The Washington herald., 1921-10-01
COOLEY ELECTED
TO HEAD COUNCIL
OFU.S ENGINEERS
Will Succeed Secretary
Hoover, Who Resigned
After Entering Cabinet.

Mortimer f. Cooley. dean OF the
colleges of engineering and archi-
lecture of the University Of Michi-
gan, was last night elected president
OF the American Engineering Coun-
ell Of the Federated American En-
gineering Societies to succeed
Herbert c. Hoover. The election was
announced by the executive board
OF the council at the end Of sessions
attended by engineers, educators
and technologists from practically
every Industrial center of the coun-
try. and at which pressing social,
economic and political problems
were discussed.
Dean Cooley will take office at
once. Secretary Hoover. the first
pres dent of the council, which rep-
resents the organized engineers Of
America. retired soon after he en-
tered the Cabinet.
Concerning government contracts,
the Engineering Council went on
record unanimously as opposing the
cost plus" type except in extreme
emergencies and in case of such
emergency suggested that the con-
tractor be paid a compensation
that increases Il the work is done
below. the estimated cost and de-
creases IL the work costs more than
estimated" This recommendation
was brought in by Arthur p. Davis,
head of the Reclamation Service
The same report also recommended
n standard form OF government con-
tract.
Discuss Unemployment.
Unemployment was one OF the
chief topics of yesterdays sessions
Of the council. at which Calvert w.
Townley and J. Parke Claiming. of
New York, presided alternately. In
dustrial waste. government reorgan-
ization, registration Of engineers
and Patent Office conditions were
also under discussion. Active steps
&c relieve unemployment within the
ranks of the eng neers was taken.
Active assistance is being given
70 President Harding's unemploy-
ment conference. Through Edward
Eyre Hunt, a member Of the COM
mittee, the findings OF the councIIs
committee on the elimination Of
waste in industry, which was or
EAnized by Mr.. Hoover to conduct a
nationwide assay of Industrial
waste, has been placed at the dis
poSal of the conference.
The engineers. IL was stated. arc
actively aiding the movement for
the fall letting Of highway con-
tracts to lessen unemployment.
Data supplied to Secretary Hoover
by the engineers shows. said a
statement by L. W. Wallace, of this
city, executive secretary of the
council, that by Letting highway
construction contracts in the fall
instead of the spring the building
period would be extended 25 or 30
per cent.
The executive board Of the coun-
ell went on record as opposed to
the attempts to liberalize tire ac-
Iion Of the War Minerals Relief
Commission. The -ote was taken
on motion of Philip N. Moore. VI St
Louis. in opposition to having cases
decided by the commission reopened
having been recommended by the
councils committee On public af-
fairs.
/ support Lampert Bill.
The board voted to recommend to
Congress the passage Of the Lam
pert Patent ONCE bill The patent
committee Of the council Of which
Edwin J. Prindle. of New York, is
chairman, presented a report which
described the condition Of the Patent
ONCE as inefficient and precarious." /"
The committee opposed the Stanley
bill, now pending in Congress.
The council In prosecuting its
movement for the establishment OF
National Department Of Public
Works. in which the engineering
functions of the Federal machinery
shall be co-ordinated to eliminate
duplication and waste. The State
ORGANIZATIONS of the National Public
Works Department Association have
been taken over by the council and
are aiding in the general program
for government reorganization.
Secretary Wallace announced that
the council had received from Sir
Robert A Hadheld. distinguished
British engineer and scientist. a
message thanking the engineers of
America for their activity in pro-
noting world unity Amopg engineers
and suggesting the formation OF an
"Angio-Saxon Engineering Council