REPORT OF THE FIFTY-SIXTH NATIONAL MORNING SESSION-TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1971 (M. JENNINGS, Chairman, Presiding) Mr. R. W. Searles, Medina County, Ohio, the Conference Chaplain, delivered the invocation and led the delegates in the Pledge of Allegiance. PROGRESS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION by M. JENNINGS, Conference Chairman, Director, Division of Marketing, Tennessee Department of Agriculture As I look over this assembly of persons dedicated to the cause of weights and measures, am fully aware of the seriousness and importance of my responsibility to this Conference and to you. For the honor of the position which I hold, I am most humbly grateful. It is my happy privilege, as Chairman of the National Conference on Weights and Measures, to extend to all of you a most cordial greeting. On behalf of your officers and committees, I welcome each and every one of you to this our 56th National Conference. It is our sincere hope and desire that you will find this Conference both interesting and informative and that it will prove to be most worthwhile. During the process of formulating the program for this Conference, it was decided to adopt the theme of "Progress through Understanding and Cooperation." Then it was suggested that I use the theme as a subject on which to say a few words. I was not told how few or what few, so I brought along a few words of my own. I make that latter statement to illustrate a specific point. My observations through the years have indicated that we have been provided with exceptionally good leadership under the sponsorship of the National Bureau of Standards and its Office of Weights and Measures. We have looked to the National Conference for guidance, and through this sponsorship we have found it. The point I stress is that we have received appropriate and constructive guidance and not dictatorial commands. Those jurisdictions following the recommendations of the sponsors and the guidelines of the Conference are receiving the greatest dividends from their weights and measures activities and, at the same time, rendering a greater service to the public. One of the real challenges of our times, in government, trade, business, or profession, is to give the people—our public—an efficient and effective service that provides them with more service per dollar and does this with a smile. The National Conference on Weights and Measures is one of the nation's most successful and progressive organizations of its type. There is a good reason! The reason for its success and progress to date has been the attendance, participation, and support of state and local weights and measures officers, federal officials, representatives of business and industry, and the continuous sponsorship by the National Bureau of Standards. As of now, much credit is due Dr. Branscomb, Director of the Bureau, and his staff, and particularly the Office of Weights and Measures and the personnel in that division for their work in behalf of progress in weights and measures. Under their continued leadership, I visualize much progress in the future. The success and progress of the Conference is not confined to the duration of one week, but the value of results is reflected throughout the year. These imperishable hours of this week will be recorded in history. It is up to us to write the appropriate pages of that history. All of us should have the vision to discern the horizons in our assignments, our responsibilities, and our work, and the resolve to strive toward them. Such discernment and such resolve must rest upon a clear awareness of past, present, and future. For the past, a sense of history is needed to know the contributions toward progress and their values. The values found important in the past still retain their validity. For the present, a sense of perspective is needed to detect the challenges to these values, as well as their relation and application to the issues and problems of the day. For the future, a sense of mission and realistic dedication is needed. Through such a vision, through understanding and cooperation, further progress is possible. From the first National Conference to this one, the prime objective and purpose has been uniformity-uniformity throughout all the states and local jurisdictions with respect to specifications and tolerances, methods of test, laws, regulations, and administration. Uniformity of requirements is a necessity. Uniformity of compliance is desired. Uniformity in action is desperately needed. It is not enough to think uniformity. We must continually move toward uniformity in all facets of weights and measures. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving." The effectiveness of the Conference in achieving uniformity depends upon understanding. From our deliberations on the issues and problems confronting us, the decisions reached are based on judgment, and judgment is certainly affected by understanding. An honest and insightful contribution to the understanding of what is required in the weights and measures area can help us to solve the problems in both preparation and administration. Another requirement in achieving uniformity is the cooperation of many-weights and measures officials, manufacturers of weighing and measuring equipment, the users of their equipment, and in fact industry in general. In addition to understanding and cooperation, there should be a spirit of tolerance and an open mind that is willing to listen to the other fellow. This will enable us better to understand, more clearly to comprehend and appreciate the good motives and earnest desires of those with whom we work, men with whom we may sometimes disagree, but men who deserve our respect and admiration equally as much as we merit theirs. The composition of the Conference includes enforcement officials, federal officials, industry representatives, trade organizations, consumer groups, etc. It is natural that any group of this composition and size, with diversified interests, will encounter periods of difficulty. There will be differences of opinion, which is indeed proper, in order to bring out all angles of the problem. Heretofore, all problems have been worked out by cooperative action and by maintaining mutual respect for each other, with the public interest always in mind. I will encourage that any differences of opinion be presented in orderly discussions during the Conference. It is my desire that all official discussions be conducted in constructive tune and without argumentative tone. In this philosophy, support me if you can, oppose me if you must, but, above all, participate. It is my hope that you recognize the program for this Conference has been very carefully planned and arranged. It will include important subjects on management, measurement, and merchandising. An impressive group of speakers will be presented, and the selection of each speaker is in keeping with the importance of the subject. I am certain their messages will be interesting, informative, and educational. Personally, I appreciate their time and effort to be helpful to weights and measures administration in the United States. Not only do we owe them our sincere gratitude; we owe them our undivided attention and our presence at all formal sessions of the Conference. It was my privilege and pleasure during the year to attend the interim meetings of all the standing committees. Previously, I had served on the Laws and Regulations Committee for five years, during that time when there was much confusion on the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act concerning its requirements, exemptions, and application. It was also during the time when the ad hoc committee from industry was active and so helpful. While serving as chairman of the committee, numerous revisions in the Model Law and Model Package Regulation were necessary in order to conform to the requirements of the new legislation enacted. While attending the interim meetings, I was familiar with the proceedings and responsibilities of the Laws and Regulations Committee. But the opportunity to attend the meetings of all the standing committees was an education in itself, an inspiration to cherish, and an experience to be long remembered. It gave me a broader concept of the purpose and scope of the Conference, and a deeper realization of its value and importance. I wish that all of you could have the same opportunity. I heartily recommend that all future Conference chairmen be afforded the opportunity to attend the interim meetings of all standing committees. It is necessary to update our laws, regulations, and requirements at various intervals, in order to keep pace with progress and changing conditions. Just think that for many years man was, literally, chained to the earth. But in 1903 a couple of daring individuals took off from the ground at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the short 60 years from that time we were exploring outer space and eventually and successfully landing men on the moon. Change accelerates change, and our ability to be adjusted and progressive is our ability to change with the changing times. The revisions or changes recommended by the committees are proposed not merely for the sake of change, but because of need. It was pleasing to note the unselfish approach on the part of all committee members and their careful and constructive deliberations on all items which involved change. Ruskin once said that, when we fail to praise those who deserve praise, two sad things happen. We deprive the person or persons of deserved recognition, and we deprive ourselves of one of the very happiest of our privileges, the privilege of rewarding labor that deserves a reward. The standing committees have worked long, hard, and efficiently in the preparation of their tentative reports. They are to be commended for their interest, honest concerns, and endeavor in fulfilling their obligations. I greatly appreciate the cooperation I received from members who promptly accepted appointment to serve on other committees and from members who are serving in certain other positions. I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the cooperation I have received from the officers and members of the Conference during the past year. Also, my sincere appreciation to Tom Stabler, Chief of the Office of Weights and Measures, and his staff for their splendid support during the year. The lion's share of credit is due Harold Wollin, Assistant Chief, Office of Weights and Measures, and Executive Secretary of the National Conference, and to Mrs. Bell, his secretary, in covering the many complex and sometimes vexing problems and the many minute details that are necessarily attached to the planning and operation of a Conference of this size and importance. And to them, my special thanks! From a humble heart, I extend sincere thanks to all who are contributing to the success of this Conference. You have a copy of the program. The place and time for all sessions are listed. I assure you that all sessions will begin on time. I urge you now to be present at the beginning of each session. With your attendance, full cooperation, and participation, this 56th Conference will be a success. We can have a great Conference, and I am confident that it will be a success. While we are making the Conference successful, let us, during this week, take as much advantage of this opportunity for friendship as we are able. I wish to conclude my remarks with these words by Longfellow : Let us, then, be what we are, and speak what we think, and ADDRESS by the Honorable JAMES T. LYNN, Under Secretary of Commerce I am very honored to make my first appearance before this assembly. It is difficult knowing what to talk about. I have decided that I am not going to talk about the law. It took me over 20 years to get into the law, and it took me over 20 years to get out of it. It is difficult to resist the temptation at a meeting like this to discuss such issues as what room is left for voluntary action under the antitrust laws today, whether by trade associations or other groups interested in consumer or environ mental matters. These were favorites of mine when I was General |