Measures for Progress: A History of the National Bureau of Standards

486 THE NEW WORLD OF SCIENCE (1946-51)
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The Washington, D.C., newspaper cartoonists capture the fervor of the AD—X2 case.
(1953 © cartoon by Herblock in the "Washington Post": other cartoons by courtesy
of Berryman and Crocket, "Washington Evening Star.")
in relation to the present national needs." 160 (The report of this com-
mittee is considered in the envoi of the present history.) A second committee
of the National Academy of Sciences was appointed specifically to appraise
the work of the Bureau on AD—X2.
A Department of Commerce press release on August 23, 1953, an-
nounced the resumption of his duties by the Director of the Bureau. It also
disclosed that on the basis of Senate hearings, the merits of AD—X2 remained
controversial but "there [was] insufficient proof of an actual intent * * * to
deceive." 161
On November 13 the committee of 10 scientists named by Dr. Detlev
\V. Bronk. president of the National Academy of Sciences. to study the
claims made for AD—X2, reported that the MIT tests "were not well designed
for old batteries differing markedly in the characteristics of the cells." The
committee found the Bureau staff fully competent, the quality of its work
160 "Washington Post," Apr. 18, 1953, p. 1. The Director of the Bureau had recommended
early in March that the call upon the Academy and his Visiting Committee
to the Bureau to review Bureau operations, including its testing of battery additives.
Sce "Washington Post," Apr. 2, 1953, p. 1.
The press release also announced the transfer of direct supervision of
NBS from the Assistant Secretary for Domestic Affairs to the Assistant Secretary for
Administration. Soon after, Mr. Sheaffer resigned and returned to his business.
The Senate Hearings * * * * * * Battery Additive AD—X2 comprised 511 pages of
testimony and exhibits and 274 pages of appendices.