Document pKYVaJrpnQ7mKOYv608v31BD

March 10, 1954 (226) MINUTES of the thirty-seventh meeting of the Directors of the Manu facturing Chemists' Association, Inc. , held at The Union Club, Park Avenue and 69th Street, New York, New York on March 9, 1954, at 11:00 A. M. (EST). There were present: Messrs. E. T. Asplundh George B. Beitzel Howard S. Bunn Walter Dannenbaum F. J. Emmerich William C, Foster Carl A. Gerstacker J, R. Hoover J. J. Kerrigan John E. McKeen Charles S. Munson Ernest W. Reid Dan M. Rugg John A, Sargent Felix N. Williams J. Albert Woods Hans Stauffer M. F. Crass, Jr. Alternates: Ford Ballantyne, Jr., for R. B. Semple H. R. Huston, for Kenneth C. Towe J. M. Gillet, for Rothe Weigel Present by Invitation: C, H. Winship, Jr. - Phelps-Dodge Refining Corp. A. E. Forster - Hercules Powder Company J. W. Orelup - Patent Chemicals, Inc. J. F. Corkill - Pacific Coast Borax Co. Marx Leva - Fowler, Leva, Hawes & Symington Messrs. Winship, Forster, Orelup and Corkill were welcomed by the Chairman and invited to take active parts in the discussion. Mr. Hans Stauffer was also welcomed in his capacity as a newly-elected director. At the luncheon following the Board meeting, Messrs. K. H. Klipstein and S. Stewart Graff, Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, were present as Association guests. I. MINUTES OF MEETING. The minutes of the February 9, 1954 meeting were duly approved as sent to the members. - II. TREASURER'S REPORT. (a) Financial Summary - February, 1954. The monthly financial summary of the Association for the period February 1 - 28, 1954 was reviewed, and, on motion duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the report be accepted and placed on file. CMA 067145 (b) Budget for Fiscal 1954-55. The President briefly summarized a proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 1954, together with suggested method of financing, which had been discussed pre viously by the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee. The budget of approximately $520,000 is based essentially upon current operations. The financing plan as presented would remove certain inequalities in the dues schedule and result in increases of from 10% to 15% among those firms whose chemical wage and salary payrolls exceed $2.5 million annually. Such a plan would bring in approximately $485, 000 and this amount, when supplemented by publications income, would still fall a little short of financing the budget-as proposed. It was made clear that this budget discussion was preliminary inasmuch as the subject will be considered by the Board at the April meeting as in past years. Consensus of opinion indicated that, before presentation at the April meeting, the proposed budget should be carefully scrutinized item by item in order to keep it at a minimum figure consistent with current operations. Those present indicated the desirability of a balanced budget, and the method of financing as proposed met with general agreement. It was suggested, however, that the method of financing be carefully studied, since a stricter interpretation of the term "chemical wage and salary payroll" might bring in additional funds from those Association members whose principal activities lie in other fields. It was pointed out that the suggested budget did not include provision for a 1955 Chemical Progress Week nor for an Industry-Education cooperative seminar for science teachers of secondary schools. m. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. (a) NLRB Decision -- Craft Severance Case. Messrs, Foster and Leva briefly discussed the decision of the National Labor Relations Board in the American Potash and Chemical Corporation craft severance case which was issued during the past week. The decision provides that the integration doctrine will not be extended beyond the basic steel, basic aluminum, lumber and wet milling industries; that elections in which employees may determine whether they want a separate unit will be permitted wherever a true craft group is sought and where, in addition, the union seeking to represent it is one who traditionally represents that craft; that rules to determine whether there is a true craft unit will be tightened and rigidly enforced, and that a new method will be followed in tallying the ballots in such elections. The Association sent a preliminary summary of the decision to member representatives on March 5 as a Supplement to the General Bulletin, and, on March 9, a copy of the NLRB decision, together with an analysis prepared by counsel, was forwarded to member executives and labor relations contacts of member companies. CMA 067146 (228) (b) Chemicals in Foods. Association representatives, with counsel, have met with representatives of the millers, dairy industries, and grocery manufacturing groups in an effort to resolve differences on pro posed legislation and to evolve a compromise approach. A second meeting of the two drafting groups will take place in Washington during the forthcoming week. It is the feeling of the Committee on Chemicals in Foods that a consider able amount of progress has been made regarding equitable legislation. (c) Chemical Progress Week. Good progress was reported on organization of Chemical Progress Week to take place during the period May 17 - 22. Fifteen of the twenty-two regional chairmen have accepted appoint ment and the remaining assignments will probably be made this week. Progress made in lining up individual company chairmen has not progressed too well inasmuch as only thirty-seven member firms have designated qualified staff members. With the assistance of the Public Relations Advisory Committee, however, it is hoped that the balance of the company-wide organizations can be finalized within the near future. The Texas Chemical Council has requested that Chemical Progress Week activities in that state be deferred until after adjournment of the Texas Legislature's current session. The Washington staff has completed a major portion of the various programs including speech material. Six major speeches will be made at the top level and Mr, Foster invited the cooperation of Board members in this respect. Some difficulty has been experienced in setting up an organization within the state of California. Mr. Stauffer promised to lend his support in this respect and the staff will get in touch with Messrs. Jan Oostermeyer, T. G. Hughes and Peter Colefax to enlist their support. Excellent cooperation has already been received from the technical press, and the regional facilities of the American Chemical Society will be available for use. Reference was made to cooperation of the Armed Forces Chemical Association in Washington, Mr. Huston, New York City regional chairman, amplified Mr. Foster's remarks and urged cooperation on the part of member firms in the New York area. Top level speakers will be required for radio interviews whereas lower echelon personnel can be utilized for primary and secondary school convo cations. He also stated that many stores and banks would be willing to donate window space for displays. (d) Southwest Wastes Conference. Reservations are being received daily for the 1954 Pollution Abatement Conference at Houston on April 21 - 23, 1954 being sponsored jointly by MCA, TCC and the Southern Association of Science and Industry. (e) Atomic Energy. Mr, Foster reported receipt of a satisfactory volume of replies concerning the Atomic Energy circular of February 11. It is believed that with this material the Association will be able to take a constructive position on peacetime applications before the Joint Congressional Committee at the appropriate time. CMA 067147 IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, (229) (a) 82nd Annual Meeting. Mr. Sargent reported on the program and advised that all details are in hand. He stated that the joint MCA-SOCMA Program Committees would meet following conclusion of the Board luncheon and that the principal item to be decided upon concerned the scheduling of a Monte Carlo party or its equivalent on the evening of the first day. The Secretary then reported on his discussion with the Greenbrier management concerning meeting arrangements and stated that the general schedule to be followed would adhere closely to that followed so successfully last year. (b) April 13 Meeting in Pittsburgh. Messrs. Asplundh and Rugg reported that all necessary arrangements had been concluded not only for the meeting and luncheon on April 13 but for the informal dinner the preceding evening. Visitation trips on both Monday and Tuesday have been scheduled to Mellon Institute and member representatives will take care of their own arrange ments for transportation. Returns to date indicate an excellent attendance on the part of executive contacts located in the midwest area. (c) Membership Committee. (1) New Applications. It was reported that the application of Canadian Industries Limited for membership in the Association has been received, duly sponsored and seconded by executives of member firms, and that the applicant appears to be qualified for membership under the Association's By-Laws. On Motion duly made and seconded, it was VOTED: That the application be approved subject to the 30-day notice to members provided under Article III, Section 4, of the By-Laws. (2) Eureka Chemical Company. It was agreed to defer action on this application until the April meeting pending receipt of additional information concerning eligibility. (3) General. Mr. Hoover reported that the Membership Committee had met and agreed upon a uniform policy concerning solicitation of pharmaceutical manufacturers. He urged Board members to facilitate applications on the part of their Canadian affiliates. (d) Resolution. Mr. Arthur H. Martin, the President of Dominion Tar and Chemical Company, Ltd., died on February 27, 1954. It was moved, seconded and voted that the Secretary be instructed to transmit an appropriate resolution to the Company and to Mr. Martin's family. CMA 067148 V. COMMITTEES. (a) Plastics Committee. Statement of Principles. Messrs. Foster and Rugg reported that a press conference had been held in New York City on March 8, at which time the previously approved Statement of Principles (see Minutes of October 13, 1953 Board meeting) was presented to the industry and the public by MCA, the Society of the Plastics Industry, the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Plastics Coating and Film Association. Mr. Rugg stated that it was the consensus of the Plastics Group that copies of the Statement of Principles, together with covering letter signed by the President of MCA be transmitted by MCA to all processors and fabricators of plastics. An alternate method suggested by counsel involved distribution of this material by MCA to its member companies only, such companies to then carry on further distribution among their customers. It was agreed that method of dissemination of the material be referred to the Association's officers, the Plastics Committee, and counsel for decision. (b) Industrial Relations Committee. The appointments of the following persons to the Industrial Relations Committee, were approved by the Board: E. Watt Dwyer - Monsanto Chemical Company R. C. Landon - Rohm & Haas Company R. S. Lemon - Spencer Chemical Company Dawson Lewis - Wyandotte Chemicals Corp. H. C, Little - American Cyanamid Company Birney Mason - Union Caehide & Carbon Corp. Gordon Mitchell - E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. F. J. O'Connell - Allied Chemical & Dye Corp. H. R. Sampson - National Starch Products, Inc. M. J. Staley - Lubrizol Corporation H. W. Stull - Mathieson Chemical Corporation (c) Hydrogen Peroxide Task Group. The Association has been re quested by hydrogen peroxide producers to appoint a task group to clarify safety features relative to the packaging, handling and transportation of this product. The following personnel of member firms were appointed to make up the Hydrogen Peroxide Task Group: George W. Benbury - Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Frederick A. Gilbert - Buffalo Electro-Chemical Company John Youel - E. I. duPont deNemours It Co. , Inc. (d) Traffic Committee. The appointments of the following new officers and members of the Traffic Committee were approved by the Board: CMA 067149 (-231) Chairman - H, F, Suiter, Merck & Co, , Inc. Vice-Chairman - J, J. Hailey, Niagara Alkali Company Members; H. E, Bingham - Spencer Chemical Company C, E, Brockman - Mallinckrodt Chemical Works O, L, Culbreth - Commercial Solvents Corp. C P, Greeley - National Distillers Chemical Company E. J. Gresslin - Ethyl Corporation G L, Wilson, Jr, - Rohm & Haas Company (e) Public Relations Advisory Committee. The appointment of W, Austin Bishop, Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, was approved by the Board. (f) General Safety Committee. Members were presented with copies of the most recent Chemical Safety Data Sheet, SD-56, Vinyl Chloride, which has been distributed to the membership of the Association. VI, MISCELLANEOUS. (a) Renogiation Act, Mr. Gerstacker discussed current legislation providing for extension of the Renogiation Act for an additional year and pointed out that differentiation as to "permissive exemption" and "mandatory exemption" in relation to Standard Commercial Articles was of importance to the chemical industry. The Washington office will see that the matter is referred to the Tax Policy Committee for consideration, (b) Taft-Hartley Act. At Mr. Rugg's suggestion, it was agreed that current legislation in connection with the Taft-Hartley Act be referred to the newly organized Industrial Relations Committee for consideration. (c) Customs Simplification. Mr. Williams referred to HR. 6584, a bill to revise the Customs Simplification Act of 1953 to embody controversial provisions relating to conversion of currency and import valuation. This Bill has passed the House and is now before the Senate. (d) International Trade and the Tariff. The Association's consultant, Dr. F. J. Weiss, will complete his collection of documentary material by the end of this week. The Task Group will then adapt this material to the MCA Randall Commission Statement for ultimate use in connection with the forthcoming Congressional hearings and distribution to the public. There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was unanimously resolved to adjourn. Approved: Charles S. Munson Chairman M. F. Crass, Jr. Secretary CMA067150