802 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 232. 



Chevalier Descamps agreed in the main 

 with the plan, though he remarked, in pass- 

 ing, that Belgium was not represented on 

 the Committee. Professor Darboux and 

 Dr. Graf discussed the best method of 

 arriving at the opinions of the scientific 

 men in the various countries. Dr. Mond 

 thought the delegates from the various 

 countries were the best medium for estab- 

 lishing the Committees ; otherwise he fav- 

 ored the appointing of an International 

 Committee as the best means of arriving at 

 a definite conclusion — a view which was 

 supported by Professor Klein. 



M. Mascart requested permission to pre- 

 sent the following resolution : " The Con- 

 ference is of the opinion that the delegates 

 be requested to take steps in their respective 

 countries to organize local commissions 

 charged to represent the Koyal Society in 

 the various countries; to study all questions 

 relative to the International Catalogue of 

 Scientific Literature, and to send a report 

 to the International Committee." 



Professor Foster favored the resolution 

 introduced by Dr. Adler. The Royal 

 Society had done its best, and the matter 

 should now be left to a broader court, this 

 latter body to be an authoritative one em- 

 powered to make final decisions. He did 

 not regard this commission as representing 

 different countries, but simply as composed 

 of men chosen bj' this Conference. 



Dr. Bernoullii suggested that the sched- 

 ules be submitted to the various Interna- 

 tional Congresses, such as the Mathematical, 

 Zoological and Chemical, etc. 



Professor Foster replied that the Con- 

 gresses of Zoology and Physiology met only 

 once in three years. The matter had been 

 brought to the attention of the Congress of 

 Physiology, but not seriously discussed. 

 He thought a Congress the worst body pos- 

 sible to which to submit the questions. 



M. Mascart stated that after hearing the 

 discussion he desired to modify his amend- 



ment in the following manner : " The Con- 

 ference holds the view that the delegates be 

 requested to take steps through the govern- 

 ments of their respective countries to organ- 

 ize local commissions charged with studying 

 all the questions relative to the cataloguing 

 of scientific literature of the Royal Society, 

 and to send a report in six months to an 

 International Committee constituted under 

 the patronage of the Royal Society. The 

 International Committee shall examine all 

 the solutions sent and reach a definite de- 

 cision." 



Professor Klein agreed with the proposi- 

 tion, pointing out, however, that the time 

 allowed was too short, and declaring that 

 any connection with International Scientific 

 Congresses was impracticable, as they had 

 no permanent organization. The debate 

 continued for some time, and finally the 

 first portion of Dr. Adler 's motion, modified 

 by Professor Klein, "That the authoritative 

 decisions as to the schedules be intrusted 

 to an International Committee to be liereaf- 

 ter named by the Conference, together with 

 three representatives of the Royal Society," 

 ■was unanimously agreed to. The resolu- 

 tion of M. Mascart concerning the appoint- 

 ment of local committees to report in six 

 months was next adopted, and a further 

 resolution that the International Commit- 

 tee frame its report not later than July 31, 

 1S99. 



Professor Boltzmann brought up the sub- 

 ject of some additional classes to be added 

 to the list of sciences, more especially a 

 class of general science. Professor Foster 

 objected to having the subject reopened, 

 and after a lengthy discussion the Presi- 

 dent ruled the discussion out of order ; 

 which, it may be said, was the single case 

 of such a ruling at the Conference. 



President Foster next raised the question 

 of the functions of the regional bureaus. 

 Dr. Graf stated the difficulties which were 

 in the way of the organization of a regional 



