The Economic Status o i the M e m b e r s of the American Chemical Society Statement of the Committee on Economic Status Introduction
Purpose of t h e Survey. When t h e committee was appointed at the Atlantic City meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY in September 1941, study of its possible fields of usefulness made clear the need for comprehensive data on t h e economic status of the chemical profession. This line of activity w a s felt to be so important that practically all our efforts during the intervening time have been devoted t o carrying out t h e present survey. As our plans took definite shape it became apparent that n o data were available for other professions or occupations which would permit quantitative comparisons with the information w e wished to obtain. The pattern of our analyses, however, when coupled with the survey of the engineering profession made previously by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, will have a direct influence, we believe, on t h e manner in which other investigations of this type are conducted in t h e future. Scope of the Survey. Economic status is not, in our opinion, confined to income, but involves also other aspects of occupational environment. Accordingly our program was broadened t o include occupational status, source of employment, and field of specialization. Careful consideration was given t o the problem of selecting t h e group of persons to· be included in the study. I t would have been desirable t o cover t h e entire chemical profession, b u t the procedures necessary for compiling a truly representative sample were too complex t o permit us t o undertake such a program a t once. Accordingly, t h e committee decided to limit the survey t o the membership of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY in t h e hope
that the investigation could later be extended to nonmembers. Effect of the War. T h e questionnaires were mailed on November 25, 1941. A major portion of the returns had already been sent in before Pearl Harbor a n d over three quarters of the members had responded by January 2 5 , 1942. We were faced with the question of whether we were justified in carrying out the analysis of the replies during wartime. In view of the completeness of the returns a n d the widespread interest among the members we felt obligated to complete the study but under conditions which would distract in minimum degree from
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the war effort. A schedule was developed by which t h e committee's statistical and clerical staff was able t o do this work while meeting other regular obligations. Extension of t h e Survey. T h e possibility of broadening our sample t o include check groups of nonmembers was carefully considered a t intervals, b u t we regretfully decided t h a t such an undertaking would have t o be postponed because of t h e heavy task represented b y our initial project. Hence t h e findings of the survey are influenced b y the selective character of t h e sample, a fact which was first brought strikingly t o light b y the high percentage of members with postgraduate training. We also gave thought to the feasibility of making an independent study of salary increases in 1942, but again we felt t h a t such a project would be untimely, especially since our plan for the collection of data would necessarily have been v e r y much restricted. We recommend that, when t h e time is opportune, further surveys of this general character be carried out b y the SOCIETY. The punch cards used in t h e present tabulations are being preserved and are therefore available for supplementary tabulations.
The Questionnaire Form. T h e framing of t h e questionnaire was carried o u t with special regard to simplicity, completeness, convenience of the membership, and ease in preparing punch cards. To many readers will occur other questions, a s they did t o all of us associated with the survey, but space requirements and the limitations of statistical treatment were a bar to further elaboration. Those of us who have been close to the analysis of the data would h a v e only minor modifications, if any, to s u g gest if the work were to be done again.
X H E Report of the Committee on Economic Status appeared in four sections i n CHEMICAL AND E N G I NEERING N E W S , 20, 12S9 (October
25, 1942); 1497 (November 25, 1942); 1563 (December 10, 1942); and 1635 (December 25, 1942).
CHEMICAL
Inconsistencies in Replies. I n general, the questionnaires were carefully filled o u t , as w o u l d b e expected i n the case of professional people accustomed to handling data. Litfcle editorial work w a s required for t h e preparation of punch cards. T h e most surprising gap i n information reported was i n regard to s e x of the r e spondents. T h i s and various minor faults in t i i e replies were given careful consideration, during the preparation of t h e report. For example, irregularities were revealed in plotting certain aspects of monthly salary rates against years of professional experience. W e urge readers to use judgment in interpreting t h e data and to rely on trends rather than o n isolated points.
Analysis of the Data Adequacy of Sample. T h e securing of responses from 77.6 p e r cent of t h e entire membership precludes any question as t o the statistical adequacy of t h e data for o u r sanxple. Internal evidence also gives indubitable support t o the findings of t h e survey. I t is apparent that further extensions of the analyses would h a v e been of interest, especially the direct correlations of monthly salary rates with respect to t w o independent variables- Since our sample is t o o small in many cases even t o permit conxpiete analysis of salaries i n relation t o a single variable, it i s obvious that t h e introduction of a second variable would have been possible i n relatively few i n stances. Character of the Published Report. Summaries of a l l analyses t h u s far carried out liave been included in the report. W e have available for future reference t h e complete data from which t h e condensed tabulations were prepared. T h e reasons f o r organizing the report i n the form i n which it w a s issued are obvious, as t h e primary tabulations follow t h e order of the questionnaire. T h e correlations between monthly salary rates a n d the other variables could not be developed until the replies had first been analyzed on t h e basis of individual variables. B e cause these relationships are t h e s i g nificant aspects of earning capacity, i t was deemed proper t o await the completion of t h e entire analysis before publication-, rather than to release t h e sections a t
AND ENGINEERING
NEWS
wide intervals, in order t h a t the findings could be viewed in proper perspective. It will b e understood, w e are sure, that the oral informal report of the committee at t h e Memphis meeting w a s based on too limited information to justify publication at t h a t time. T h e analysis of the data is presented on a strictly factual basis. W e feel that the salient points are so clear from Mr. Fraser's t e x t and the tables t h a t an att e m p t to make further detailed interpretation is unwarranted. Readers are urged t o study carefully the questionnaire, which was reproduced in t h e November 25, 1941, issue of CHEMICAL
AND E N G I N E E R I N G
NEWS
and
Recovery of Paint Overspray* T ^ ECOVERiNG t h e critical and strategic materials from wasted paint is p a r t of the general program aimed at getting into t h e production stream all salvageable
ing upon t h e composition of t h e paint. E n general, t h e steps comprise removal of t t i e water, redissolving, clarifying» etc. O n e procedure is adapted t o lacquers, another
ap-
pears in facsimile in the reprint of the complete report. The manner in which the d a t a were obtained has, of course, an important bearing on their interpretation. Typography. W e trust we will not be criticized for the smallness of t h e print in the tables. The choice of size was made primarily o n the basis of having explanatory text adjacent t o tabular matter. Reproduction from microgothic typescript effected a great saving in composition and proofreading.
Acknowledgments T h e committee is indebted t o Andrew Fraser, Jr., for organization of t h e survey and preparation of t h e report. He has devoted himself unsparingly to this exacting task and at the same time has carried a heavy load of other responsibilities. He h a s reduced the vast amount of detail involved i n the analysis t o a form that is exceedingly gratifying to us. F r e d D . Lindsey has been a n able aide to M r . Fraser a n d h e h a s put much of himself i n t o our project. To the other members of t h e staff, particularly to Eugene Ysita, w e give our thanks for their inspired efforts under a v e r y difficult schedule. T h e chairman of t h e committee enjoyed the privilege of direct contacts with the B u r e a u of Labor Statistics. To A. F. Hinrichs, Henry J. Fitzgerald, J. J, M a haney, Joseph E>. Drager, and their associates w e express our gratitude for unfailing cooperation. T h e members of the SOCIETY responded to t h e questionnaire in numbers far bey o n d our expectations. They have been very patient in awaiting our report and we trust t h a t the results of our project will h a v e their approval. G E O . CALINGAERT W A L T E R G. WHITMAN W A L T E R A . SCHMIDT F R A N K C. WHITMORE L . W. B A S S , Chairman REPRINTS Reprints of this report may be o b tained from M a c k Printing C o . , Easton, Penna., at 2 5 £ each, subject t o a 2 0 per cent discount for cash w i t h order. Price includes delivery.
VOLUME
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A typical finishing conveyor line, with spray booths arranged in staggered formation. The collected overspray may be seen floating o n the surface of the water in t h e tank.
chemicals vitally important to the war effort. A nation-wide survey of the paint situation, made by the Industrial Salvage Branch, War Production Board, has shown that approximately 50,000,000 pounds of paint ingredients can be saved during 1943 through cooperative action by the paint manufacturing industry and its consumers. These include pigments, phthaiic anhydride, glycerin, oils, zinc yellow, glycerin phthalate resin, phenol formaldehyde, Damar gum, alkyd resins, chlorinated rubber, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, and plasticizers. The supplies of these materials are limited, and their use in paints has been restricted. Most of the things that now come off our war industries assembly lines m u s t be "mass-painted" b y spray painting processes, and about 30 per cent of the paint used can be recovered by tested a n d effective measures. In the few years since reclamation methods have been perfected, nearly 3,000,000 gallons of paint have been reclaimed. It is estimated that available facilities for reclamation of wasted spray paints are sufficient t o handle a l l the present requirements. Approximately 40 major paint and other companies have facilities available. The reclaiming processes vary, depend-
5 » » » MARCH
10,
1943
to oil base and straight a l k y d compositions, and a third for urea formaldehyde finishes. Probably the first thing to b e done i s to educate the personnel of the finishing d e partment to regard the overspray a s a valuable material. Only one t y p e of p a i n t should be sprayed in a water-wash recovery unit. Contamination of p a i n t overspiray w i t h foreign materials must be avoided. Dried overspray, s u c h as scrapings a n d sweepings from the d r y parts o f the b o o t h , should n o t be added to t h e water-wet overspray which is t o be reclaimed. C o l lected overspray should be k e p t covexed w i t h water at all times to a v o i d oxidation. In the operation of a water-wash spxay booth, i t is generally necessary to a d d a chemical to the water to k e e p the o v e r spray from fouling t h e flood slxeet, nozzles, a n d circulating system. T h e choice o f a suitable recovery medium can be determined by trial in eacfa. individual case. U s e the minimum amount neeessary t o keep the spray booth system clean a n d t o yield a reclaimable material. K e e p a record of additions o f compound a n d of t h e alkalinity of t h e water. Retixrns should be made i n clean, open-head drums. Collected overspray should not b e stored for prolonged periods above normal temperature, and should be processed shortly after i t is recovered.
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