Commander SAMPSON, Delegate of the United States, then offered the following resolution: 

     “Resolved, That the meetings of this Congress be open to
     interested visitors.”

Mr. LEFAIVRE, Delegate of France, stated that he considered this a subject of grave importance; that this was an official and confidential body; scientific, it was true, but also diplomatic; that it was empowered to confer about matters with which the general public have now nothing to do; that to admit the public to the meetings would destroy their privacy and subject the Conference to the influence of an outside pressure which might prove very prejudicial to its proceedings, and that he would object to this resolution absolutely.

No further discussion being had, the PRESIDENT, after a viva voce vote of doubtful result, ordered the roll to be called, when the following States voted in the affirmative: 

  Colombia, Costa Rica,
  Guatemala, Paraguay,
  Salvador, Spain. 
  Venezuela,

  And the following States in the negative.

Austria-Hungary,        Brazil,
France,                 Germany,
Great Britain,          Hawaii,
Italy,                  Japan,
Mexico,                 Russia,
San Domingo,            Sweden,
Switzerland,            United States.

The PRESIDENT then announced that the ayes were 7 and the noes 14, and that the resolution was therefore lost.

The PRESIDENT then said that there would doubtless be some preliminary general discussion on the subject before the Conference, and suggested that if Delegates desired to be heard upon the subject it would be expedient to give an intimation to the Secretary.

Prof.  ABBE, Delegate of the United States, then said:  I have been requested to present to the Conference the communication that I hold in my hand, and in doing so wish to offer the following resolution: 

     “Whereas several persons desire to submit to this Conference
     inventions, devices, and systems of universal time: 
     therefore,

     “Resolved, That the Conference will acknowledge the
     receipt of such communications, but will abstain from any
     expression of opinion as to their respective merits.”

Professor ADAMS, Delegate of Great Britain, said that the Conference should be very cautious in admitting the devices and schemes of people who have no connection with this body; that there are, no doubt, many inventors and many people who have plans and schemes which they wish to press upon the Conference, and that it was probable that the Conference would be subjected to very great inconvenience if they took upon themselves even the burden of acknowledging the receipt of these communications.

The PRESIDENT stated that he had received several Communions of this character, one proposing that Jerusalem should be taken as the prime meridian.