THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1919. 



and proniolion, urging cuoporatioii, and inculcaling sound 

 principles. 



The other booklet outlines the principles and regulations of 

 the Industrial Federation of the Gillette Rubber Co., which is 

 described as "a democratic organization for the promotion of 

 personal efficiency, a square deal to every member and establish- 

 ment of just and fair dealing in all our relations with each other." 

 Undoubtedly a study of these booklets must result in closer rela- 

 tions between the company and its employes. 



The Merchants Association of New York, Year Book, 1919 : 

 While much of the activity of the Association was devoted to 

 war work, as S. C. Mead, the secretary, shows in his portion of 

 this twenty-first annual report, the many branches of public 

 welfare over which the various bureaus keep watch were by no 

 means neglected. The readjustments needed by the return of 

 peace have kept the many committees busy. The membership at 

 the end of April was 5,881, the number of new members elected 

 during the year being 824, the largest for any year since the 

 Association was formed. The convenient lists of members ac- 

 cording to their lines of business shows that 38 firms are 

 engaged in the rubber trade. The year book is illustrated by 

 photographs including an excellent likeness of W. Fellowes 

 Morgan, president. 



Dr. O. de Vries of the E.xperiment Station .\t Buitenzorg, 

 Java, has published an authoritative book on the preparation and 

 the properties of plantation rubber {"Bcreiding en Eigenschappen 

 Z'an Plantagc-Rubbcr," Verecninging Centraal Rubberstation. 

 Buitenzorg.) It is highly praised in an appreciative review by 

 Professor P. van Romburgh in "Dc Indischc Mercur." 



THE OBITUARY RECORD. 



FOUNDED AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY. 



MAJOR William Wright Harrai.. wlio, with his brother, E. W. 

 Harral, founded the Fairfield Rubber Co., at Fairfield, Con- 

 necticut, died recently at the home of his son in Mount Vernon, 

 New York, aged 83 years. For some years he travelled in th West, 

 selling rubber clothing and carriage cloth made by the company, 

 and early in 1890 he took charge of the New York office and 

 sales department on West Broadway and Franklin street, remov- 

 ing a year later to a larger building on Worth street. Ten years 

 ago he retired from business, after over a quarter century of 

 sevice for the industry he founded, and made his home with his 

 son, George Harral. 



Major Harral served honorably in the Civil War, taking part 

 in the battle of Fort Sumter and several other important engage- 

 ments, and later declined the offer of a very flattering position in 

 the United States army. 



FORIVIERLY A RUBBER MANUFACTURER. 



Edward .1. Slattery, who died in Boston last month at the age 

 of 69, was at one time foreman of the cutting room of the 

 Para Rubber Shoe Co., at South Framinghani, Massachusetts, but 

 being appointed postmaster of that town by President Cleveland 

 he retired from the trade, and later devoted much of his time 

 to public service. 



He was for two terms a member of the State Senate and in 

 1898 was the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of 

 Massachusetts, and in more recent years served as secretary 

 to James J. Curley, formerly mayor of Boston, during his term of 

 office. He is survived by his widow and four sons. 



A VETERAN RUBBER COMPANY BOOKKEEPER. 



George W. Cummings, for many years connected with the 

 Boston Rubber Shoe Co., died at the residence of his daughter 

 in Brook-line, Massachusetts, September 20, aged 77 years. 



Mr. Cummings was of an old Boston family, the son of Daniel 



Cummings. He attended the public schools and nn his grad- 

 uation from the English High School, entered the employ of his 

 brother, in the wholesale flour business, later becoming partner 

 in the firm of Charles H. Cummings & Co. 



He afterwards became associated with the selling company 

 which was formed to distribute the lines of several rubber foot- 

 wear factories, and when that concern was discontinued he took 

 charge of the bookkeeping department of the Boston Rubber 

 Shoe Co., which department he conducted until that company was 

 purchased by the United States Rubber Co. After a total 

 service of nearly 30 years with these companies, he retired 

 with a pension. 



Leisure, however, became irksome after a time, and for the last 

 few years he had been connected with a furniture concern in 

 Boston. For some time his health had been impaired, and an 

 operation for cancer was but a temporary relief. He is survived 

 by his widow, a daughter, and a son, Thomas C. Cummings, who 

 is salesman in New England for the mechanical goods depart- 

 ment of the United States Rubber Co. 



A PIONEER IN RUBBER AND OILSKIN TRADE. 



Edward Macbean of the firm of Edward Macbean & Co., 

 Glasgow, a pioneer in the rubber and oilskin trade of Scotland, 

 died recently. He founded the business in 1876 and soon began 

 to specialize in water-proof goods and oilskins. The first 

 factory was at Port Dundas. Some years later, mills were 

 erected at Johnstone, near Paisley. 



The Macbean oilskins are known throughout the world, par- 

 ticularly the heavy oilskin coats worn by seamen. 



The Breece expedition to the North Pole was fitted out with 

 special clothing and rubber materials made by the Macbean 

 firm. The Brattice cloth used in coal mines were an improve- 

 ment of Mr. Macbean. 



Mr. Macbean was in the United States in 1910 and at that 

 time was annoyed by a newspaper account of his condemning 

 German artificial rubber, which he discovered through The 

 India Rubber World. 



DEATH OF A SUCCESSFUL JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN. 



The death is announced of Genrijo Yonei, president of the 

 Meiji Rubber Manufacturing Co., one of the most respected 

 business men of Tokio, at the age of 58 years. Besides controlling 

 the Goshi Kwaiska Yonei Shoten, Mr. Yonei was managing direc- 

 tor of the Kirin Brewery Company, and a director of the Japan 

 Sheet Glass Company, which were developed chiefly by his exer- 



TREASURY DECISIONS. 



FOUNTAIN PENS TAXED AS JEWELRY. 



Internal Revenue officials have decided that "a fountain pen 

 ornamented, mounted, or fitted with precious metals or imita- 

 tions thereof, or ivory, or pearls, precious and semi-precious 

 stones or imitations," or even a fountain pen consisting of a 

 plain rubber holder containing a gold pen point, is subject to the 

 jewelry tax on the total price for which such pens are sold. 

 The Revenue Act of 1918, section 905, imposes a tax of 6 per cent 

 on the selling price of jewelry, whether real or imitation, includ- 

 ing pencils and pens. The penalty to dealers who fail to collect 

 and account for the tax is a fine of $1,000. (Treasury Decision 

 No. 2893.) 



CUSTOMS APPRAISER'S DECISIONS. 



No. 38153.— Protest 817082 of American Chicle Company, 

 (Detroit). 



Chicle. — Chicle sent from Mexico to Canada and there reduced 

 to small pieces for convenience in transportation. Appraiser 

 held it to be refined chicle and assessed duty at 20 cents per 

 pound, according to paragraph 36 of Act of 1913. Claimed that 



