June 20, 1934
INDUSTRIAL
AND ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY
233
Stimulation. He expressed the hope that the patient Manufacturing Chemists' Association mental would no longer be forced to take dope and drug.-. but that Nature might be allowed to take her course. Holds Annual Meeting Mr. Bell then discussed government-planned economy versus THE SIXTY-SBCOND ANNUAL MEETING of the Manufacturing an industrial regime with its profit motive and rewards. He Chemists' Association was convened June 7 at Skytop Lodge in contended that it has been better to replace successively one the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, with approximately group of workers by another much larger group, citing trans150 in attendance. The president, W. B. Bell, presided, and portation as an example, where 100,000 hostlers lost their places following the roll call by Warren N. Watson, secretary, the chair- in order that a million might be employed by the railways. only man of tne Nominating Committee, George W. Merck, reported themselves to be largely displaced that four million might be and the recommendations were unanimously adopted. The follow- engaged in the automobile industry, but stressed the Obligation ing are those elected for the ensuing year: president, W. B. Bell, of industry and society to coöperate in lessening the temporary American Cyanamid Co.; vice presidents, E. M. Allen, Mathie- hardships caused by such shifts. However, relief cannot go on son Alkali based on Union Works, and ratesof pay, and George W. in England men Merck, Merck & on strike cannot Co.; treasurer, et support J . W. M c rom relief Laughlin, Carfunds. In New bide ana CarHampshire bon Chemicals those who are Corp.; secreon s t a t e o r tary, Warren N. c o u n t y relief Watson; execucannot vote tive committee, until 90 days Charles B e l after they have knap, Merrimac gone off such Chemical Co., relief, and rechairman , membering what Charles W. large numbers Miliard, General (some 19,000,Chemical Co., 000) of our H . L. D e r b y , Citizens are enAmerican j o y i n g federal CHARLES BELKNAP W M . B. B E L L W A R R E N N. W A T S O N Cyanamid & funds in one Chemical Corp., way or another, Leonard T. Beale, Pennsylvania^Salt Manufacturing Co., J. H . it is pertinentJ*Task the question: Should such enjoy the franDunbar, Grasselli Chemical Co., Clyde O. Marlatt, Martin chise? Dennis Co., Lammot du Pont, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Mr. Bell referred to a chart prepared by the National Inand Benjamin Mechling, Mechling Bros. Chemical Co. dustrial Conference Board and distributed by its courtesy at the meeting, showing the industrial production in Japan, Great Following the report of the treasurer and the adoption of the budget for the Coming year, Charles Belknap reported for the Britain, Sweden, France, Germany, Canada, and the United Executive Committee, stressing the varied accomplishments of States, indicating variations from 1932 througn the first quarter the technical committees whose reports will be found in detail of 1934, using as a base index number 1928 = 100. This shows in the annual report of the association, and complimenting the innuence of uncertainties upon industrial production in them on the thoroughness of the work done. Tribute was also this country in particular and the steady improvement elseaid to the way in which the increasing load of work has been where, especially in Great Britain, where they have discarded andled by the Washington office under the direction of Mr. many socialistic experiments and successfully gone back to Watson, and high praise was given to the members of the com- proved fundamentals. mittee who had worked almost continuously and in füll CoHe also discussed the English mode of meeting labor questions, operation in formulating the code which has been perfected under such as sympathetic strikes which are illegal, and pointed out the Chemical Alliance. The steps by which this was accomplished that arbitration has generally been unenforceable unless the have previously been reported [NEWS EDITION, 12, 57 (Feb. 10, finding has been in favor of labor. Pointing out that there have 1934) J. Mr. Belknap stated: "Personally I believe our industry been several good points in the NBA, Mr. Bell contended that has the best code in existence. Its main features are its sim- these must be preserved and utilized, and proceeded to indicate licity and its limitations. 1t does not wander far afield and it some of the weaknesses in management which must be corrected. as protective clauses which permit its signers t o still utilize Corporate management in its reports to stockholders should discretion in the conduct of their business. You have principally state what is paid management, and such reports have generally been weak in stating what has been done about depreciation. one man to thank for this—namely, your pre&ident, Mr. Bell." While the first half of the year was devoted to the code work, There should be independent audits by outside firms and some the latter half has seen demands because of congressional activity. definition should be drawn stating what constitutes criminality The effort of the Executive Committee "has been directed in corporate management and then the courts, rather than a primarily in working with other organizations toward elimination government appointee, should mete out suitable punishment and of detrimental features of proposed legislation devised by persons achieve corrections. who totally lack practical experience. The results have been He concluded his address with a strong Statement of the painful, however, owing principally to the apathy of the men in necessity of ridding ourselves of fads and oi returning to sound industry. Industry as a whole has taken a delayed defensive basic principles. He quoted a recent observer who said that the attitude instead of being alive to the situations as they arise paradox of want amidst plenty can be remedied by abolishing and instigating an intelligent advance offensive against detri- the plenty. mental features of legislation during formation." Mr. Bell was followed by Dean Clark, director of the Chemical President Bell in his address spoke extemporaneously and for Code Authority, who discussed the labor policy and the NRA. more than an hour held absolutely the attention of his audience; He pointed out that by strikes and the attendant lösses in wages. in convincing fashion he outlined his views of economic trends labor often rejects benefits which might otherwise be enjoyea and the effect of the past 18 months upon the future. He pointed through mdnimum wages and maximum hours. It is the duty of out that the reservation of constitutional rights in the cnemical management to maintain a proper balance between labor, the code has been most important, for subsequent events have shown stockholders, and the consumer. Mr. Gall, of the National that where not specifically reserved it may later be claimed that Association of Manufacturers, commented at length on Mr. they have been waived. Answering the Charge that the depres- Clark's paper and stressed the fact that labor relations are passing sion has been prolonged because of the attitude of private capital, from contract to a legal Status and are being assumed gradually Mr. Bell maintained that private capitalism is no longer free to by the Federal Government. This control has been achieved function and but for the socialistic trends of the xnoxnent, and thus far by five major moves: (1) the anti-injunction act of 1932, even the threat of communism with all the uncertainties that known as the Norris-LaGuardia Act; (2) the waiver System in have attended experimentation, the depression should have the NIRA affecting principally those industries not protected, ended in July, 1932, when business was ready to go ahead. as is the chemical industry, by the reservation of rights in the Even admitting that private management may be woefully bad code; (3) legislation like the proposed Wagner Bill, which at times. there is ample to show that nothing is gained trat seeks direct control of labor relations; (4) the appropriation of much is lost by substituting a government ofncial for the repre- federal money which is loaned on conditions as to labor; and (5) sentative of private business. He stated that business is-better the direct employment on its own behalf by the Government, where international trade is involved, as in some foreign countries, particularly outside the Civil Service. Twelve acts have been but still uncertain where the volume is largely due to govern- passcd specifying that those to be employed were outside the
f
S
E
234
N E W S
Civil Service status, and such employees now total some 60,000. All of this is not accidental but is a plan or a philosophy of governmental eontrol. The meeting concluded with a discussion of some of the experiences which those present had had in amicably and successfully settling labor disputes. After a more or less successful afternoon at golf, the association met jointly with t h e Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers' Association at dinner. F . G. Zinsser introduced Horace Bowker, who spoke of the development of leadership in indu3try through the N R A as compared with what w a s accornplished in wartime and h e described in some detail the birth of the Chemical Alliance, the charter of which had been used to such ad van tage in perfecting t h e chemical code n o w in Operation. Attributing much of what had been accornplished to William B. Bell, he presented to him on behalf of Chemical Industries its medal for distinguished economic service to t h e chemical industry. T h e first of these medals w a s awarded to Pierre du Pont for his service during and just after the war. In accepting t h e medal Mr. Bell said that we must not lose any of t h e advantages which have come from the N e w Deal, and recalled t h a t the progress of the race has always been b y a peculiar series of forward movements alteraating with recessions. Ralph West Robey, t h e well-known financial expert and writer, then presented a stirring and illuminating address giving his evaluation of what h a s been done and pointing out some of t h e immediate dangers. I n the first eleven months of this fiscal year expenditures on account of relief have exceeded all federal taxes. This, of course, i s an unhappy Situation. He described those a t present responsible as idealists, but pointed out t h a t , ' even if the p u >lic should become aroused and vote in a new group, there would then b e ready-made laws a t hand of a sort which they would not themselves enact but which would be there for the benefit of others who might, like those of 1929, be racketeers. I n this Mr. Robey sees a great danger of fascism. To avoid such trouble he recommended that we begin a t the polls to stop uneconomic features of the N R A program, endeavoring to retain as much as possible of its social ideals. The present tendency to guarantee everything and t o engage in an excess of spending must inevitably lead to ruin. H e said that in the beginning plans were formulated so that a fair share of the relief bürden might be borne b y industry and that from that initial thought a series of changes so shaped the original plan as t o lead to the N R A . Early i n its history i t was a seü-out t o labor, more lately t o industry, b u t now i t proceeds without the wholehearted support of either.
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ELECTRO-RADIOBIOLOGY T H E F I R S T International Congress of Electro-Radio-Biology is t o b e held from September 10 t o 15 in the Doge's Palace a t Venice. Marquis Guglielmo Marconi, President of t h e Royal Academy of Italy and t h e National Research Council, and Count Giuseppe volpi di Misurata, state minister, will preside. T h e object of the congress is to discuss t h e biological action of all radiations, and t h e program should attract physicists, chemists, biologists, physicians, a n d naturalists. The congress intends t o study chemical and biological phenomena in particiliar, a s well as the applications of radiations to medicine and therapy. Further Information may b e had upon request from Dr. Giocondo Protti, S. Gregorio 173, Venice, Italy.
A.. C. S. MEMBERS INVITED TO A. S. T. M. MEETING T H E PRESIDENT and t h e executive committee of the American Society for Testing Materials extend a cordial invitation t o the members of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY t o attend t h e an-
nual meeting of A . S. T. M . to be held at Atlantic City, June 25 t o 29. T h e program is an extensive one, embracing many important papers, committee reports, lectures, and discussions. I t is hoped t h a t m a n y members of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY will
take advantage of this friendly invitation.
EIIJECTROCBCEMICAL A N D AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETIES MEETING—A CORRECTION OUR ATTENTION has been called t o an error in the report of the Joint Meeting of the Electrochemical and American Ceramic Societies on page 180 of t h e N E W S EDITION of M a y 10, 1934.
I n reporting the discussion of Harry A. Curtis, temperatures mentioned i n connection with the method of preheating air were expressed in Fahrenheit degrees with metric equivalents. This should have read "1100° to 1200° C."
Vol. 12, N o . 12
E D I T I O N
Galendar of Meetings American Chemical Society 88TH MEETING. 89rac M E E T I N G . 9 0 r s MEETING.
Cleveland, Ohio, September 10 t o 14, 1934. N e w York, N . Y . , week of April 22, 1935. San Francisco, Calif.
Other Scientific Societies AiDERicAJsr ASSOCIATION FOR THE A D V A N C E M E N T OF S C I E N C E .
Bchenley Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa., December 27,1934 t o January B, 1935. Annual Meeting. AJCERICAJN CERAMIC SOCIETY.
H o t e l Statler, Buffalo, N .
Y.,
week o f February 17, 1935. Joint meeting with National Brick Manufacturers Research Foundation. AJUERICAN H O M E ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION.
H o t e l Pennsylvania,
N e w York, N . Y., June 25 t o 3 0 , 1 9 3 4 . AMERICAN PHTSICAL SOCIETY.
Berkeley, Calif., June 18 to 2 3 ,
1*934. Joint meeting with Section B of t h e A. A. A . S. A n n &rbor. Mich., June 2 9 to 3 0 , 1934. A H E R I C A N SOCIETY F O R T E S T I N G M A T E R I A L S .
Chalfonte-Had-
(äon Hall, Atlantic City, N . J., June 2 5 t o 2 9 , 1 9 3 4 . Ei£ECTROCHEMicAii SOCIBTY. Hotel Pennsylvania, N e w York, NT. Y., September 2 7 to 2 9 , 1 9 3 4 . PiHNT, V A R N I S H , AND L A C Q U E R ASSOCIATION.
Mayflower H o t e l ,
Washington, D . C , October 31 t o November 3, 1934. Convention. SCCTETY
Annual
FOR THE PROMOTION OF ENGINEERING EüUCATION.
Cornell University, Ithaca, N . Y . Conferences, June 19 to 2 1 1934; meetings, J u n e 21 t o 23, 1934.
Fast-Dyeing of Leather with Sulfur Colors C. BD. S. TÜPHOLME, 4 N , H y d e Park Mansions, London, N. W. 1, England TJOB COMMERCIAL PERFECTION o f a process for the fast-dyeing
of c h r o m e and glace* leather with sulfur dyes i s claimed by t h e L G . Farbenindustrie, and is the subject of a British patent. Itlis said t h a t the process developed permits fast-dyeing without in a n y w a y affecting the final quality of the product. I t is k i o w n , o f course, t h a t when sodium sulfide is dissolved in water thesre is a hydrolytic action, thus: NajS -+- H Ö H - N a S H + N a O H ancl that t h e sodium hydroxide s o produced exerts a swelling ac&on o n the colloid leather substance, permitting the escape of the tanning agent, a n d thus having a n injurious effect on t h e final product. According to t h e I. G., this swelling action and, in consequence, the damage t o the leather is prevented b y insuring that the formation of alkali hydroxide in t h e coloring liquor is kept to t h e minimum. ÄJkali sulfhydrates are much less dissociated than alkali Sulfides, so t h a t , b y adding an appropriate percentage of alkali bicarbonate t o t h e stock Solution, which i s made b y dissolving t h e djestuff with t h e assistance of alkali sulfide a t about 60° C . ths alkali sulfide is converted into t h e alkali sulfhydrate a n d alkali carbonate, Na*S + NaHCO» - N a S H -f- NaaCOa and. prevents the formation of injurious sodium hydroxide. T h e saune result can, of course, b e obtained b y using the alkali sulfhydrate i n t h e first instance, instead of employing t h e alkali sufcfide a n d alkali bicarbonate. ÜThe process can b e applied to skins and pelts, as well a s t o lettther, a n d i t is claimed that very good fastness with uniform liglht tints can be obtained. ÜThe patentees quote as a n example of the application t h e f d o w i n g : Chrome calf leather is deacidified in the usual way b y mtsans o f sodium bicarbonate or borax, a n d is then placed i n a dje& bath containing, on the weight of leather, 500 per cent watter, 5 per cent dyestuff, 7 . 5 per cent sodium sulfhydrate crystabs, and 50 grams of Glauber's salt per liter of t h e bath. D y e ing is carried o u t a t 40° C. for o n e hour. T h e leather is e x pcsed to the air for 1 5 minutes, rinsed, and then fixed with a sohition o f 4 grams of potassium dichromate and 5 grams of acetic ackd of 3 0 per cent strength per Dter. After rinsing, i f desired wittb. the addition of sodium bicarbonate, t h e leather i s degreased anel finisned in the usual way. CHICAGO CHEMISTS CLUB ELECTS OFFICERS A T T H E annual meeting of The Chicago Chemists Club, held on M a y 2 , the following officers were elected for the year 1934-35: President, Frederick W . Sullivan, Jr.; first vice President, O t t o A, Sjostrom; second vice President, Erich v o n Gebauer-Fueinegg; secretary, Robert B. Reynolds; treasurer, Edward A. Dieterle; and trustee, C. D . Lowry, Jr.
