New-York tribune., 1902-12-04
METRIC SYSTEM DISCUSSED
ANIMATED SESSION OF MEIhA>ioA-
ENGINEERS-oBJ NET By
PROMINENT GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS.

The afternoon session Of the American Society OF
Mechanical Engineers yesterday was given up 70 d
discussion OF metric system ana the Din pe
fore Congress in relation thereto This Is matter
IN which the members took a lively interest, al
though as a body the society has never refloereu d
formal verdict on it. Indeed, IT has peeh inc poo'
of that organization. while conducting Ih'ene's a
tions and adopting reports Oh live topics, 10 iel
from official protest against proposed lesisA
ounion I'm the Society of Mechanical Engineers mas
been divided concerning the virtues OF tne He'fN
system, and the suspicion prevails tha' 'iAei 90
preponderance OF opinion against IL
The attack was led yesterday by F. A halseS VI
this city who has made a thorough STUDY Vi INC
matter and perhaps made able a presentatloh
of the adverse side of the case as was possi'ie
The most striking of his arguments perhaps was
the declaration that in many OF the coun''
where the metric system has been in vogue IN cVil-
seouence OF the law the older systems are stiii
extensively employed. Thus, in France, where 1t
had been compulsory for over a century anu "heie
a piece of goods would be sold over the counter o!
the metre it would be manufactured IN accord
ance With entirely different standards. For this
reason Mr. Halsey thought that the testinon!
which tourists bring back relative to the use OF
the metric system was of little value. Ihey oiiS
saw IL in the shops. They were not IN d posi|ioiI
IN know what was done behind the closed doors OF
a factory
He also cited a table of foreign weights ana
measures. compiled at the State Department 10
show that in countries where the metric system
is supposed to prevail many other sldndarus aie
recognized
Comics of Mr. Halsey's paper had been sent in
advance TO a number of prominent people, poth
inside and outside the society The secretary read
a few replies from them and summarized others
One Of these was from Frederick Colvin. and df-
lated on the variety terms used in consular re
ports received in Washington. TO Indicate weights
and measures. in describing exports or conetrnc-
ton. There curious tumble Of old and ne"
where the metric system legal. 4 number OF
large manufacturing houses reported that the de-
mand for machinery for expectation in when M
measures were prescribed in accordance WITH tnis
the cost of reorganizng their own shops to
conform TO the system would be large enough to
sons including two newly elected vice-presidents
OF the society 5 : Wepoer "a ana b ae5 nIs5 but the
majority of the returns received were hostile: ,
washington, though not a member. addressed the
seng by re He eG faS saytn That
had been customary for consuls to translate sta
to do did not prove that pounds and miles
toned Mir. Stratton also made vigorous plea
]. southard chairman of the House Committee
Coinage, which has favorably reported Dill
esned e ie He showed that the system
was not made eomPglsOry on the people or tof o
the Unitec States had expressed that opinion; n 1t
ernnent. He also pointed out that. if the govern
ment described in metric language machine winch
in his own way, without expense thal a little
computation.
In its hearings the committee had sought TO get
the opinions Of the country They knew tnat {
hence they made effort TO draw out representa-
tive opponents They invited manufacturers OF
eminence and leading merchants TO express them
selves The result overwhelming approval
of the bill. This did not mean approval Of the
metric system. but it did signify that the method
which the committee has adopted for introducing
the system well received.
Mr. Southland also elaborated the idea that the
world needs universal standard OF weights and
measures. There may be some question as to
which should be adopted But he found only
two men who believed II easier to make the Eng
lish system universal than the metric system.