FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 137 



that the resolution could be made to include the additional proposals 

 of the Engineering Section by a slight modification in the language of 

 the resolution as originally drafted by Section IX, and the text of this 

 resolution was therefore slightly modified to accomplish this purpose, as 

 it appears in Article 42. 



It will be noted that the second paragraph of this article presupposes 

 the collection and study of the data upon the subjects mentioned in the 

 first paragraph and that a thorough scientific investigation of the problems 

 be made by or through some organization. Just what that organization 

 should be the Congress did not attempt to determine, in the belief that, if 

 the nations were once convinced of the necessity of considering these prob- 

 lems and of reaching an agreement upon uniform methods, they would 

 hit upon the method or methods best calculated to give effect to the 

 recommendation . 



ARTICLE 43. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress deems it 



advisable that 



The American Republics agree upon a uniform date for the taking of 

 the census and that uniform methods be adopted in the col- 

 lection, arrangement, and presentation of commercial and 

 demographic statistics. 



This is not the only instance in which the Congress recognized its 

 limitations and kept strictly within them. This article should be con- 

 sidered in connection with Article 32, although it covers a different field. 

 The members of the Section were of opinion that the census of each of 

 the American Republics be taken approximately at the same time and 

 that, as far as possible, uniform schedules and classification be used. In 

 like manner, it was deemed desirable that uniform principles be formu- 

 lated and adopted in this arrangement and presentation of commercial 

 and demographic statistics. 



ARTICLE 44. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress is of the 



opinion that 



It is highly desirable to make a scientific study of the systems of 

 taxation existing in the different American Republics. 



One of the most serious problems confronting most of the Republics 

 of the American Continent at the present moment is the question of 

 securing adequate revenue to meet current needs. In most cases the 

 major part of ordinary revenue has been derived from customs dues. 

 The outbreak of the European War resulted in a sudden and violent 



