Document dao4M0ELwDGopoqj9n9wqq56Q

New Yorh, DIR June 15, 1955. A meet in.-: of the Bonn of Cirectors was held U-- - j l - a ^ -- T .rCity, Thursday, June -L , S. S*. *_I , .JX W -- ^ . O a. . Present: :rane, is.! rij.r. H, Brush r , Brownell F. Sprague J J , Be sc:.orn: vj c. uO isn Lar.bourne Chapin T X, Cornell 2 c. r l . ** j r :\0 car u s on 3wanton Repre seating: o. e ^--c: ^ c. near, deta UV ul.. il it American Sneitinm ^ Refinirn Smelting Co. hotels Refinin 'o . National lead Co. M n it it it Porn Utah Consolidated Lines Co St. Joseph Lead Co. ii ii n ii United LetrIs Selling Co. United States Srr.elti..g Refining 1 ` - - t- C-- - L*. .... -. ^ C* r\ tj w .linchester Reoeatinr Arms Co. President Clinton H. Crane cecumies cnai: The Secretary's Retort follows: ; T ^ *7 Ti iC7 v- a. . 1 The following summarizes briefly the activities of the Lead Industries Association since the last meeting: (1) National Industrial Recovery Act - Although this impor tant industrial legislation has not yet been enacted into law, at the time of writing, we have begun the accumulation of some of the information which will be necessary in order to use the arovisior.s of this Act. A questionnaire has been distributed to our mining, smelting and refining members, re questing labor data covering wages paid and the extent of em ployment in the industry today compared with 1926. N 587 Compared with other trade associations, the Lead Industries Association represents, in sene branches, an un usually high proportion cf production. In urinary lead smelting and refining the industry is 100,a represented. In mining we have a representation close to cO^, in the lead pigments industry our representation is close tc 100j, a remark which applies equally to lead pipe, sheet, and some of the lead alloys. In other words, the Lead Industries Association is the natural medium for there lead manufac turing interests to use under the provision of the rational Industrial Recovery Act. (2) Statistics - An important change in the n thod of report- ing our Pig Lead Sales statistics was made ha 1 ~ + U4"U4JUWj - interruption cf the service, and an addition IT a Order included in the tabulation. (3) Tariff - An informal meeting of the Executive Committee and some members with headquarters in Pen Perk v.-as held on Lay ith to discuss a threatened move on the part of the Wash ington Administration to disturb existing tariff schedules ana the orospect of the lead schedule being me be one of the bargaining items in international trade arrangements advoca ted by the Adninistration. hr. Callahan of Wallace, Idaho, presenting the northern Idaho lead miners, attended. It was informally agreed that the Lead Industries Association was the nature.! fact finding agency from which to obtain the data necessary to defend the interest cf lead in Washington should any tariff emergency arise. Accordingly, the Secre tary has already begun, to procure data on the relative costs of labor in the United States compares with costs in Australi Burma, Germany, Spain and oth-r lead producing count: :iss, to use with other data should a tariff emergency arise. A visit to Washington by the Secretary and a talk with some of those presumably competent to speak, seems to indicate that if a tariff bill is passed the Senate will exercise its right to ratify any reciprocal treaty a.rrangements. Just now tariff legislation seems destined to be postponed indefinitely. (4) Plumbing Regulations - Acting by authority of the Board, our intensive drive to obtain a modification of the clunking codes so that lead would receive equitable consideration, is making steady progress and meeting with ar. excellent recep tion. I am attaching an account of developments in the State of New Jersey which culminated in the passage cf one of the strongest endorsements in favor of lead I have ever seen, by the New Jersey State Liaster Plumbers Association. Now that the ice has been broken I think our progress will be even faster. LIA 00104 (d) Labor Regulations - The La.ssachusetts Department of Labor bad or. contemplation during hay to si.trocuce a rare restrictir.:; slightly the use of white :_ " a- visors a.na :. request rn j.y is propose-. A _ >* --. ~ "'o. ^ *i a decision has not yet oeen made TI 'n-iave ev;ry reason to . elieve that s.n adjustment satisfactory to every- one will bs reached. (1) Tin-lined Rrri-Ier-d Pi e - Tur lor.._ continued effort to find a satisfactory joint for a thin-walled tin-lead pipe has finally been rewarded for we have developed a sir.ols type of flared fiat inn which cart be installed quickly by =.../ corr... u8.. o yt u --.-_,c <z. i v at - *t a. no pressure- tests indicate that the joint is satisfactory. The future of this product a-pears to be very bright and before long we expect to mako a full report. (7) Education? t.e nave in prospect tne puoilection - - - - -**v-- ^w yji. ---U ci.x Cy. - ic px*-- ^ ... . - rxa_ , con-- cat a which any help no briny a b out a -ider use of -ear Ivs ac ome es our LZAD ?I?Z : c 11 o n jyy uj.n-- s is. c . O Cli.C* 2 Of It i: o: a_ syndicate si. basis for some . . r p. ' - p e. j_ -oor r t to o"' - t : to use the LZAD ?I?Z m so.vc . C m-C: . ^0 CK_ ' lecc (x) 3orav Residues - The Department of Agriculture, :ne 3. Zocd -c Drug Adnunistration, has established a lead tolerance cr. fruit and vegetables in inter-state commerce of .014 groin p-. r lb., which has created a furor among the apple growers in tne Dorthwest, insecticide manufacturers and other parties at interest and the subject is still in a state of agitation, he have been trying to help adjust the situation, having in wind the fact that we do not wish to subject the public tc any unnecessary risks a..d secondly that we do not wish to see any unsupported assertions made about lead by ' Govercnent agencies. I have bee., studying the question from a toxicological standpoint, which is the key to the whole situation, but have not yet had sufficient data for us to act intelliner.tlv. () Tea Lead - The Food -c Drug Administration has also issued a warning against the use of bare lead foil for lining tea casks. Here too, we have been investigating the situation an LIA00105 have discovered that there is a surprising amount of lead ir. tea samples taken from lead lined casks, running any where from 10 to 15 milligrams per lb. I believe the sim plest adjustment would be for the shippers of tea to use a cheap paper inner liner. (10) Lead Hvgier.e - Sven though our knowledge of lead poison ing has increased enormously over the last ten years, chiefly through the work of Drs. Aub, F&irhall, Sayers, Kehoe and other ardent workers in lead, much remains to be done and it is a lack of knowledge of the effect of small amounts of lead in the human system today which prevents us from taking an in telligent stand on some of the practical problems which face tht. use of lead products such as lead arsenate, tea lead and others. During my visit to Harvard, Professor Fairhall and I had a long discussion on this subject. Dr. Fairhall feels that it would be highly desirable to make an intensive study of this quostion of normal lead, that is the amount of lead v.-hich practically every human being has in his system. This is a problem which is receiving .ere and more attention. Pro fessor Fairhall tells me that h will be glad to give his entire services free for a year i "'e would liko to tackle this interesting oroblem and will financially suuport a program of research. A cony of Professor Fairhall1s letter, estimating the-cost of the oronram is attached. It may be that my position, which places me close to attacks on lead from all sources, forces me unduly to em phasize the question of the general health hazard of lead, but it does seem to me that it is of fundamental importance to the lead industries and that we should always be in the forefront so far as medical, knowledge of lead is concerned. Only with accurate knowledge of lead are we able to combat many of the unwarranted attacks on lead and I hope that the Hoard will see the wisdom of continuing and even increasing cur medical re search. In this connection, I would like to point out that Dr. Aub's fund expires on July 1st. He told me that frankly he has hesitated in making any further appeal to us in view of the terribly depressed state of the lead industries for the past owe years, an attitude which I told him I thought the Board would greatly appreciate. Respectfully submitted, tC Secretary. LI AOOlOfc The Treasurer's Report follows: TREASURER'S .11?CRT c l S-T. Receipts 8,?.zl} u --- . 9 1^, Membership C o nt r ibut ions, 1932 . 354.00 Membership Contributions, 1933 315,221.50 ?lc,275.50 Less 1933 Contributions Previously Paid Less Contributions Outstanding 124.00 315,151.50 305.75 14,342.75 Interest Book 3ales 77.21 12.00 Tctai necercts * O i AL i -in 1 $14,col.90 227,045.40 Disbursements -Furniture -< Fixtures Salaries ' c ^ji^.nt Citice expense Hitcellaneous Traveling 2xper.ses Telephone Telegraph Books a Subscriptions Printing Hailing Illustration Advances $51.Id o, 3 o . C 0 63.o7 3co.23 515.63 159.70 123.94 2,490.56 1,016.16 cc nri \S ___ 50.0c Total Disbursements 13,962.24 Cash on Hand and in Bank, June 1, 1933 13,064.16 TOTAL $27,046.40 LIA00107 The National Industrial Recovery Act was fully dis cussed by the Board, with its bearing or. the manifold indus tries represented in the Lead Industries Association after which a notion was duly made, seconded and carried THAT the Secretary be requested tc make an appoint ment with the official in Washington responsible for the ad ministration of the National Industrial Recovery Act so far as it related to the lead industries, for the purpose of dis cussing a program which the Lead Industries Association might "doot. rstary read a comraunicnti -- ---JUT,j- ' -A*". * I If 2 ** c p n* * i- h 71V-* , w w j ^__all iud... l / Sub-Committee h'o. I of 3-2 of the A.S.T.L. is follows: "At a recent meeting of Sub-Con..ittee No. 1 of Committee 3-2, American Society for Testing Naterials, at which the specification for Pig lead was under co::sider:-tion, the matter of 98.99y> pure lead was under discussion and the chairman was instructed to write to you a.-.d inquire if the demand for lead of this quality is sufficient tc require its inclusion in the A.S.T.-M. Specification for Pig Lead. "It was the understanding at this meeting that several lead producers were either producing or were able to produce, lead of the quality above mentioned but that the Committee did not have sufficient informa tion to decide whether it was warranted in including lead with a purity of 99.99,0 as one of the grades to be included in the specification. "The Sub-Committee desired to be informed in regard to this matter as soon as possible." The opinion was divided as to the wisdom of recom- meding a 99.99,0 pure lead specification in the revision that Sub-Committee No. 1 of B-2 was now making and without ob- LIA00106 iection the Secretary was directed to write Hr. Bassett to the effect that the consensus of opinion of the Boer of Directors of the Lead Industries Association was the the demand for a S9.Spure lead specification, so far as the Lend Industries Association was concerned, did not warrant its inclusion in the contemplated revision of the Fig Load Specification. The Secretary presented a communication from Professor Fairhall of Harvard lledioa I Gch ool, as noted A. . i o il rj ~ tp cretary's Retort, sug nesting the. t certain re- earch on thu medical aspects of lead csnducted at .-arvarc. It was regularly moved, seconded and carried THAT t'r.e- Treasurer proceed to raise ah: sun. of 5/600, sufficient to defray Dr. Fairhc.il ` s -reposed me dical research at Harvard, through voluntary contribu tions commensurate with the lead production or consump tion of members. The meeting adjourned at 0:50 P. h. LI A00109 COPY June 13, 1933. TO MEMBERS OF THE LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION: LEAD IN PLUMBING CODES Ever since the first of the year the Lead Indus tries Association has been making anintensive drive to pro cure modification of plumbing codes in the thickly populated areas along the Atlantic Seaboard, to strengthen the position of lead versus substitute materials. As you doubtless know, there has been a disturbing trend away from lead for many years which has militated against its widespread use in some parts of the average home plumbing system and has, therefore, de creased the volume of lead pipe and sheet used in plumbing. The Directors of the Lead Industries Association felt that, unless some of the regulations at present unfavor able to lead were modified, it was illogical to expect any no ticeable increase in the demand for lead plumbing supplies. Accordingly, in an economical way we have begun a modest but concerted effort to improve the stotus of lead in plumbing codes ana, if our work meets with success, propose gradually to expand our field. Formerly, we only endeavored to correct situations where members may have requested assistance as in Washington and Buffalo. In connection with our work in New Jersey, we have aroused so much interest that, during the week of May 15th, we were invited to be guests of the Master Plumbers Associa tion of the State of New Jersey, at their Annual Convention in Atlantic City. On short notice we prepared an exhibit em phasizing some of the features of a plumbing code which we recommend - such as lead under bathroom floors, service lines and shower pans - and calling attention to the grave conse quence for the plumbing craft which had attended the trend away from lead. We pointed out how the plumber had neglected to cultivate skill in the use of lead - which only a plumber can install properly - was encouraging incompetent craftsmen toengage in plumbing. As a result of our work a speech was delivered by one of the master plumbers, appealing to the con vention to return to lead. A copy of this address is attached. The combined effect of our educational work plus the exhibit which the master plumbers had a chance to see and the interest in the subject aroused by the lead speech on the floor of the convention, caused a resolution to be passed as follows: the strongest endorsement in favor of lead I have ever seen by any plumbing organization: LIA00110 N 587.01 2- - V/HEREAS through standardization and simplification of connective devices in the plumbing field there has been ?. constant tendency to introduce and use threaded connections and unions requiring little technical abil ity beyond a strong arm and a wrench, thus lessening the knowledge and mechanical requirements for craftsmanship, and WHEREAS the use of such devices has encouraged the employment of cheaper kinds of pipe and materials despite the known fact of their relatively short life when com pared with lead which has been the plumbers' material since ancient days, to the detriment of the property owner in the lack of trouble free permanence of plumbing pipes and connections such as was his in the days of lead waste and round wiped solder plumbers joints; now therefore be it RESOLVED by the New Jersey State Master Plumbers Associa tion in Annual Meeting assembled at Atlantic City, (N.J.) this 20th day of May, 1923, that it is to the best interests of the property -wner to have a plumbing system properly designed and installed with fixed connections ana branch wastes and vents and with water services and water supplies of standard lead waste or water pipe of weights suitable for the several purposes, such pipe to be installed by journeymen plumbers skilled in the art of installing and connecting by means of round wiped plumbers joints; and to that end be it further RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be placed in the hands of every member of this organization with request that the purpose of it be brought to the attention of the prooer authorities in their several jurisdictions, to the end that the use of lead rough work and water supply be increased as rapidly and to as great an extent as may be possible. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the incoming Executive Committee and zone committee advance this resolution at their zone meetings. The Secretary of the convention was instructed to communi cate with the numerous local sections of master plumbers throughout New Jersey, requesting them individually to help restore lead to its rightful position in plumbing codes. One result of this effort will be to facilitate our work in the. State of New Jersey immensely. Moreover, it breaks the ice, so to speak, and enables us to approach the nearby States of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and others with every prospect that we can duplicate the result in New Jersey. Although we haven't sufficient funds to pursue our work on a nation wide scale, we shall be very glad to help any member who has a local situation to meet where lead is not receiving adequate consideration. Sincerely yours, Secretary. LIAO 0111 Gentlemen: - It affords me great pleasure to be granted this valuable opportunity to speak to you briefly upon the subject of ways and means to strengthen and secure our position in the plumbing field. I appreciate the fact that our trade has greatly benefitted in recent years by the cooperation of manufacturers in the improvement of fixtures. I also realize that their in terest in the plumber and in educating him in the art of esti mating and salesmanship has been of material help to us. How ever, I feel that we, the members of our various associations, individually and collectively, have to our own detriment al lowed much of the art and craft to drop right out of our trade, affecting our business and profits by encouraging unskilled competition. This we have done simply by standing by while our materials have been standardized and simplified to such an extent that the services of the skilled craftsman may be and often are entirely dispensed with. Had this condition been accompanied by a corres ponding improvement in the quality of plumbing installations we could find no fault, for our first consideration should be for the people we serve. But in many instances it haslead to less sanitary and less permanent installations, and to work done by incompetent handy men. This deplorable state of affairs must not be per mitted to continue and we must look .to our associations for support and concerted effort in overcoming these conditions. One way to relieve the situation materially would be by the more extensive use of lead for the roughing in and for water services where possible. This can be accomplished by only slight revisions to plumbing codes in most cases, and. some of our far sighted members have already accomplished much in thi3 respect in their own towns. Such revisions not only restore to the plumber his art and protect his business, but improve certain parts of the plumbing system now permitted to be made entirely in galvanized iron pipe. I wish to emphasize that the standardization of plumbing materials is highly commendable so long as it leads to improved plumbing and guarantees satisfactory workmanship . But I wish to conclude my talk to you, fellow members, with an earnest appeal for organised action in this direction, so that we may, in the very near future, be pre pared to recover that very lucrative and desirable part of a work which is essentially ours. N 587.02 LI*collp a COPY HARVARD UNIVERSITY School of Public Health 55 Van Dyke Street Boston, Mass. April SO, 1933. Mr. F.E. 7/ormser, Secretary Lead Industries Association New York. Dear Mr. Wormser: The following memorandum covers the chief points with regard to our recent conversation with reference to a rigid in quiry into the analytical determination of minute amounts of lead and the extent of the actual occurrence of lead in food and in human beings as a normal constituent. Owing probably more than anything else to the very exact scientific study initiated and sustained by Dr. Aub in this field and to the interesting facts which he has estab lished with respect to the behavior of lead in the organism, many ether investigators have been attracted to the subject and some have sought to exploit it with papers and lectures which partake of sensationalism, fhile convincingly presented this material has frequently been unhampered by precise analy tical 'work. As one instance I refer to the question of "normal lead". If every man, woman and child is ingesting and contains the quantities of lead which one investigator says (in a series of papers to be published within the next few months) people will become "lead conscious" to an unfavorable degree. This is particularly unfortunate in vie.v of the findings of Russel, Cone and Harwood of McGill University to be presented in Washington next month. These Investigators have established - by means of carefully controlled and precise chemical investigations - a relation between lead and multiple sclerosis. I In the development of the chromate method of lead analysis we sought a method that would be at once simple and exact for the determination of lead in amounts of clinical im portance and which furthermore would not require expensive apparatus, so that it could be used In the average clinical laboratory. I now feel (1) that various other methods which have been reported must b^ rigorously investigated by the most re fined chemical and physical means in order to establish their limitations and their exactness beyond all question, (2) that LI AC 0H3 N 587.03 Mr. Wormser: -2- the exact degree to which lead is a constituent of food should be known, and (3) that we should definitely know the extent to which lead is normally found in the body. This investigation would require fully a year. I would want as an associate a chemist of Ph.D. grade trained in atomic weight work. The expense would be ap proximately as follows: Salary of chemist for one year Hilger quartz spectrograph Field work, apparatus, special service $2500 2800 2500 For my part I would stop all other investigative work so as to give my entire attention to these problems, and there would be of course the facilities and supplies of our laboratories. Yours sincerely, Signed: Lawrence T. Fairhall LI a c o 114