Later on, on page 3, the committee say:

"The committee are of opinion that, however simple an adopted system of course-indicating sound-signals may be, and however distinct in character the symbols chosen are from the signals now authorized and used, if vessels were navigated in dependence on them, when neither can see the other, there would be a danger of the officer in charge reading the signal incorrectly; or, if read correctly, of interpreting it wrongly.

"Further, if such signals were in use in crowded waters, we apprehend that danger would result from the uncertainty and confusion produced by the multiplicity of signals, and from a feeling of false security that would be created in the minds of many."

I have imported into the resolution the final paragraph which I have just read. It was stated to me with a good deal of force the other day, by a gentleman who was very urgent to have these course-indicating signals adopted, that the primordial protoplasm of this Conference was the necessity of having course-indicating sound-signals in a fog adopted. Therefore, I have presented this resolution that the public may know, if this resolution is adopted, that, although the Conference have given the most careful study to the subject, not only around the board but in the committee-room, they are of the opinion, perhaps unanimous, that the time has not come for the adoption of any such course-indicating soundsignals.

The CHAIRMAN. The Chair understands that before recess it was decided to close the Conference after the business which has already terminated.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous consent to present this resolution.

Mr. CARTER (Hawaii). Mr. Chairman, I would simply point out that some of the delegates may have remained away this afternoon who would perhaps like to be present before any action was taken upon this resolution.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. Chairman, then I will postpone it. I will let it lie over and be printed.

Admiral BOWDEN SMITH (Great Britain). Mr. Chairman, may I give notice on behalf of my colleague, Captain Mensing, that he would like to have his committee meet at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning? He is not well enough now to come himself.

The SECRETARY. I am directed by the President of the Conference to say that, owing to the illness of Lieutenant Baba, he has appointed his colleague, Mr. Tsukahara, on the Committee on Collocation.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. Chairman, I move that the Conference adjourn until Monday morning at 11 o'clock. The Collocation Committee will meet to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.

Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that for Monday we might perhaps fix some order of business so that we may be prepared? There are several reports of committees in the hands of the members, and have been for nearly a week. I suppose that we might deal with them on Monday morning after dealing with the resolution as to course indicating sound-signals, which I suppose will come first. I would suggest that we take up then the reports of the several committees which have sent them in and which we have had time to consider, so that the delegates may know what business to be prepared to discuss when we meet.

The CHAIRMAN. Will the delegate from Great Britain indicate what part he would like to have taken up?

Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. Chairman, there are two already in our hands, the Load Line Committee and the International Maritime Commission report.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. Chairman, I would like to have that arranged in such a manner that the report of the Collocation Committee shall have precedence whenever it is ready for presentation; because while we have the rules of the road in our mind it is probably wise for us to finish with the report. I think the Collocation Committee will be able to present the printed report to members on Monday morning; and unless some one objects I shall ask that it be taken up Monday morning.

Dr. SIEVEKING (Germany). Mr. Chairman, I would like to remark that I do not think it would be very advisable to deal with the report of the Collocation Committee as soon as it has been handed in. Ifitis handed in on Monday morning, as it will be perhaps, it would be wiser to allow the members of the Conference four, five, or six days' time to consider it, as it really is very important to consider every item and every word in that report.

The CHAIRMAN. The Chair would state that there are two committee reports, one on the load line and one on Division No. 13, which have been completed and handed in.

Mr. HALL (Great Britain). Mr. Chairman, of course I am very anxious that the delegates should have ample time to consider the report of the Collocation Committee; but I should think that forty-eight hours would be ample time to consider simply a question of verbiage. No question of principle is involved in the report of the Collocation Committee. It is merely verbiage, the principle being determined by the Conference. I apprehend that it is a matter which the delegates will not require very many days to consider. It is a pure matter of verbiage and nothing else.

Captain RICHARD (France). Mr. Chairman, I can not agree with the learned delegate from Great Britain in considering the work proposed to us strictly as a matter of verbiage. There is a work before us in its entirety, which we are going to review thoroughly. Before submitting this law to our various governments, it will be necessary for us to see how its various component parts are adjusted among each other. It seems to me that it will be necessary to cast a glance over the entire edifice, and to see whether it is well built. Possibly we may find things to add, and possibly other things to strike out. I think that we should give a very careful scrutiny to its final wording, which will establish a great number of new rules. Under these circumstances I will ask the Conference to support the proposition of the learned Dr. Sieveking, and to give us several days to enable us to read attentively and with all necessary care a work which will come out of the hands of the Collocation Committee as the conclusion and the crowning of our laborious discussion.

Mr. VERNEY (Siam). Mr. Chairman, I desire to say one word in support of what has fallen from the gallant delegate from France. It does seem to me that, when we get the report of the Collocation Committee into our hands we shall have before us a document which will come before us for the first time. I desire to remind this Conference that the proceedings of the Conference have been unlike that of many other Conferences in this respect, that we have never had-perhaps it would not be possible-the minutes of each day's proceedings read at the commencement of each session, which is provided for in Crocker's Manual, which has been adopted as the rules for the proceedings of this Conference. I think that there are several besides myself who find it impossible to go through the protocol carefully during each day. Several of us have only had one copy of the protocol, and that we have handed back to the Secretary for the purpose of revision. Therefore, perhaps, I may be allowed to say one word in support of what has fallen from the gallant delegate from France, that we do want considerable time to look over the report of the Collocation Committee in order to do full justice to their very valuable labors.

Mr. CARTER (Hawaii). Mr. Chairman, I would suggest that this discussion would be more pertinent when the report is handed in, and we see what it is and what we want time to consider.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). May I ask through you, Mr. Chairman, whether there is any other committee, which is likely to hand in its report in the early part of the week.

Mr. CARTER (Hawaii). I think Committee No. 2 will hand in their report. In fact, a part of it has been ready for some days; but this new work has kept us back a little.

Captain RICHARD (France). Mr. Chairman, the Committee on LifeSaving Systems will soon be ready to produce its report. The president of that committee not being in the room, I have taken upon myself the duty to answer and to give the Conference the necessary information. We have but a slight difference to smooth over, or, I should rather say, a certain adjustment to make in one part of our report. It is a very small matter, and I think that it will soon be ready.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. Chairman, would Committee No 2 be able to present their report upon General Divisions 7 and 8, leaving the subjects referred to them to-day as a matter of a supplementary report? Mr. CARTER (Hawaii). I think so. The subjects referred to us today, I apprehend, would take a very few minutes after the conclusion at which the Conference has arrived. We only have to consider what the signal should be that is to be incorporated in our report.

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. Chairman, perhaps it is unnecessary for any special order to be provided for, except that there will be three reports on Monday, and we can take them in their order as they are presented.

I move that when we adjourn we adjourn until Monday morning at 11 o'clock.

The Conference thereupon adjourned until Monday, December 9, at 11 o'clock a. m.

WASHINGTON, Monday, December 9, 1889. 11 o'clock a. m.

The Conference was called to order at 11 o'clock a. m., Rear-Admiral Franklin in the chair.

The PRESIDENT. The Secretary will please read an invitation for the information of the Conference.

The invitation is as follows:

"DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

"Washington, December 6, 1889.

"The Secretary of State presents his compliments and, at the instance of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, has the honor to invite you to be present at the ceremonies to be held in the House of Representatives Wednesday, the 11th instant, at 1 o'clock p. m., in commemoration of the centennial inauguration of the first President of the United States, George Washington."

The PRESIDENT. Any delegates desiring to attend will please let the Secretary know and they will be given tickets of admission to the House of Representatives.

The Chair now desires to announce that Señor A. P. Cheney, delegate from Nicaragua, has appeared in the Conference and taken his seat. The first business in order this morning will be the reports of chairmen of committees. Are there any reports to be submitted?

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. President, in order to save time, though a little out of order, I present a resolution as an addition to the resolution presented on the 5th of December in regard to course-indicating sound-signals, which I will ask the Secretary to read.

The PRESIDENT. Does the delegate desire this addition to be printed for further consideration?

Mr. GOODRICH (United States). Mr. President, it may be read first to see whether the Conference is ready to adopt it now, or whether it shall be printed.

The PRESIDENT. The Secretary will please read the addition to the resolution proposed by the delegate from the United States.

The resolution is as follows:

"Resolved, That in the opinion of the Conference it is inexpedient to adopt course-indicating sound-signals in foggy or thick weather, inasmuch as, among the other strong reasons presented by the SoundSignal Committee, if such signals were used in crowded waters danger

S. Ex. 53-62

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