THE CHAIRMAN: The first item on the program this afternoon is the report of the Nominating Committee, of which Mr. Bump is Chairman. Mr. Bump, have you a report to make?

MILAN R. BUMP: Your Nominating Committee, Mr. Chairman, met this morning and has this report to present to you:

For Chairman for the ensuing year, N. A. Carle, Newark, N. J.;

For First Vice-Chairman, H. A. Barry, Los Angeles, Cal.;

Second Vice-Chairman, A. H. Lawton, Jackson, Mich.;

Third Vice-Chairman, R. F. Schuchardt, Chicago.

For members of the Executive Committee for two years, terms expiring in 1923:

O. B. Caldwell, Portland Railway, Light & Power Company, Portland, Oregon;

W. K. Vanderpoel, Newark, N. J.;
C. F. Herschfeld, Detroit, Mich.

THE CHAIRMAN: You have heard the report. What is your pleasure, gentlemen?

W. L. WADSWORTH: I move that the report of the Nominating Committee be accepted and the officers elected.

Report of Overhead

Last year's report of this Committee reviewed the principal subjects covered by the preceding reports. Its introductory chapter pointed out the chief current problems of outside plant construction and maintenance, giving also the reasons why some studies of overhead plant were not being prosecuted. The situation in regard to the latter feature is quite unchanged, as it is felt that problems relating to ordinary line construction, particularly in the way of specifications for materials and methods, ought to be held in abeyance until there is a complete understanding regarding the requirements of the Code of the Bureau of Standards.

It is logical to follow this course, as the revision of existing specifications or the creation of additional ones might easily lead to some undesirable developments. In general, the prevailing standards answer the present needs; and, aside from what might be regarded as detailed improvements, no radical changes are needed. To the contrary, any decidedly different practices might not be of a constructively useful nature, so far as the actual phys

THE CHAIRMAN: Is there a second to that motion?

N. A. CARLE: I want to thank the Section very much indeed for the honor you have conferred upon me. It will not be the policy to make any material change in the personnel of the committee chairmen, or the scope of the work, with one exception. I am going to get rid of the chairmanship of the Prime Movers Committee.

THE CHAIRMAN: The next item on the program is the report of the Overhead Systems Committee, Mr. W. K. Vanderpoel, Public Service Electric Company, Newark, N. J., Chairman.

Systems Committee

ical situation is concerned, but could tend toward new criteria and practice that would be unsuitable. to future requirements.

There is also the question of a revision of the existing Handbook on Overhead Line Construction. Careful thought on the part of the Committee leads. to the conclusion that a revision is not now practicable, and, indeed, may not be necessary for several years. In taking this attitude, the Committee does not fail to recognize that certain details given in the Handbook need modernizing, nor that even large portions of it are approaching obsolescence. The important point is that the general standards as set forth in the Handbook continue, in the main, to be convenient models of proper practice, and still more so are now largely useful as a basis for general plant design and as purchasing standards. It is felt that the revision of the Handbook, while in a large measure dependent upon the final outcome of governmental action, such as the Safety Code, may also be affected by other large issues. The art is rapidly changing and with its usual adaptability the