its members-Mr. C. D. Wood, Jr., of New York-present a paper, which you have already heard, which covers some of the aspects of the situation. By its very nature, this subject will be brought up for discussion at the new-business meeting to-morrow, in a way to bring out very largely the matter that would otherwise be put into the report-a statement of conditions of development, and what the future holds. What has been done and what may be done will be governed very largely by the members giving expression to their experiences, which is much better given at first hand than at second hand through the medium of the committee. THE PRESIDENT: There can be no question as to the practical value of the work of this committee when we see the extent to which electric cooking and heating appliances are being pushed for sale by the central stations. I have pleasure now in introducing Mr. Charles D. Robinson, who, on behalf of Mr. S. R. Bradley, Jr., of Nyack, N. Y., chairman of the committee on relations with local associations, will present the report of that committee. MR. ROBINSON: Mr. President-On behalf of the committee, the chairman has requested me to report progress, to file his report, and to request that the committee be discharged. Mr. Robinson presented the report of the committee, as follows: REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS The very nature of central-station business, its complexity, rapid development, isolation, and the fact that to-day it is everybody's business, provide the central-station man with a problem that seems to grow as we progress in its solution. The task is educational, and there is much to be gained by association and comparison of experiences and interchange of ideas. From this national association each of us has derived great benefit. At the same time, there are certain subjects worthy of our consideration that are not within the scope of the present work of the association. These are subjects commonly regarded as of local interest only, which will, nevertheless, establish precedents and have important influence upon the industry at large. For the study of these matters, and that the industry may be represented in them, some nineteen organizations have been formed in different states or groups of states. The evident purpose of these organizations is the advancement generally of the interests of their respective members. This work usually has no well-defined limit, but extends to every part of the business, and to some extent is a duplication of the work undertaken by the national association. In so far as can be ascertained, the following is a list of the local associations at this time: Maine. Association of Electric Light Engineers of New Hampshire. Association of Electric Light Engineers of New England Association of Electric Light Engineers of Vermont Electrical Association Association of Electric Light Engineers of Massachusetts Electric Light Association. Association of Electric Light Engineers of Connecticut State Electrical Association Empire State Gas and Electric Association New York. Ohio South Carolina. South Carolina Electric Association Northwestern-Electrical Association Oklahoma Electric Light Association Southwestern Electrical and Gas Association Pacific Coast Electric Transmission Asso- Pacific Coast Electric Transmission Association Canadian Electrical Association nineteen in all, representing twenty-four states and Canada. Your committee suggests that the executive committee of this association urge the local associations to accept the following list (modified from time to time) as subjects to be regarded as the first and most important work for the local associations: A. Existing State Laws Affecting the Industry B. Amendments Proposed and New Laws Pending in Legisla C. D. ture Court Decisions Under State Laws Decisions of the Federal Courts E. Ordinances and Acts of Municipalities F. Court Decisions Relative Thereto G. Proceedings, Orders and Decisions of State Commissions. I. J. K. Ownership Data on Cost of Construction and Operation of Municipal Plants Relations and Transactions between Representatives of L. Relations and Transactions between Member Companies and Other Companies Operating (1) Steam Railroads, (2) Electric Railroads, (3) Telegraph Systems, (4) Telephone Systems, (5) Electric Subway Systems, (6) Gas Companies, (7) Water Companies and that purely technical questions be left to the national association. Your committee suggests that the national association, when assisting members in matters classed as local, endeavor, so far as practicable, to do so through a local association. It further suggests that co-operation between the local and national associations in all ways, particularly in matters of publicity, is desirable, and that co-operation might be facilitated by this association bearing a proportion of the expenses of publicity and assisting the local associations in such ways as, for instance, establishing a system of filings of reports common to the local associations and the national association, which will enable any member company through the office of its local association to obtain data on both national and local subjects, the national association acting as the clearing-house, receiving data from the different local associations and from other sources, compiling same, and making periodic reports to the local associations. It would appear that a closer co-operation and more systematic division and direction of effort is needed, also that the plans and efforts toward improvement in this direction should come from the executive committee of the national association, to be effective, rather than from the individual local associations. Respectfully submitted, S. R. BRADLEY, JR., Chairman. MR. W. W. FREEMAN (Brooklyn, N. Y.): I move that the report be received and the committee discharged, with thanks. (The motion was carried.) THE PRESIDENT: We will now have the pleasure of listening to the report of Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., chairman of the committee on the grounding of alternating-current circuits. MR. BLOOD: It was not the intention of the committee to make a report at this convention, but your president felt that the subject was one of such general interest that a report of progress should be submitted. PROGRESS REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON GROUNDING OF ALTERNATING-CURRENT CIRCUITS At the March meeting of the Underwriters a complete revision of Rule 13-A was suggested, but as this proposed rule was not satisfactory to the Underwriters or to the electric-lighting interests the necessity for a conference and the bringing up of a comprehensive rule was apparent. With this end in view, committees have been appointed by the National Electric Light Association, by the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and by the National Electrical Inspectors' Association, and a joint meeting will soon be held. The general feeling throughout the country is that secondary alternating-current circuits in general should be grounded. There is considerable difference of opinion as to just what voltage should be grounded, just what voltage should be insulated, and the matter of handling polyphase circuits is particularly indefinite at the present time. As indorsing the statement that I have made. in regard to the advisability of grounding, I want to make two or three quotations from eminent authorities on this subject, which have been taken from public statements or papers that they have presented at different times: "Professor Puffer: . . . I would carry grounding to such an extent that I would compel the absolute grounding immediately at point of entrance into buildings of every system, and including such things as water pipes and gas pipes." "President Kennelly: I do not know any man, conversant with the facts, who would let any person for whose life or safety he was responsible go into a damp cellar and touch any part of a secondary circuit when there was a high pressure turned on on the primary side. I want to see the man who would permit any child of his to do that thing unless adequate precautions were taken for protecting the secondary circuit. "The same is true in a modified form in regard to any low-tension system, overhead or underground, Edison, direct or alternating. It is no argument whatever to say that owing |