions of the President's State of the Union Message to the Congress on the subject of foreign trade. Here again, it was pointed out that one side of the story had been presented without making it clear to Association members that the policy presented differed with Association policy as stated in the 1953 statement to the Randall Commission. (4) MCA Policy and Position with Respect to H. R. 1. Following discussion, it was MOVED, SECONDED, and UNANIMOUSLY VOTED that a draft of an Association statement be prepared immediately by the IT&T Committee (including consultation with Public Relations Advisory Committee representatives) re-emphasizing the Association's stand on tariff policy; and that such statement be issued by the Board in behalf of the membership; and that it be reviewed by the Executive Committee prior to release. Ensuing discussion indicated that the consensus favored MCA's making an appearance before the House Ways and Means Committee. (5) General Bulletin. In view of the foregoing discussion of General Bulletin items, it was the consensus that consideration be given to establishing new ground rules for content of material and editorial policy. The matter was referred to the Public Relations Policy Committee for study and recommendation, utilizing also the services of the Public Relations Advisory Committee. VH. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) MCA Research Project. The Secretary reported that a small group representing the Research Advisory Committee and its Task Subcommittee would visit Carnegie Institute of Technology on January 17 to inspect facilities and evaluate progress. Eighty-four member firms have agreed to co-sponsor the project to date with eleven refusals. Follow-up letters have been sent to those firms which have not yet been heard from. (b) 83rd Annual Meeting. It was reported that a meeting of the Program Committee would be held immediately following conclusion of the Board luncheon. CMA 067228 (291) (c) Water pollution Abatement Workshop. As a result of the guccessful workshop conference held in Boston during November, a second conference has been scheduled to meet in Albany on February 17, covering jnember plants located within the State of New York. Personal letters of invitation have been sent to the managers of all member plants located within the State. (d) Industry-Government Conference. Mr. Foster displayed a copy of the printed invitation to the February 8 reception in Washington which has been sent to high Government personnel in the executive and legislative branches. Letters of invitation will shortly be sent to the executive contacts of member firms, applicable also to the other principal officers of such firms. The con ference will be held at the Mayflower Hotel and will be preceded by Executive Committee and Board meetings, together with Board luncheon according to our customary pattern. Invitations to the Board luncheon have been extended to Secretaries McKay and Weeks, as well as Mr. H. D. Pettibone, Chairman of the Rubber Producing Facilities Disposal Commission. (e) Proposed Chemical Pump Standardization Project. In accordance with prior Board approval, the American Standards Association has been advised by its Chemical Industry Advisory Board that MCA will be willing to act as sponsor of this project. It is anticipated that a conference of pump manufacturers and users will be called by ASA for some time during March. General counsel has prepared a summary memorandum on procedures applicable to this project and any similar project that may be suggested in the future, for Association guidance in the matter. (f) ILO Meeting. Mr. Foster reported that official employer delegates to the February 7-19 Geneva meeting of the ILO Chemicals Committee would be Messrs. E. Watt Dwyer, Monsanto Chemical Company, and M. F. Crass, Jr., Secretary of the Association. Recommended advisors are Messrs. Henry W. Johnstone, Merck & Co., Inc., and Frank J. O'Connell, Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation. (g) French Licensing Tax. (See Item IV(g), Minutes of the November 9, 1954, Meeting.) The Association's Tax Policy Committee discussed develop ments in the French Turnover Tax matter at a meeting held on January 7. The Committee recommended that MCA cooperate in the movement to defeat applica tion of the tax to American licensers, and that activities in this respect be made known to the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Friendly and Ball, which is acting as counsel to several member firms. (h) Organization of Technical Employees. Because of lack of time, it was not possible for Mr. B. M. Taylor to discuss this subject. It was agreed that Mr. Taylor would be invited to make the presentation instead at the March 8 meeting. CMA 067229 (292) There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was unanimously resolved to adjourn. Approved: F. J. Emmerich Chairman M. F. Crass, Jr, Secretary During the luncheon period, the Board had as its guests (in addition to those attending the Board meeting) the following: Dr. Don D. Irish, The Dow Chemical Company Dr. Randolph T. Major, Merck & Co., Inc. Mr. Wesley Minnis, Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation All three gentlemen are members of the Toxicological Institute Study Committee, which met immediately following the luncheon. CMA 067230