196 
resolution was seconded by Dr. Billings, 
who remarked that, inasmuch as one or two 
of his remarks of the day previous had 
been misunderstood by some members of 
the Congress, he wished distinctly to say 
that he did not condemn the Dewey decimal 
system for the classification and location .of 
books, but he did not think it well adapted 
to the catalogue which it was proposed to 
publish. This resolution was now agreed 
to unanimously, the Belgian delegates de- 
siring it to be placed on record that they 
abstained from voting. 
Professor Deniker, representing France, 
now proposed: ‘‘ That the catalogue accord- 
ing to the authors’ names be in the Eng- 
lish language, all titles to be also in their 
original language, unless otherwise desired 
by the Bureau of the country concerned.” 
This resolution was seconded by General 
Ferrero, the Italian Ambassador. Pro- 
fessor Forel said that the question of lan- 
guage was one of very great importance, 
and he thought it should be remitted to the 
Committee of Organization, suggesting the 
following proposition : ‘‘ With the questions 
of classification and form, the questions of 
the employment of four languages, German, 
English, French and Italian, shall be re- 
mitted to the Committee of Organization.”’ 
Professor Mach, representing Austria, 
favored the employment of English as the 
only language, asserting that English is so 
widely spoken over the civilized world that 
it would be most proper to employ that 
language. ‘‘ Every one,” he said, “‘should 
respect his own nationality and his own 
language, but before that he should con- 
sider the universal interest of mankind.” 
General Ferrero said that he supported the 
motion to use the English language because 
of precedent and of practicability. The 
official language of an international bureau 
should be the language of the country in 
which it is established ; the Commission of 
Weights and Measures at Paris issued its 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Vou. VI. No. 136. 
publications in French, the Geodetic com- 
mission at Berlin in German. Professor 
Newcomb did not think it necessary to 
translate the titles of papers written in 
German, French or Italian into English. 
The discussion continued, many delegates 
taking part, until finally the following form 
was agreed upon: ‘ That English be the lan- 
guage of the two catalogues authors’ names 
and titles being given only in the original 
languages, except when this belongs to a 
category to be determined by the Interna- 
tional Committee.” 
There was some little discussion as to 
whether the catalogue should begin Jan- 
uary 1, 1900, or 1901, but the date 1900 was 
finally agreed to. 
Professor Forel now made the following 
motion: “That when the organization for the 
catalogue is finally established it will be de- 
sirable to take in hand the publication of 
retrospective catalogues, carried out on the 
same plan, going back from century to cen- 
tury, as far back as the invention of print- 
ing.” Dr. Billings objected tothis resolution 
He held that it was not the business of the 
Conference to say what was desirable, but 
what was possible; that the Conference 
wanted to have the reputation of being a 
fairly sensible set of men who had not pro- 
posed to do anything which was beyond the 
reach of human effort properly organized. 
After further expressions of disapproval this 
resolution was withdrawn. The Conference 
then adj ourned, with the customary votes ot 
thanks. 
Having adjourned, all the delegates pre- 
sumably returned to their respective coun- 
tries and made reports to their govern- 
ments. The American delegates, Profes- 
sor Simon Newcomb and Dr. John 8. 
Billings, presented their report to the 
Secretary of State on October 15, 1896. 
On the following day the Secretary of State 
referred this report, in accordance with 
