well as external affairs, I think the most comprehensive proposition is the best.

VOTE.

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. As the committee has accepted the amendment of Mr. Romero, the vote will

be taken on the report as amended.

The roll-call resulted as follows:

So the report of the Committee on Weights and Measures as amended was adopted, as follows:

THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS ADOPTED.

Resolved, That the International American Conference recommends the adoption of the metrical decimal system to the nations here represented, which have not already accepted it.

INTER-CONTINENTAL RAILWAY.

SESSION OF FEBRUARY 26, 1890.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RAILWAY COMMUNICATION.

[As submitted February 21, and adopted by the Conference February 26, 1890.]

The International American Conference is of the opinion: First. That a railroad connecting all or the majority of the nations represented in this Conference will contribute greatly to the development of cordial relations between said nations and the growth of their material interests.

Second. That the best method of facilitating its execution is the appointment of an International Commission of engineers to ascertain the possible routes, to determine their true length, to estimate the cost of each, and to compare their respective advantages.

Third. That the said Commission should consist of a body of engineers, of whom each nation should appoint three, and which should have authority to divide into subcommissions, and appoint as many other engineers and employés as may be considered necessary for the more rapid execution of the work.

Fourth. That each of the Governments accepting may appoint, at its own expense, commissioners or engineers to serve as auxiliaries to the subcommissions charged with the sectional surveys of the line.

Fifth. That the railroad, in so far as the common interests will permit, should connect the principal cities lying in the vicinity of its route.

Sixth. That if the general direction of the line can not be altered without great inconvenience, for the purpose mentioned in the preceding article, branch lines should be surveyed to connect those cities with the main line.

Seventh. That for the purpose of reducing the cost of the enterprise, existing railways should be utilized as far as is practicable and compatible with the route and conditions of the continental railroad.

Eighth. That in case the results of the survey demonstrate the practicability and advisability of the railroad, proposals for the construction either of the whole line or of sections thereof should be solicited.

Ninth. That the construction, management, and operation of the line should be at the expense of the concessionaires, or of the persons to whom they sublet the work, or transfer their rights with all due formalities, the consent of the respective Governments being first obtained.

Tenth. That all materials necessary for the construction and operation of the railroad should be exempt from import duties, subject to such regulations as may be necessary to prevent the abuse of this privilege.

Eleventh. That all personal and real property of the railroad employed in its construction and operation should be exempt from all taxation, either national, provincial (State), or municipal.

Twelfth. That the execution of a work of such magnitude deserves to be further encouraged by subsidies, grants of land, or guaranties of a minimum of interest.

Thirteenth. That the salaries of the Commission, as well as the expense incident to the preliminary and final surveys, should be assumed by all the nations accepting, in proportion to population according to the latest official census, or, in the absence of a census, by agreement betweer. their several Governments.

Fourteenth. That the railroad should be declared forever neutral for the purpose of securing freedom of traffic.

Fifteenth. That the approval of the surveys, the terms of the proposals, the protection of the concessionaires, the inspection of the work, the legislation affecting it, the neutrality of the road, and the free passage of merchandise in transit, should be (in the event contemplated by article Eighth) the subject of special agreement between all the nations interested.

Sixteenth. That as soon as the Government of the United

States shall receive notice of the acceptance of these recommendations by the other Governments, it shall invite them to appoint the Commission of engineers referred to in the second article, in order that it may meet in the city of Washington at the earliest possible date.

JUAN FRANCISCO VELARDE.

H. G. DAVIS.

E. A. MEXÍA.

FERNANDO CRUZ.

JERÓNIMO ZELAYA.

JACINTO CASTELLANOS.

ANDREW CARNEGIE.

CARLOS MARTINEZ SILVA.

JOSÉ ANDRADE.

J. M. P. CAAMAÑO.

F. C. C. ZEGARRA.

E. C. VARAS.

MANUEL QUINTANA.

J. G. DO AMARAL VALENTE.

JOSÉ S. DECOUD.

H. GUZMÁN.

DISCUSSION.

SESSION OF FEBRUARY 26, 1890.

The PRESIDENT. The order of the day is the report of the Committee on Railway Communication, which will now be read in Spanish and English.

Mr. ZEGARRA. I would ask that the reading be omitted, as we are all familiar with these

to read them would be only to lose time.

papers, and

The report

having been in the hands of the Delegates there is no occasion to read it, especially as it will have to be considered clause by clause.

The PRESIDENT. The honorable Delegate from Peru (Mr. Zegarra) suggests that as the printed report is before the Conference its reading be omitted, espe

cially as it is to be considered section by section. Is there objection to dispensing with the reading? The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered.

The first and second sections were read and unanimously approved as read, in the following form:

The International American Conference is of the opinion: First. That a railroad connecting all or the majority of the nations represented in this Conference will contribute greatly to the development of cordial relations between said nations and the growth of their material interests.

Second. That the best method of facilitating its execution is the appointment of an International Commission of engineers to ascertain the possible routes, to determine their true length, to estimate the cost of each, and to compare their respective advantages.

The third section was read as follows:

Third. That the said Commission should consist of a body of engineers of whom each nation should appoint three, and which should have authority to divide into subcommissions and appoint as many other engineers and employés as might be considered necessary for the more rapid execution of the work.

Mr. ROMERO. In order to understand this article better, I would ask the signers of the report to be so good as to say whether it is intended that the commission of engineers which under this article is to be appointed by the nations respectively, with power to divide into subcommissions, shall make investigations only as to the countries naming such subcommissions, or that there shall be one general commission to make investigations as to every country, such general committee to have the power to divide itself into subcommissions for the study of the various routes in the several countries respectively.