08 An Vnjiisf Attack — Frazer. 
of the creation and changes of the American committee mentions that the 
names of G. H. Cook, J. D. Dana, and Clarence King were added to the 
American committee at the Saratoga meeting in 1879. At the Boston 
meeting of the next year the American committee was discharged and no 
mention is made of it for the two ensuing years. In the volume of the 
Proceedings of the A. A. A. S. at the Montreal meeting the committee re- 
appears with some but not all of the names which it included when dis- 
charged. The same names continue in I880. la the Proceedings at 
Philadelphia 1884, more of the original names are found with some new 
ones. It had frequently been commented upon that Prof. Dana's name 
was not on the committee, and after discussion it was considered more 
courteous to him to assume that this omission had been an oversight. 
This was declared to be the case by the chairman of the New Haven 
meeting and on motion of Prof. Stevenson "the Secretary was instructed 
(in accordance with the chairman's decision that Prof. Dana had already 
been a member of the committee since 1880) to invite Prof. Dana to be 
present at tlie future meetings of the committee." Whatever error the 
committee may have made in this case resulted from its desire to show 
respect to Prof. Dana. 
Prof. Dana continues: "During the day the reports of some of the sub- 
committees were read and passed, but no opportunity was allowed for the 
discussion of any of the propositions to the International Congress which 
they contained." Tliis statement is at variance with the minutes which 
say (Dec. 30, 1887) ''The Chairman decided that no one can spealc 
longer than tive minutes except the originator of a motion who can 
close after the discussion is finished." 
"The report on the Archean was called for and read by the reporter. 
Profs. Winchell, Cope, Hitchcock, Maj. Powell, and Prof. Dana discussed 
the report, and three motions concerning it were voted upon." 
"The report on the Lower Paleozoic was called for in the afternoon." 
The major part of the report as printed was read and the Reporter ex- 
plained why the complete report could not be prepared by that date. 
(This has been explained above.) The report was discussed by Maj. 
Powell, Prof. Dana, Dr. Newberry, Prof. N. H. Winchell, and Dr. Hunt. 
"Prof. Stevenson moved that the report be re-committed to the sub-com- 
mittee and adopted and printed as the sub-committee return it. Carried." 
Prof. II. S. Williams' report on the Devonic was read in abstract, and 
discussed by Profs. Newberry and Stevenson. It was voted that this re- 
port be printed under the same conditions as the former reports. 
Prof. Stevenson read the report on the C.irbonic and the same vote re- 
garding it was passed. 
Prof. Cook read the report on the Mesozolc and it was discussed by 
Powell, Cope, Frazei-, Winchell, and Newberry. 
Prof. Cope read the abstract of his report on the Interior Cenozoic 
and a motion similar to that in the case of Prof. Winchell's report was 
pa^ssed. The report of Prof. E. A. Smith on the Marine Cenozoic was 
read, discussed, amended, adopted and ordered printed. The report on 
the Quaternary, Recent and Archeology having been called up major 
