326 



THE INDIA. RUBBER WORLD 



[March 1. 1919. 



Activities of The Rubber Association of America. 



MANUFACTURERS ASKED TO SUPPORT ASSOCIATION 

 REVENUE PLAN. 



January 28, 1919. 

 To iiHtiiKfacliiriiig menihcrs: 



ONLY a few years. ago and just prior to the war the Rubber 

 .Association organization consisted of a secretary and one 

 stenographer. Tlie income of the Association in 1912 

 amounted to $1,616.25, and was derived from initiation fees and 

 dues. The expenses of the Association during that year amounted 

 to $829.90. For the year of 1918 the income was $213,205.82 and 

 the expenses $199,614.75. In other words the Association has 

 in a few short years grown from a social organization into a 

 broad, active organization vitally representing the interests of 

 the industry. The expenses due to war work have ceased. The 

 revenue due to this same cause is about to cease. Much of the 

 work started during the war can be continued for the benefit of 

 the industry provided arrangements can be made to provide 

 the necessary funds. 



At the annual meeting it was unanimously voted to continue 

 the work and provide funds by a tax upon crude rubber. The 

 general feeling was that this assessment should be three (3) 

 cents per hundred pounds. This will provide for an income 

 somewhat in excess of present requirements and will enable the 

 Association to increase its permanent investment fund. If at 

 any time in the future this fund reaches such an amount that 

 the income from it is sufficient to pay the running expenses 

 then the assessment could be discontinued. 



An assessment on crude rubber purchased by manufacturers 

 is an eminently fair method of raising funds, inasmuch as it 

 equitably distributes the burden among the large and small 

 manufacturers and goes into the cost of all alike. Three cents 

 per 100 pounds is only .0003-cent per pound .0006 per cent on 

 50-cent rubber, and yet this small amount if paid by all will 

 yield a revenue of approximately $100,000 per year to the Asso- 

 ciation. It would obviously be unfair for some to pay and 

 others not to pay and still derive the same benefits. 



This assessment will take effect January 20, when the old 

 charge was abolished, and it is therefore hoped that all manu- 

 facturers will agree to the revenue plan which is enclosed here- 

 witli. Please have it signed by an official of your company and 

 returned to the secretary in the enclosed envelope. 



Tlie manufacturers are the important beneficiaries of the pro- 

 posed work of the Association. The importers are also bene- 

 fited but in a smaller degree and it was the sense of the meeting 

 that in acting as a collection agency for the fund they would 

 be doing their part. 



It is proposed to have a published list of manufacturers sign- 

 ing the agreement and a copy of this will be given each manu- 

 facturer a^ well as each importer, dealer, and broker. 



The Secretary. 



MANUFACTURERS' AGREEMENT. 



(Adc 



From (name of manufacturer). 



To The Rubber Association of Amciica: 



We hereby agree to pay to The Rubber Association of 

 America an amount equal to three (3) cents per hundred net 

 pounds of crude rubber purchased by us. 



If purchasing is made through an importer, dealer, or broker, 

 we hereby authorize the charging of this amount on the invoice 

 with the understanding that said importer, dealer, or broker 

 will, upon receipt, remit the amount thus collected to The 

 Rubber .Association of America. 



We further agree to make a confidential quarterly report 

 to the secretary of the Association which will show the amounts 

 collected from us for the account of the .Association, by the 

 various importers, dealers and brokers. 



It is understood that the figures shall be available only to the 

 secretary and auditor of the .Association. It is further under- 

 stood that any surplus remaining after paying the current ex- 

 penses shall be invested and added to the permanent funds of 

 the Association. 



In the case of direct importations of crude rubber made by 

 us we agree to remit to The Rubber Association of .America an 

 amount equal to three (3) cents per hundred pounds on all 

 rubber so received. 



It is further understood that funds so collected shall be held 

 and used only for the common good of the members of The 

 Rubber .Association of .America, and that the continuation of 



this assessment shall be considered at the annual meeting of the 



Association. 



The Rubber Associ.^tion of America, 



(Signature of manufacturer.) 



FIRM MEMBERS' BALLOT ON TRUST LEGISLATION. 



February 15, 1919. 



To the Arm members: 



By direction of the board of directors, we are enclosing you 

 herewith a copy of Referendum No. 26 of the Chamber of 

 Commerce of the United States of America on the report of the 

 Federal Trade Committee of the Chamber regarding Trust 

 Legislation. 



This recommends (1) consideration by Congress of all anti- 

 trade legishiti..)!, 1 _' I loiimilation of standards of general busi- 

 ness conduct I 111 .uliiiuiistered by a supervisory body, (3) an 

 enlarged Fi''lii;il ]i,iilr Commission of nine instead of five 

 members. (4i \\hKli ^hmild be made the supervisory body. It 

 is, therefore, of immediate importance that an expression of the 

 opinion nf the best business minds of the country be obtained 

 regarding this highly pertinent subject. 



On the enclosed ballot, we would ask that you register your 

 opinion with regard to the several questions asked, and return 

 to the secretary not later than March 14, 1919. 



The Secretary. 



BALLOT. 



Rp:FERENi)fM No. 26 OK the Chamber of Commerce of the 



Uniteh States of America. 

 To The Secretary of the Rubber Association of America: 

 Dear Sir : 



We desire to record our vote on the proposal of the Chamber 

 of Commerce of the United States of .America as noted below : 



I. The committee recommends that Congress should at once 

 consider the situation of all statutes constituting our anti-trust 

 legislation. 



In favor 

 Opposed 



II. The committee reci mmends there should be formulated 

 standards of general business conduct to be administered by a 

 supervisory bod\-. 



In favor 

 Opposed 



III. Tlie committee recommends that an enlarged Federal 

 Trade Commission should be made the supervisory bf>dy. 



In favor 



Opposed 



I\'. The committee recommends that the membership of 



the Federal Trade Commission should be increased from five 



to nine. 



In favor 

 Opposed 

 Attest: 



(Signature of Finn Representative.) 

 FREIGHT TRAFFIC PERMITS FOR DOMESTIC FREIGHT. 

 February 14, 1919. 

 To nil firm members: 



^■our attention is directed to the fdllmving advices issued by 

 the Allegheny and Eastern Regions of the United States Rail- 

 road .Administration respecting . the cancellation on February 

 1.^ of the permit system now applicable on domestic freight for 

 New York :' 



Please cancel, effective February 15, 1919, the embargoes 

 placed as a war emergency January 15, 1918, against carload 

 domestic freight for Manhattan Island, the Bronx (New York 

 City) and station deliveries on New \mk Harbor, including 

 Brooklyn Terminal Companies, whicli frei'^lii iv now being 

 moved under F. T. C. permits issued hv ihe Freight Traffic 

 Committee. North .Atlantic Ports. 



Effective as above such freight may move without permits 

 subject to embargoes of the delivering" railroads. 



No change will be made in the method of permitting export 

 carload freight for the present: and carload domestic freight 

 must not be accepted for other than regular station deliveries. 

 Reconsignment for export or lighterage deliveries will not be 

 allowed. 



Manager, Tr.\ffic DivtsioN. 



