SESSION OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 17, 1916. 137 
It is thought that this is a matter which could be properly handled by the Society, and 
which would be of benefit to the naval architects of the country. The matter was discussed 
at length in the Council meeting held the day before yesterday, and the Council recommended 
the desirability of such a code, and that it be submitted to the Executive Committee, which was 
to appoint a special committee to take entire charge of the matter, with power to act. That 
is the recommendation of the Council. 
THE CHAIRMAN :—Gentlemen, you have heard this recommendation of the Council, and, 
as I said in bringing the matter before you, the members of the Council after discussing this 
matter themselves desire to get an expression of opinion from the membership. Will the 
members who desire to say anything concerning this subject please do so. It is a very im- 
portant matter. You know that this question of professional ethics is one that nearly every 
large society, similar to ours, has had under consideration, and many of them have established 
a code which governs the members of the society. 
One of the questions involved is that of fees. A professional code establishes the fees, 
and when a member of the Society, or any professional man acting under it, renders services 
of a certain kind, there will be no dispute as to what his compensation shall be, because the 
code determines the fee. 
Pror. C. H. SapLer:—To bring the matter before the meeting, I move the adoption of 
the recommendation of the Council. I think it is a very important matter, and I am sure we 
would all be very glad to hear what various members have to say on the matter. 
THE CHAIRMAN :—The question is before the house on the motion to adopt the recom- 
mendation of the Council. You understand what that means, that the matter is to be left to 
the Executive ‘Committee, with power to act and to appoint.a special committee to prepare 
such code. 
Pror. W. Hoveaarp:—I think it would be well if the chairman would inform us more 
in detail what the Council has in view besides the question of fees which has just been men- 
tioned. There are other points. 
THE CHairMAN :—Colonel Stevens has made a tentative draft of the headings for the 
code, and it will give you some idea of what he has in mind if the Secretary reads it. 
THE SECRETARY :—I will read the matter submitted by Colonel Stevens. It is as follows :— 
DRAFT OF REPORT ON CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS FOR SOCIETY OF 
NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS. 
The formulation of a code of professional ethics for marine designers presents special 
difficulties. Conditions surrounding the practice of the profession in this country differ not 
only from those usual in Europe, but also from those prevailing in other branches of engineer- 
ing in this country. 
The systems of regulation that are proving successful in other professions are the re- 
sults of growth. In all cases they depend for their vitality on the body charged with the in- 
terpretation and application of the principle to the special cases under consideration. 
It would seem wise, therefore, at this time merely to formulate in general terms those 
