Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-19
THE PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS.
The First Business Session Held at the
Wallach Mansion.

The international American congress, aftel
| enjoying the greatest excursion ever given by
| the government of this or any other country,
settled down to work yesterday in the Wallacl
mansion. Secretary Blaine presided.
THE FIRST THING DONE
| in the way of business was the appointment Of
| q committee on credentials and when their
labor was over DIR. Zegarra Of Peru and DR.,
! Guzman of Nicaragua were requested by Presi
| dent Blaine to seat themselves on his right and
left, respectively, to assist him in understand
| ing what the Spaniards said and to enable the
Spaniards to comprehend his (the presidents,
| remarks.
When shall we meet was the first question that
came up for discussion, and if the debate which
ensued is a fair sample Of what is to come the
| congress will argue itself into the balmy days
of next July or August.
The subject was talked over at considerable
length, and it was only closed when Delegate
Henderson moved that the congress adjourn
until Wednesday next at o'clock; the motion
was unanimously agreed to.
COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES.
The report of the committee on rules, Dele
gate Cornelius Bliss chairman, will be taken
up and discussed at Wednesdays meeting. The
document is lengthy, and provides for the APP
pointment of a number of committees as fol
lows:
The first committee is the executive commit
tee, and this is to consist, so the report recon-
mends, of five members. The general business
OF the congress is to be supervised by it. and ii
will also see to the election by lot of presiding
officer for each day. The comfort and con-
venience of the conference will be feature in
this committees duties.
The committee on customs union is to have
five members, and it will report to the confer
ence basis on which such union might be
established.
There are to be three committees on ocean
communication-one each on the Atlantic,
Pacific and the Gulf CT Mexico and the Carri-
bean sea- Transportation of various kinds
Except by railroad) and Geographic communi-
cation will also come within the scope of these
committees, which will consist of five members
each.
There are to be seventeen members of the
committee on railway communication.
The committee on customs regulations will
have five members and the program laid out
for 1t includes a thorough Reconsideration OF
the present diverse regulations.
The committee on port dues will endeavor
to secure n uniformity of consular port light
house, pilot and other har0or dues. 1t will
have five members.
There will be but three members of the COM
mlttee on weights and measures; their mission
IS also to secure uniformity.
The committee on sanitary regulations Is to
have seven members, while the committee on
patents and trade marks numbers three.
The establishment of a general convention
between the countries represented in the con-
ference for the purpose OF discussing cxtradi-
ton is the work which faces the committee on
extraditiou-to consist of three delegates.
The committee on monetary convention will
have seven members and good deal of work
Improving and extending the banking and
credit systems is what the committee on bank
ing-tive mombers-has to talk about
international
have five members. 1t has to make uniform
the rules of private international law affecting
civil and commercial matters and the legisla-
ton of documents
The last committee is one of the most i'm
portance. 1t is to be composed of seven dele
gates and will be known as the committee on
general welfare. 1t is requested toreport some
plan of arbitration for the settlement of dis
agreements that may hereafter arise between
the several nations represented in the confer
ence and to receive, consider and report upon
any topics that may be proposed other than
those included in the invitation issued by the
United States government
OFFICERS APPOINTED.
Secretary Blaine this afternoon appointed
Mr.. William E. Curtis, general executive officer
of the conference, in control of all business
details and all employes-Mr. Blaine's i'm
mediate representative in brief.
Capt John G.. Bourke has been designated
sergeant at arms, with Lieut. H. H. Lemly and
and Mr.. E. W. p Smith as assistants.
Mr.. III. G. Tanner is official stenographer and
Mr.. Warner p. Sutton will be in charge of all
publications.
The John Roach shipbuilding company and
Mr.. w. II. p. Hughes of the Ward line of
steamers have invited the delegates to visit
Chester, Pa, on Saturday to witness the launch
ing of the steamer Orizeba of the Ward line.
MANY will 60