INCHING TOWARD THE METRIC SYSTEM, 1959-79 



493 



A strong supporter of the space program, Representative Eldon Rudd (Republican of 

 Arizona), right, was also one of the leading critics of the metric system. Here he is shown on 

 a committee inspection trip at Kennedy Space Center with, from left, Miles Ross, Representa- 

 tives Carl D. Pursell (Republican of Michigan) and Dale Milford (Democrat of Texas), 

 along with Lee R. Scherer, at that time Director of the Kennedy Space Center. 



Exactly a week later, Crane was back with another amendment to 

 a supplemental appropriations bill, designed to knock out $1.8 million 

 for the U.S. Metric Board. Once again McCormack took on Crane, 

 arguing: 



The fact is that we are, in this country, converting to the metric system at this 

 time, and that we cannot avoid converting. The question before us is: Will conversion 

 be orderly and smooth and programmed to get us into an era of understanding and 

 casual, everyday use of the metric system, or will the conversion be erratic, confused, 

 strung out, unending and disruptive, as would happen if the gentleman's position 

 were adopted? 



One other member of the committee, Representative Thomas J. 

 Downey (Democrat of New York), one of the youngest Members of 

 the House, brought laughter by remarking: 



I personally do not like the metric system very much, preferring yards to meters 

 and miles to kilometers. But I realize that I am of an older generation, and I hope for 

 a future generation that we will be able to have a metric system. 



35-120 - 79 - 34 



