THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 

 OF THE RUBBER ASSOCIATION. 



The Rubber Association has disscniiiuucd to all firm members 

 certain suggested amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, 

 which may be briefly stated as follows: 



First : The providing of more definite and specific condi- 

 tions under which lirms, corporations or individuals, not di- 

 rectly engaged in the rubber industry may participate in the 

 activities of The Rubber Association of America, Inc. The 

 suggested amendments include certain limitation of voting 

 power and different annual membership dues. They also pro- 

 vide that those tirins, corporations or individuals not directly 

 engaged in the rubber industry, which are now members of 

 the Association, shall automatically upon the adoption of the 

 suggested amendments became affiliated members. 



Second : Specific provision to the effect that membership in 

 The Rubber Association is not tranferable from one firm, 

 corporation or individual to another under any conditions. 



Third: Provision to make membership in the Association 

 effective as for the calendar year instead of, as for a year 

 from the first of the month following date of election. 



WORK OF NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE BOARD. 



The Board of Directors of The Rubber Association has directed 

 the attention of members to the work of the National Industrial 

 Conference Board, particularly in connection with the vital 

 industrial problems of the day, including the participation by the 

 Board in the Industrial Conference, held recently in Washington. 



The Association is distributing to its membership three of the 

 recent important and interesting publications of the Board, en- 

 titled "Works Councils in the United States," "Statement of 

 Principles Which Should Govern the Employment Relation in 

 Industry," and the "Vital Issues in the Industrial Conference at 

 Washington." 



The first, "Works Councils in the United States," is a report 

 embodying the results of a comprehensive study of works coun- 

 cils in 225 American industrial establishments, with considerable 

 detail as to the various types of works councils and important 

 facts as to their organization, constitution and methods of pro- 

 cedure. 



The "Statement of Principles" is that which was submitted by 

 the Employer Group to the Industrial Conference at Washing- 

 ton. D. C, October 10, 1919. 



The "Vital Issues in the Industrial Conference" is an accurate 

 and concise report respecting the principal subject of discussion 

 in the Industrial Conference and is based on the official record 

 of the proceedings of the Conference. 



The Rubber Association, as a member of the Board, is con- 

 tributing a substantial sum in quarterly payments, and it is 

 understood that individual members of this Association are also 

 making substantial contributions to the Board. Further, it is 

 believed that a more intimate knowledge of the work, which may 

 be gained by a careful study of the publications referred to, will 

 bring a full realization of the necessity of continuing this im- 

 portant work and will, perhaps, result in the conclusion by indi- 

 vidual companies that it is almost a duty to insure its perma- 

 nence by assuming at least a small portion of the financial work. 



STANDARDIZING CHECKS, VOUCHERS AND 

 INVOICES. 



THE Standardization Committee of the National Association 

 of Purchasing Agents in concluding its year's research on the 

 standardization of invoices and related documents deci-ded to 

 submit tentative standards for invoices in order to draw con- 

 structive criticisms from those who may have occasion to use 

 invoices. As soon as these criticisms are received it will be 

 more readily possible to arrive at definite conclusions as to pur- 

 chase orders and other documents which relate to invoices. 



STANDARDIZED CHECKS AND VOUCHERS. 



The Committee considered and approved the idea of standard- 

 izing checks and vouchers, which has already gained consider- 



able impetus, having previously had the approval of the Federal 

 Reserve Board, the standard check being 3'/2 by 8^ inches, the 

 standard voucher being just double that size, or 7 by 8"/^ inches. 



tentative invoice STANDARD. 



In view of the fact that thousands of business houses file 

 copies of invoices with the copies of vouchers, it was de- 

 cided to make Syi by 7 inches the first tentative standard size 

 for invoices, permitting the printing to be run either way of 

 the sheet. In order to accommodate longer invoices two other 

 sizes were provided for, also those who wish to file these in- 

 voices with copies of the vouchers may do so by folding the 

 sheet backwards ; that is, with the printing out. This permits 

 the filing of invoices in standard filing cabinets already on the 

 market. 



A few years ago when the Standardization Committee adopted 

 a tentative catalog size a great deal of constructive criticism 

 resulted, and a year later a National Conference was held, at 

 which the final size was settled upon; namely: 7^ by lOji 

 inches or its half size, 5j4 by TA, saddle stitched, so that it may 

 be opened up flat for filing. It is hoped that similar constructive 

 criticism may result now and that during the year it may be 

 possible either to adopt these three sizes permanently or to select 

 some other size as their substitute. 



The committee desires to receive criticisms particularly from 

 those who find these three sizes are not suitable for their re- 

 quirements. 



TENTATIVE STANDARD FORM ADOPTED. 



The Committee also adopted in a tentative way a form for 

 the invoice which will permit the vendor to record information 

 which he should supply and provide certain standard spaces 

 for the approval of various_ officials in the offices of the pur- 

 chaser, and leaves three blank spaces, one on top for the name 

 and address of vendor, on which may be written the name of 

 the purchaser. 



The body of the invoice is left blank for description of mer- 

 chandise, prices, etc. The blank space on the bottom is left 

 for rubber stamps of the purchasing departments to cover such 

 notations as are not embraced in the printed form. 



To guard against the possible duplication of payment of in- 

 voices, it was decided that the orignal and the original only 

 was to be on white paper, all copies of invoices to be on colored 

 paper. It was also decided to recommend tentatively the use 

 of either 16 or 13-pound paper. 



LOCATING THE INDEX IN CATALOGS. 



The question of locating the index in catalogs was also taken 

 up. The following quotation from the report of the Standardi- 

 zation Committee explains the attitude of the organization: 



Much confusion now exists in connection with the 

 placing of the index in bound catalogs. Some place it in 

 the front of the book, others in the back, while still 

 others place it in the center. There are arguments in 

 favor of each place, buf in view of the custom which has 

 been so long common, whereby a much larger percentage 

 of catalog manufacturers place the index in the back of 

 the book, the committee feels that this should be made 

 a standard practice. 



FILING OF CATALOGS. 



The following extract from the report of the Standardization 

 Committee may interest those who are responsible for the filing 

 of catalogs: 



Committee recommends that catalogs be filed nu- 

 merically according to size, catalogs to be indexed 

 on individual cards for each vendor, vendors' cards 

 to be filed alphabetically. Where vendors issue sev- 

 eral catalogs on different lines of goods, index card 

 to furnish clue to the goods contained in each catalog. 

 Committee also recornniends that catalogs of book 

 type be filed on shelves. Pamphlets or booklets may 



le filed either 



shelves 



vertical file drawer 



