136 FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 



But to take up the consideration of Article 42. 



The subject matter of this resolution has been of vital interest to all 

 of the Republics of America for so long a period that it was included in 

 the program as a Pan American topic. After an animated discussion, 

 it was evident that no scientific study could be undertaken until a method 

 had been devised of gathering complete and authoritative data and 

 that this material should be systematically studied under the direction 

 of expert statisticians. The delegates were agreed that, as soon as some 

 such thorough investigation was completed, practical uniformity in the 

 presentation of statistical material would not only be feasible but highly 

 desirable. It was also the general opinion of the members of the Section 

 that it is important to take a further step forward in order to secure 

 uniformity in customs regulations and in port charges, as direct aids to 

 inter- American commerce. 



It was pointed out during the discussion that, in accordance with the 

 recommendations of the Second Pan American Conference, held at the 

 City of Mexico in 1902, a conference was convened for the discussion 

 of customs regulations and their possible simplification. This con- 

 ference was held in New York in 1903. 



The Third and Fourth Pan American Conference, held at Rio de 

 Janeiro in 1906 and at Buenos Aires in 1910, likewise dealt with these 

 problems and various specific recommendations were made at these 

 conferences, to which the members of Section IX felt that effect should 

 be given as soon as possible, and that an effort should be made to take 

 advantage of the advance effected in this field during the past twenty-five 

 years to bring about such uniformity as might be possible in the various 

 matters mentioned in the resolution. 



The question of unifoimity in manufacturing methods and materials 

 was considered in the section devoted to engineering, and it was there 

 pointed out that the scientific, industrial, and commercial relations among 

 nations are gieatly facilitated when uniform standards are in use and 

 when the most improved materials and apparatus are bought and sold 

 under common specifications. 



The Ninth Section proposed the appointment of a commission by all 

 the American Republics to bring about the unification of standards, 

 measures, weights, and methods of manufacture and technical nomen- 

 clature and to agree upon standard specifications for the principal mate- 

 rials entering into international commerce and manufactured articles, 

 with the understanding that these specifications were to be revised from 

 time to time with the progress of the arts. The Congress considered 



