Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
"ENG|NEERSSTUDy
AGE LIMITATIONS
Council Is Surveying Status
to See if One Is "Tmough"
at 40.
Is an engineer through at 4J?

k1dS H6 TGACLleQ l1S pIOOuCCFO PSoA
before he reaches the age Of 40, and is
that age the "deadline" at which he
must have made his mark, or may he
go on to new achievements after having
reached that age?
Answers to these questions are being
sought by the American Engineering
Council in a far-reaching survey OF the
economic status of the professional en-
gineer at 40, Arthur w. Berresford, re-
firing president of the American Engi-
neering Council, declared In an ADDRESS
Yesterday at the closing session OF the
annual meeting of the council at the
Mayfiower Hotel.
Forms a Real Problem.
"The 40-year deadline is real prob
lem for the employed man" Mr.. Berres-
ford declared. 1T seems unbelievable
that a trained man of 40, an age, when
as an engineer, experience has brought
him to his real producing value, should
find difficulty in making new connec-
ton because Of his age.
"Yet some of the larger industrial
establishments are almost barred to him
by reason of the restrictions of group
insurance or pension provisions. Bring
ing of these conditions into the light
by the American Engineering Council
will be no small service to society"
Stripping the case of its non-essen-
tials and excluding personalities, Mr..
Berresford added:
what does the world pay for? To
my mind, for production, however
particular value. Ability alone is moth
ing. They must be SO combined and
directed as to produce. I fancy the
problem would be infinitely simplif1ed
if some one would invent a 'produc-
tive-effort meter and an all-wise and
paternal central government would leg
islate to compel each Of us to wear
one.
Individual Counts.
"Ts not the justification for the des-
ignation engineer after all @ matter
of the individual and his personal ca
pacity, and Is not his training purely
the medium through which his natural
talent finds vent? Would not the same
qualities that mark the outstanding en-
gineer-analytical ability, accommo-
dation to circumstances, breath Of view,
courage, diligence, experience, judg-
ment, mental honesty-make an out
standing man In any Of the professions
or in business or politics?
81 cannot escape the conclusion that
in engineering, as in all else, 1t Is the
individual who counts, that engineer
ing is simply an aspect superimposed
upon the individual and that in the
main the individual is compensated
proportionately to his contribution.
IF a man of exceptional ability
seems undercompensated in municipal
employment, why does he stay there,
unless he lacks the courage to enter a
more competitive and more productive
field, the ability to perceive opportunity
or else shrinks from the effort involved?
II any Of these, he is probably ade-
quately compensated. II not, he is
finding compensation IN currency other
than dollars.
Accuracy to Be Established.
81 believe that the result of the
councils inquiry will be to convince us
Of the accuracy OF these conclusions
and to produce an understanding which
viii call things by their right names.
It will make clear that the individual,
not lack OF appreciation Of the profess
sion, Is responsible.
In one way the engineering habit
Of mind-such as it may aid when
properly related-may develop into an
actual handicap. We are fond of say
ing that we deal In fact. That we first
determine the facts as they exist and
combine them in their best compro-
mise. giving due weight to each.
Tangible facts are intolerant things
They are, and there is no way of get
ting around them. You may balance
them one against another. but there
IS no way Of escaping them individually.
You cannot compromise fact. have
wondered If, In his continual dealing
With facts, the engineer does not him
self absorb something Of their intoler-
ance and inability to compromise"
Schall Bill Is Opposed.
The council at its closing meeting
took action opposing the bill of Senator
Schall, Republican, of Minnesota, to so
amend the air commerce act of 1926 as
to provide further encouragement for
civilian flying, on the ground that the
bill does not accomplish the purpose
intended In an economic or practicable
manner.
Proposed legislation to establish q
commission for construction of q Wash
ington Lincoln Memorial Gettysburg
boulevard connecting the Lincoln Me-
mortal in Washington with the battle
field of Gettysburg, was Endorsed. Such
work. however, the engineers said,
should be carried out by existing Gov
ernment agencies. The engineer body
proposed to carry out during 1880 an
enlarged program of public service.
Creation of Federal department of
public works, often Endorsed by en-
gineers, was referred to the administra-
tive board of the council without action
The council also referred to the admin
istrative board without action a bill
now pending In the House to consolidate
the Pension Bureau, the Soldiers Home,
the Veterans Bureau and other allied
Government agencies under one head
Too Many Commissions.
Creation of additional Federal regu-
1atory commissions Is opposed by the
American Engineering Council. What
Is needed Is q reorganization OF existing
governmental agencies and not more
commissions. 1t holds.
The council declared itself on these
points yesterday in an adverse report
on the Couzens bill, which would pro-
vide for new commission Of commune
cations. The report OF the committee
on communications. submitted by Ed
win F. Wendt of Washington, declared
that there are today q suficient number
Of Federal regulatory commissions, in
Guiding Interstate Commerce Commits
of Federal regulatory commissions
Extension of the Federal regulatory
power Is question recurring most care
ful study" the report said. Reason
able effort should be made by the
American Engineering Council to limit
regulation and commission interference
with business. A considerable part of
the work of Federal regulatory commits
sions should be lodged in the regular
departments Of the Government and
the council ordinarily favors this ar
fangement.
The American Engineering Council
Is of the opinion that the regulation of
telephone, telegraph and cable common
carriers should remain with the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, as now
provided by law. The council favors