Evening star., 1953-04-29
Special Committee
Begins Survey Of
Standards Bureau
By Jones z. Roper

OS - sNPSt
A 10-member committee of
technical experts today started
an on-the-spot investigation of
the Bureau Of Standards.
The group conferred first with
Secretary of Commerce Weeks
and then with Bureau Director
Allen v. Astin.
DR.. Astin arranged for the
committee to confer throughout
the day with his division chiefs.
Secretary Weeks, who is sponsor
ing the investigation, admon-
ished the group to be "fair. OBJ:
jective and impartial"
"As the result of your leader
ship and the cooperation of
Commerce Department officials
and bureau personnel" Secretary
Weeks told the committee, IT am
confident that the National
Bureau of Standards will steadily
advance to the greatest national
service in its history"
Bureau to Be EvaIuated.
The committee, after pro-
longed study, will give a public
evaluation of the way the bureau
is operating and it's contribution
to the national welfare.
Secretary Weeks announced
plans for the committee April 3
in the midst of his abortive at
tempt to fire DR.. Astin, effective
April 18. The full membership
of the committee became known
only today.
On April II, Secretary Weeks
postponed the custer until fall
and announced that a commit
tee-different from the one that
started work today-will study
the bureaus tests on a contyo-
versial battery additive, AD-X2.
Ellender Talks With Expert.
Senator Ellender, Democrat, of
Louisiana conferred at the Cap
itol today with j. A. Stratton,
vice president of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology.
NIT made a report on AD-X2,
and Senator Ellender said he
suspects it was distorted by the
staff of the Senate Small Busi-
ness Committee. Senator Ellen
der plans to have a Senate Ap-
preparations subcommittee, of
which he is a member, look into
the whole affair.
The committee that began work
today is headed by DR.. M. j.
Kelly, president of the Bell Tele-
phone Laboratories in New York.
Each of eight scientific organ
izations appointed member.
And today Secretary Weeks added
his own man-John Green of
the Commerce Department. Of
flee of Technical Services. Secre-
tary Weeks appointed him as ex-
ecutive secretary of the Investi-
eating Committee.
Weeks Thanks Group.
AS committee members gath
cred at his Office for their first
meeting today. Secretary Weeks
said:
Il thank each of you for ac-
cepting this post. I place COM
plete trust in the experience,
ability and high character which
all of you bring to this extremely
important national duty. I am
sure the public shares my con-
f1dence in you.
"You are to receive the full
| cooperation of the Commerce
Department, including the Ma
tional Bureau of Standards, in
| the coming months as you pro-
gress with your survey and
study.
1.-THE public knows that your
committee in discharging its du-
ties will be fair, objective and
impartial. Your report will be
published as a public document.
1t should prove to be a guide in
determining the most effective
role for the National Bureau of
| Standards in relation to the
present national need.
LAS the result of your leader
ship and the cooperation of
Commerce Department officials
and bureau personnel, I am con-
fident that the National Bureau
of Standards will steadily ad-
vance to, the greatest national
service in it's long history"
Committee Members Listed.
Committee members. in addi-
ton to DR.. Kelly and Mr.. Green,
are:
DR.. Lee A. Du Bridge, presi-
dent of the California Institute
of Technology. representing the
American Institute of Physics:
DR.. Guy Suits, vice president of
General Electric Co., represent
ing the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers; DR.. Will
liam L. Everitt. dean of engi-
neering at the University of Illi-
nois. representing the Institute
of Radio Engineers; Dean Ken
meth S. Pitzer of the University
of California. representing the
American Chemical Society;
Abel Wolman of Johns Hopkins
University. representing the
American Society of Civil Engi-
neers; DR.. Clyde Williams. direc-
tor of the Battelle Memorial In
stitute of Columbus. Ohio,
representing the American Insti-
tute of Mining and Metallurgical
Engineers: DR.. James w. Parker
of the Detroit Edison Co., repre-
senting the American Society of