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Engineers propose ways to stop graft Maryland hardly has a monopoly on al­leged political kickbacks in exchange for engineering contracts. Such corrupt practices are at the very least winked at in other states, city halls, and else­where. But with the scandal involving former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew still fresh in mind, the nation's engi­neers hope to win support for reforms they propose to counter such graft.

Earlier this month the 70,000-mem-ber National Society of Professional Engineers unveiled recommendations of its task force on political involve­ment in contract awards. The six-member group was set in motion Aug. 31 amid the allegations against Mr. Agnew. The task force's recommenda­tions include:

• Two ceilings of $100 each be set on an engineer's political contribu­tions, through changes to federal, state, and local laws. One limit would cover an engineer's contributions to any elected official or candidate for public office in the two years before an election. The other $100 limit would be set on funds given to a political party. And all contributions would be dis­closed completely, together with iden­tification of a contributor's business in­terests under the new state laws.

• Writing of these suggested limits into engineering contracts through affi­davits. Violators of the limits would be criminally penalized for perjury as well as losing the contract and all fees paid or due under it.

• State licensing boards be given legal authority to adopt binding rules of professional conduct that would in­clude a bar on any payment to secure a contract.

"Today there are no more than six states which have registration laws with the teeth and authoritative mus­cle to enforce such rules," says Robert L. Reitinger, NSPE president. The states are Tennessee, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, and Flori­da.

The task force in its report also re­jects one proposed solution to kickback systems: competitive bidding. Even bidding restricted to firms prequalified by some review board is opposed. "The result of competitive bidding would be a meaningless wide range of guesses by competing engineers as to what a prop­er cost would be to do the kind of nec­essary research, analysis, and study," the report says.

The task force findings are likely to be approved by the NSPE board in January. Meanwhile, attempts are being made to get other engineering groups to support the recommenda­tions in order to make the reform effort a professionwide matter. Engineering society presidents will meet on Dec. 12 on the recommendations. Intensive lobbying is expected to be undertaken.

18 C&EN Nov. 26, 1973

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