ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. This is one of the most important subjects, and should be taken up more thoroughly than is possible at this time. The extent to which the standardizing of electrical equipment may be carried is limited to the general dimensions of the parts and their location, with reference to the other parts of the equipment. The work of standardizing should be carried out on the lines established by the present practice. The subdivisions of the above report, dealing with these subjects respectively, are submitted as the report of the entire committee and not as the report of any individual member. All matters presented were discussed and agreed upon by the committee as a whole, and are presented as its joint action. It is hardly necessary to say that the work in hand is of great magnitude and surrounded with many difficulties, owing to the varying conditions which exist on street railway systems, and that it cannot well be expected that in this, the first report of the committee, it will be possible to definitely decide on standards for all classes and kinds of equipments. This report is submitted simply as suggestions, in order to fully bring the question of standardizing before the Association. Your committee recommends that the work be continued through such committee as the Association may deem wise to appoint. Respectfully submitted, JOHN R. GRAHAM, Chairman, FRANK G. JONES, WILLARD J. HIELD. C. F. HOLMES. President Holmes-Gentlemen, you have heard the report so ably presented by the Committee on Standards, and I am sure they deserve great credit for the valuable services they have rendered. Mr. Sloan-I move that the report be received and spread on the minutes, and that the thanks of the Association be extended to the gentlemen composing the committee, and that the committee be continued for another year. Mr. Beggs-I suppose that in Mr. Sloan's motion it is the intention that those blue prints shall be produced in the minutes; I think they should be very fully set forth. I would like to suggest that the report should be published in pamphlet form as one of the special papers of the Association. Copies might be sent to each company, possibly in advance of the publication of the regular minutes, in order that it may be put in the hands of the several departments of the several roads. which may not receive a copy of the regular minutes of the Association. I would like to add that to the motion. I Mr. Heft-May I be allowed to offer a suggestion? may assure Mr. Sloan that we appreciate fully all that he has said, but taking in consideration the successful carrying out of the standardizing of the different materials and equipments, I believe that the selection of such a Committee should be left to the Executive Committee. It is necessary, in order to get a working Committee, that it should be made up so that it would be possible for the Committee to get together and discuss these different questions and take up the work in a systematic manner. If it is agreeable to the convention, I would suggest that the gentleman include in his motion, that either the President or the Executive Committee be allowed to make the selection of the Committee after adjournment or at such time as they desire. Mr. Fuller-I think the work of the Committee speaks for itself and we should not make any changes. I second the motion. Mr. Beggs-I think the remarks of Col. Heft are very pertinent. I have no doubt that the incoming officers and Executive Committee of the Association, whoever they may be, will give preference to those who have been on the Committee. The responsibility should rest with them. I think the officers and the Executive Committee feel their responsibility in a matter of this kind and should participate to a certain extent in the labors of that committee; and I think it highly desirable that Col. Heft and the others be kept on that Committee. There may be a motion that another committee be appointed; it may be the same gentlemen, but deriving their authority from the incoming officers of the Association. I hope Mr. Sloan will accept that suggestion. I appreciate the labors of the committee. Mr. Heft-I would say, also, in relation to what Mr. Fuller has said, that I believe the Committee can be made up for the coming year so that it will become more of a working Committee, and I would suggest that my name be left off the Committee. I certainly have not any ends to serve, but I believe in the interest of the Association that this Committee should be made up only after a very careful review of the situation and the conditions which are to be met. As to the location of the different members of the Committee, that does not cut as much figure as the one of selecting a Committee that can get together. It will certainly be necessary to hold several meetings during the coming year, and the full committee should be represented at all of these meetings as nearly as possible. That is my only reason for making the suggestion; purely in the interest of the Association. I certainly do not object to the members of the Association naming the Committee; I am simply a private and am willing to serve anywhere. Mr. Sloan-I appreciate the remarks that have been made on the subject, and my only objection to changing the Committee was the suggestion that it would cast a reflection on the Committee. It seems to me the work speaks for itself. Of course, if there are any members of the Committee that do not want to serve, it is their privilege to resign; I would not object, and the President might then appoint a substitute for any one that does not want to serve. Mr. Beggs-I wish Mr. Sloan would withdraw his motion. When he suggests that this Association wants work from the Committee, it is not a question of confidence in the Committee, it is a question of work. I would suggest that the motion of Mr. Sloan may be voted down and let the incoming President select the Committee. He may want the same Committee, he may want to add to it, or he may want to take some members from it. Mr. Heft-I believe I can suggest a gentleman for the Committee who would serve the Association better than I feel I can do. I am sincere in this. This is a very important work, and would involve a great deal of hard work and a great deal of attention, and I certainly would not be the man to cast any reflections in any way on any member of the Committee. The Committee is certainly willing to stand by its report in the interest of the Association, and I only offer my ideas along these lines because I believe it will be better to leave it to the President or the Executive Committee to select the Committee, and place men on the Committee who are perfectly familiar with the work in question. There is no use in putting an engineer that runs your power station on your overhead work, and there is none of us who are very good men when you put us into all lines. We may be able to serve you along one line fairly well, but to get a man who is familiar with all the details of all work, I think it is rather questionable whether we can do it. Mr. Beggs-I would like to ask, before this Association proceeds further, whether the report itself would be carried without further discussion by the acceptance or rejection of Mr. Sloan's motion? There is one point that I desire to say a word about, the question of T rails, before this matter is finally disposed of by the Association, and I do not know whether when we vote it would carry the question entirely and we proceed to other busi ness. President Holmes-That is my understanding. Mr. Beggs-I would like it very much if the motion was modified. I think the reasons given by Col. Heft are very good. I don't know whether every member of the Committee contributed his proper proportion of the work or not. If there are any drones upon that Committee, they should be put out and their places filled by others who will render service. I have had experience with Committees in getting up reports, when the whole report is worked up by one man and virtually taken to certain members to sign, when they had contributed nothing whatever to the work upon it. That is one of the reasons why I earnestly hope that Col. Heft's suggestion will be adopted by Mr. Sloan. It leaves the matter open, and I think the sense |