Gen. STRACHEY, Delegate of Great Britain.  Do I understand, sir, that the subject is dropped?

The PRESIDENT.  The Chair has decided that the resolution offered by the Delegate of France is out of order, and unless a difference of opinion is expressed by the Conference, the subject will be dropped.  The Chair wishes to treat with the most distinguished deference the Delegate of France, because we are all most happy to do honor to him in every way.  Does the Chair understand that the Delegate of France appeals from its decision, and wishes to take the sense of the Conference upon it?

Mr. JANSSEN, Delegate of France, replied in the affirmative.

Commodore FRANKLIN, Delegate of Colombia.  Mr. President, I would like hear the resolution read again.  If it be merely a suggestion to consider the subject of the decimal system, I should like to know it.

The vote was then taken upon the appeal of the Delegate of France from the decision of the Chair.

States voting in favor of the appeal: 

  Austria-Hungary, Netherlands,
  Brazil, San Domingo,
  Chili, Spain,
  France, Switzerland,
  Italy, Turkey,
  Japan, Venezuela. 
  Mexico,

States voting against the appeal: 

  Colombia, Hawaii,
  Costa Rica, Liberia,
  Germany, Paraguay,
  Great Britain, United States. 
  Guatemala,

Abstaining from voting: 

  Russia, Sweden.

Ayes, 13; noes, 9; abstained, 2.

The PRESIDENT.  The appeal from the decision of the Chair is sustained, and the proposition offered by the Delegate of France is now before the Conference.  If no delegate wishes to speak upon the resolution, the vote will be taken.

Mr. JANSSEN, Delegate of France.  Mr. President, before the definitive vote I desire to again call my colleague’s attention to the fact that it is a question here of the much-needed extension of the decimal system, an extension desired by a large number of the highest scientific authorities and of the most distinguished observers.  As I said only a moment ago, the Congress at Rome, whose high authority in the matters which have occupied us is acknowledged, was a still higher authority as to astronomy, geodesy, topography; that is to say, in the domain to which our proposition relates.  At Rome a wish, similar to that which we ask you to formulate, was expressed.  Besides, if we observe that it is a question here only of expressing the desire that studies should be resumed upon the matter in question, is there anyone among us who would wish to oppose the liberal proposition which prejudges nothing in the solution of the question, but which will surely lead to important progress.  I do not doubt, then, that all our colleagues will desire to unite in a resolution, which by its object and by the manner in which it is expressed, ought, it appears to me, to unite the suffrages of all.