PROCEEDINGS— APPENDIX A A -27 



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we have the breadth of view and general enlighteninent of the members 

 of the societies named, and of the managers of the great lines of trans- 

 portation by land and water throngliout the United States, the men who 

 in 1883 adopted the Standard Time System. We have in still more 

 marked contrast to the views of Prof. Newcomb the spirit which moved 

 the highest constituted authorities, the Senate and the House of Eepre- 

 sentatives, in passing a joint-resolution requesting the President of the 

 United States to assemble representatives from every civilized nation to 

 consider the very questions which tincl so little favour with Mr. New- 

 comb. These remarks go to prove that this gentleman holds conser- 

 vative views in the matter of Time-reform peculiarly his own and that it 

 is impossible to accept a rejiort expressing his opinions on this question 

 as representing the voice of the United States. The evidence shows 

 that the United States stands in the front rank in support of this 

 important movement, and with respect to the proposed change in the 

 Astronomical Day, a letter from the Secretary of the Navy to Congress, 

 dated Februar}^ 17th, 1885, brings out the fact that although the execu- 

 tion of the order w^as subsequently deferred until a general agreement 

 could be reached, a general order was actually issued on December 4th, 

 1884, by the head of the Naval Observatory, to begin the Astronomical 

 Day at midnight in accordance with tlie recommendation of the Washing- 

 ton Conference of that year. Moreover, it may be added that the recom- 

 mendations of the Washington Conference were endorsed by the President 

 of the United States in his message to Congress of January 9th, 1883. 



In view of the facts narrated, the Joint Committee respectfully 

 conceives that it is fully warranted in the opinion that the United 

 States, as a nation, may be truly considered to be one of the nine ephem- 

 erides publishing nations in favour of the proposal to bring the Astro- 

 nomical Day into agreement with the Civil Day. 



In a question of this kind, perfect unanimity is scarcely to be hoped 

 for, nevertheless the Joint Committee submits that the evidence estab- 

 lishes that there is so general an agreement among the nations as will 

 admit of concerted action in regard to the introduction of the change 

 proposed in the sixth resolution of the Washington Conference. 



The Joint Committee, in conclusion, respectfully expres.ses the hope 

 that in accordance with the 1 1th paragraph of the letter of the Admi- 

 ralty of .January 5th, 188G, the Lords Commissioners will be pleased to 

 sanction such alterations in the Nautical Almanac as maj' be necessary 

 to establish the change to the new reckoning, on the first day of the 

 coming century. It is scarcely necessary to add that as the Nautical 

 Almanac is usually jjrepared four or five years in advance, it is important 

 that a definite decision should not be long delayed. 



All of which is respectfully submitted on behalf of the Joint Committee. 



Sandford Fleming, Chairman. 



