The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-02-14
{ Frederick F. Sharpless in Engineering
and Mining Journal.)

ana
The matter of fees and retainers in
professional work may be looked upon
from two points of view, namely ethi-
cal and business, and a discussion of
the subject may be approached from
conflict Of ideas, but such will not
necessarily follow. However, the need
OF harmonizing good business ideas
with the ethical aspect of the subject
is responsible for the following obser-
vations.
To the man who draws a monthly
salary from a responsible organization
or to the man who can choose engage
ments from large and responsible
clientele / have no suggestions to
make. He needs none. But to the
younger men or to those whose, time
is only partly occupied, some sugges-
tons may not be out of place and
may possibly bring forth discussion of
value. If an engineer is working for
IL HNllS, IL He HSesS the liloHey >Iol
present and future necessities, he
should, in justice to himself and his
family, secure for his services all the
compensation that those services are
worth. To do so is good business and
not unethical Not to do so shows a
lack of business acumen and a neglect
of opportunity.
The Value of Engineering Service.
The one person who can state the
value of the time and service of an
engineer is the engineer himself, and
it is extremely doubtful if it would be
wise to try to make it fixed amount
for any class of service or any class OF
engineers, as indeed it should and does
vary with the individual, depending
upon many factors. In naming fee
all engineer may subconsciously have
in mind that his services are worth
SIS, $50, 500 or more per diem and,
without giving the matter much
thought, name a figure because he is
to charge that figure when
away from home. This is scarcely
good business, and, if accepted, he has
not taken a proper ethical position
with his client. Time is not the yard
stick to be used in measuring service
to client, at least not in measuring
the value of service, and yet it is so
used almost invariably. Time is only
one factor in the valuation of such
service. There are other factors of
equal or greater Importance, and all
should be given due consideration in
fee.
To illustrate by an example from
real life: Suppose am an engineer
with about Is years of practical ex-
perience In the examination and valu-
alton of metal mines, and that | have
developed prospects into mines and
guided several mines in their more or
less successful career ] am in mod
crate but comfortable circumstances
md have no permanent engagements.
am interviewed regarding some gold
quartz veins and supposed dredging
ground in Colombia, and asked to
name fee for examination and re-
port as to the. nature and value OF
he deposits. Should l say. offhand,
$50 a day and expenses, If that is
lbout my average compensation? No,
lot by any means. i should first
consider several of the factors enter
ng into the proposition.
Factors Governing Compensation.
Just where is this ground? Is it in
Plateau country, high and healthful
where food and help are fairly abund-
mt and reasonably good? 1t 1t down
" one of those tropical rivers, in
halarial and yellow fever jungle,
where there is little or no native food,
where the natives are weak and sick
V or where there are few of them?
low long am ! going to be exposed to
conditions, or am I going |
0 be exposed to any? Is my ex-
mination going to be one Of observa- |