Evening star., 1940-06-09
House Will Get
Engineering Bill
Tomorrow
Five Other Local
Measures Due to
Be Disposed Of

Despite recent protests against
certain features of a bill designed
70 regulate the practice OF profess
sionai engineering here, Chairman
randolph of the House District
committee, said last night he would
eau the measure up for considera-
ton In the House tomorrow.
The bill is one of six local meas
ures on the House calendar. ex-
pected to be disposed of tomorrow
on what probably will be the final
District day of the present session
OF Congress. Passed by the Senate
July 1S, 1899, it was favorably re-
ported last Monday by the House
District Committee on recon-
mendation of Chairman McGehe
OF the Judiciary Subcommittee.
Lack of Hearings Charged.
Complaints have been made to
Representative Randolph in the
last few days that the bill was not
subjected to adequate public hear
1ngs with the result that its scope
and effect are not generally known.
Mr.. Randolph said, however, legis-
lauon to regulate the engineering
profession had been under consid-
Grafton for many years and that
the bill favorably reported by his
committee was discussed during a
public hearing last year before the
Senate District Committee, and
that Mr.. McGehee's subcommit-
tee had held a brief public hear
Ing on it this year.
Fear that the proposed legislation
would create monopoly among
the engineering profession and lead
to an increase in building construc-
ton costs was voiced yesterday by D.
E. Gingery, chairman of the Legis-
lative Committee of the Operative
Builders Association, who appealed
to Mr.. Randolphs Office for further
hearings.
Sets Up Standards.
Mr.. Gingery also said the pro.
posed legislation is loosely written"
and confuses the building industry
because of its antiquities.
The bill would prohibit the prac-
tice of professional engineering
without license and creates board
to license applicants. In addition it
sets up standards to be met by ap-
plicants for license.
The House report on the bill, in
part, declares:
For many years bills to regulate
the practice of professional engi-
neering in the District have been
introduced in Congress and there
has been much controversy among
those in the profession as to the
exact type of legislation desired.
About two years ago there was or
ganized q representative group of
engineers known as the District of
Columbia Council of Engineering
and Architectural Societies.
THE council is in favor of this
measure. and it also has the ap-
proval Of majority Of the con-
stituent societies, so that it appears
this bill represents the wishes of
a majority of the professional en-
gineers in the District"
Other Bills to Be Called Up.
The other bills Chairman Ran
dolph plans to call up in the House
follow:
l. Authorizing a reduction in the
present per cent interest rate
on P. w. A. loans to the District.
2. Providing for the organization
and incorporation of cooperative
associations in the District.
8. Requiring the recorder of deeds
to have representative in the
office of the director of Department
of Vehicles and Traffic to record
and release liens on motor We
hicles.
4. Giving former Policeman Amos
B. Cole a retired status so he can
draw pension from the Police
and Fire Department retirement
fund.
5. Prohibiting the sale of con-
vict-made goods, except to the Fed
eral and District governments.