to whether each individual cared to pay the necessary sum for the entertainment, to consist mostly of the banquet. As the Secretary has pointed out the vote developed an apparent majority against the banquet, and accordingly, the Committee on Arrangements, perhaps preferring to play safe, decided that we would not have a formal banquet on this occasion, and that decision, in a sense, was ratified by the Governing Board yesterday. But there are two views, or two ways of looking at that vote which was taken. There were 209 replies against the banquet or not so much that, perhaps, as it was that there were 209 individuals who did not care to pay the necessary $10.00, but there were, on the other hand, almost an approximately equal number of gentlemen who did say that they wished a banquet, and would pay the necessary $10.00 for such a purpose. Now it has been thought hardly fair that those gentlemen who come here wishing to have the pleasure of dining together should be debarred from that because an approximately equal number did not care for it.

In addition to that situation there were some complications which arose locally, and which the Committee on Arrangements encountered despite good work on their part, and with the result, as I have said, that it has been decided that there would be no "official banquet," but there has been a movement among a number of gentlemen who feel that there is nothing in the world to hinder having a dinner of gas men informally, and without some of the frills that sometimes characterize banquets, and, in brief, it has been felt wise to after all refer the question back to you gentlemen on the floor to decide. There is still time to arrange for an informal "subscription dinner," if we choose to so call it, tomorrow night in this hotel, provided a sufficient number care to do it. There is nothing in the world to hinder any of us who would like to participate from getting together and bowing the old associations out and welcoming in the new, and having a time of good fellowship, and a good dinner. It will cost $10.00 to one willing to pay it, and to one not caring to pay it, there is nothing in the world about it that is obligatory at all. However, the matter has been thrown squarely before you all. You are all here, and it rests with you gentlemen to say

whether you care to meet together tomorrow night, but on a basis that will cost $10.00, because it is proposed to have a pretty comfortable, satisfactory sort of dinner. If fifty or seventy-five or a hundred of you are certain in your minds that you would like to participate in such a way, or if some such number indicate that they would like to participate in a dinner, that will be enough to warrant the making of certain arrangements which will have to be made soon, and all you will have to do is to pledge yourselves to sign the subscription paper and pay your $10.00 afterwards. There seems to be no other way to do but to throw it back to you to decide whether we shall have a gas man's dinner together, to bury the old Association and start the new, and I am going to ask you, therefore, who enjoy that feature of our meetings if you will kindly hold up your hands. Those who vote in the affirmative kindly hold up their hand. Will the Secretary please make a count?

SECRETARY DUNBAR : 71.

MR. SHELTON: That number is sufficient to warrant making the arrangements. I think there will probably be a good many more come in before we get through. I do not believe there is any need of taking the negative vote, particularly because it is not a question, really, before the Institute to decide, but its simply a question of seeing if there are enough of those who care to have the dinner to warrant directing the hotel to make the necessary arrangements.

SECRETARY DUNBAR: The next paragraph is in reference to adopting the badge recommended by the Committee, which is the one you see here in the designs on the wall back of me. (Mr. Dunbar refers to colored designs upon the wall.)

THE PRESIDENT: We will hear the report of Mr. Shelton for the Badge Committee.

MR. SHELTON: The selection of the badge is not the most important thing in the world, for the Institute will do very good work for the gas industry if it never should have one, but it seems appropriate that the Institute should have a suitable badge for such convenience or pleasure as it may

offer or give, and a Committee on Badge, consisting of Mr. William McDonald and myself, was appointed. In considering the matter our main thought was that an appropriate badge, if possible, should be one that would incorporate a characteristic feature of each of the merging association badges, so that in a sense the new badge would be a charter badge, so that no matter what other associations may come in the future, and possibly ultimately merge or combine with the Institute, they would not be able to disturb the charter position of the three associations that already form this institute by a merger, as that would be perpetuated, in a sense, in the design of the badge. We, therefore, endeavored to incorporate features from the Ohio badge, the American badge, and from the Western Association badge. In addition, it was thought that a change in color might tend to differentiate a little from the red and blue heretofore mostly used, and it was suggested that we make it a green and gold badge. this time. It was also felt that, artistically speaking and this was said by people outside of the gas business-that the American badge was the best design of any of the existing badges, so that the committee aimed to adhere somewhat to the general effect of the American badge, and yet to specifically incorporate some of these certain other features, as stated. The result is before you in two designs. Number One includes the holder of the Ohio, the setting sun and pipes of the Western, and the torch of the American. The criticism that has been made of the design was that there was a little too much endeavor to get too much into a small space. The opinion finally prevailed that this badge, Number Two, was the stronger pattern, that the torch was a little bit larger, and that the setting sun was in evidence. And the Ohio men said that inasmuch as their O encircled the whole they were satisfied! At any rate, it is the choice of the Committee on Badge. It has been suggested, however, that the circle alone tends towards a button effect, and that the "ear" at the bottom of the American badge be added.

This is the formal report, which was prepared and handed to the Committee on Merger :

To the Governing Board American Gas Institute:

GENTLEMEN: The undersigned were appointed a committee to make recommendation in the matter of suitable badge for the American Gas Institute. We have received designs and prices from several makers, and submit the accompanying design as our choice. It is our recommendation that if your Board and the Institute accept this choice, that final bids be procured, and that the badge be made up of number 14 karat gold, with a 10 karat safety-lock pin, similar to the same device on the pin that the recent American Gas Light Association used. Further, that an additional price be named for engraving the initials or name of the owner, when desired, and finally that other things being equal-the business be continued with the maker who has for many years supplied the American Gas Light Association.

We further recommend that badges for members at large, of all classes, be made up with green enamel; that the badge of the President be made up with white enamel; and the badge of the Vice-Presidents with blue enamel; and of the Secretary with red enamel. That the Institute be authorized to contract for one thousand as the price basis, to be delivered in suitable lots on call, and to be paid for as delivered, and that the charge to members be cost, plus twenty-five cents for postage, registration and recording, and that all badges be put under the following rules, which are to be printed and incorporated in the published notices of the Institute.

1. The badge of the American Gas Institute, adopted October 17th, 1906, shall consist of the design as above.

2. Each badge shall be numbered and registered with the name of the owner in the records of the Secretary.

3. The price of each badge shall be $3.75, which is to include forwarding charges by the Secretary to the recipient. A further charge of cents shall be made if the recipient

requests his name engraved on the back thereof.

4. It shall be expressly understood that if a member resigns or is dropped from the Institute, he shall return his badge and receive therefor the sum of $2.00.

Respectfully submitted,

WILLIAM MCDONALD,
F. H. SHELTON.

THE PRESIDENT: Now gentlemen, the recommendation of the Committee is before you. It is approved by the Governing Board, and it is now before you to accept or reject.

MR. SHELTON: If you like it approve it. If you dislike it vote it down and appoint another committee.

MR. PRATT: I move that the report of the Committee on Badge be adopted.

Motion seconded.

MR. DONALD MCDONALD, Louisville: Well, is this, Mr. President, just what we want? I move to amend that by substituting this other sketch. I think the badge of the Institute ought to say what it is. I do not see as the setting sun is in accordance with the principles of the business. you have a badge with a gas holder on it why everybody knows. at once, as soon as they see it, that it is in some way connected with the gas business. It seems to me that this other badge is the most appropriate and I move to amend Mr. Pratt's motion by adopting the report of the committee but substituting this first badge instead of the other one.

THE PRESIDENT : I would say, gentlemen, that one reason why this badge was chosen was this: they had exact sketches made of the two badges, and the detail was too great in this one to make it effective. That was one thing which influenced

the choice of the committee.

MR. D. McDONALD: But it does not seem to me, Mr. President, that the other one has anything about it which shows in particular that its a gas man's badge.

MR. MCILHENNY: It has the three pipes on it.

MR. NORRIS: I was about to say that it shows the rising sun, and the Institute is a rising sun.

MR. EGNER: Mr. President, instead of the letters, A.G.I. or instead of putting on those initials or letters I do not see why we could not put on "American Gas Institute," and then everybody would know at one that it was a badge destinctive of a gas association. I would suggest, or move, that instead of putting on just the letters we put on the name, American Gas Institute.