The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Oberly, of Illinois:

Resolved, "That the advisability of forming an inter-State Board of Commissioners be, and the same is hereby, referred to the committee of five appointed to report an order of business."

After discussion by Commissioners Oberly, Bailey, Kinsley, Woodruff, of Iowa, and Marmaduke, the resolution was adopted.

At the evening session, the Committee on the Order of Business reported through the Chairman, Commissioner Williams, as follows: The Committee on subjects for consideration by the Convention, and order of business, would respectfully report, that in the opinion of your Committee, the questions to be considered should be limited. in number, and such as are of the greatest vital importance to perfect the management of railroad corporations in the interest of the producer and shipper, and the stock and bondholders of such corporations. That in that view your Committee would recommend the consideration of the following questions, and in the following order.

viz.:

1st. The desirability of an uniform system of returns and reports in all the States.

2d. The desirability of an uniform system of accounts being kept by all railroad corporations to perfect and render an uniform system of returns and reports practicable and correct; and herewith submit. the following resolution:

WHEREAS, It is of the utmost importance to the material interests of the country, as well as the officials and holders of the securities of the railroad corporations, that the returns and reports of those corporations should fairly and correctly represent their doings and financial standing;

AND WHEREAS, This result can only be secured through a general uniformity in the methods in which the books of the corporations are kept, from which the returns are drawn;

AND WHEREAS, Finally, this result can best be arrived at through the voluntary co-operation of the representatives of those corporations; therefore,

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to consider this subject, and to mature a form of returns and system of uniform railroad bookkeeping, so far as the same is practicable, and that the said committee be instructed to invite the co-operation of the leading railroad accountants of the country in the performance of this duty, and that they report at the next meeting of this Convention.

3d. The desirability of an uniform system of taxation of railroad property and franchises; and herewith submit the following resolution:

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to examine into and report the methods of taxation as respects railroads and railroad securities now in use in the various States of the Union, as well as in foreign countries; and, further, to report a plan for an equitable and uniform system for such taxation at the next meeting of this Convention.

4th. On the subject of a permanent organization of this Convention, the opinion is that the object sought to be obtained by the resolution referred to can be secured by the appointment of an Executive Committee, authorized to call the Convention into session whenever, in the opinion of said committee, a necessity for the meeting of the Convention exists; and submit herewith the following resolution:

Resolved, That an Executive Committee of three be appointed by the Chair, and that said committee be, and are hereby, authorized to fix the place of any future Convention, and to call it at such times as may be fixed by the Convention, or at any time when, in the opinion of the committee, a necessity for a meeting of the Convention exists.

Commissioner Williams moved an adoption of the order of business, which was carried.

The discussion of the resolutions reported by the committee was opened by Commissioner Adams, who offered an amendment to the first resolution, as follows: After the words "are instructed to invite," strike out all the remainder and add the following: "Messrs. M. M. Kirkman of Illinois, W. P. Shinn of Pennsylvania, J. B. Wilbur of Massachusetts, C. P. Leland of Ohio, and Joseph S. Ford of Missouri, as a Committee of representative professional railroad accountants of the country, to cooperate with and advise with them in the performance of their duty."

Resolved, That the foregoing Committee be instructed to report at the next meeting of this Convention.

Commissioner Williams moved to amend the amendment by inserting after the words "of Missouri," the words "and such others as to the Committee may seem proper."

Commission Adams, with the consent of the Convention, accepted the amendment, and the resolution as amended was adopted.

The second resolution in the Committee's report was adopted on motion of Commissioner Turner.

The third resolution was adopted without debate.

Commissioner Oberly moved that a committee of five, to consist of the Chairman of the Convention and the Chairman of the Committee on Business, with three others, be appointed by the chair, to select the committees authorized by the resolutions.

Which was agreed to.

The chair appointed the Commitee as follows: Commissioners Walker, Williams, Adams, Jr., Oberly, and Marmaduke.

The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Marmaduke:

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to consider the subject of the true status of the railroad corporations in the body politic, and report the result of their investigations of this subject to the next meeting of this Convention.

Pending the discussion, the Convention adjourned until Wednesday forenoon.

WEDNESDAY'S SESSION.

Convention called to order by the Chairman, and the reading of the journal was dispensed with.

Commissioner' Marmaduke's resolution was adopted, and in accordance therewith the following Committee was appointed by the Chair: Commissioners Marmaduke, Smith, Carter and Bailey, and Theophilus H. French.

Commissioner Oberly offered the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, Transportation companies are largely dependent for continuous reductions in rates of fare and freight upon the use of improvements in operating devices, etc.

WHEREAS, The public sentiment in this regard, as well as the special facts that bave come to our notice, demonstrate that the rules of the patent law, as now applied, have worked hardships alike to the transportation companies and the public; therefore,

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, Congress should give to the revision of the patent laws very early consideration, and should enact as soon as practicable such amendments as shall seem just and proper.

Resolved, That the Secretary of this Convention forward a copy hereof to the Chairman of the Patent Committees of the two houses of Congress.

The debate was opened by Commissioner Oberly, who moved that Mr. Raymond, of Chicago, be permitted to speak to the resolution; this privilege being granted, Mr. Raymond was introduced and addressed

the Convention, followed by Commissioners Oberly, Briggs, and Adams, who moved to lay the resolution on the table. This motion was withdrawn to enable Commissioner Oberly to withdraw the resolution, which, with the consent of the Convention, he did.

The Committee to select Standing Committees reported the following named Commissioners, which selections were confirmed by the Convention.

On Book-keeping and Accounts-Geo. M. Woodruff of Connecticut, Geo. M. Bogue of Illinois, Thomas H. Carter of Virginia, M. C. Woodruff of Iowa, and A. J. Turner of Wisconsin.

On Taxation-C. F. Adams, Jr., of Massachusetts, W. B. Williams of Michigan, and J. H. Oberly of Illinois.

Executive Committee-A. D. Briggs, of Massachusetts, James Harding of Missouri, and William Bell, Jr., of Ohio.

Mr. Woodruff of Connecticut moved the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That Joseph H. Goodspeed, Examiner of Accounts for the Board of Railroad Commisssoners for the State of Massachusetts, be, and he is hereby appointed Secretary of the Committee on Book-keeping and Accounts.

Carried.

Communications from M. M. Green, President of the Columbus & Toledo and Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroads, and J. B. Peters, Superintendent of the Scioto Valley Railroad, tendering courtesies, were received and read.

Commissioner Adams of Massachusetts introduced the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of the Convention be tendered to M. M. Green, President of the Hocking Valley and the Columbus and Toledo Railroads, and to J. B. Peters, Superintendent of the Scioto Valley Railroad, for the courtesies extended to its members, which their necessary engagements prevent them accepting.

Commissioner Bogue of Illinois introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are due and are hereby extended to William Bell, Jr., Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs of Ohio, for his kindness and courtesy in the entertainment of this Convention.

After returning thanks to the Chairman and Secretaries for the faithful discharge of their duties, Commissioner Carter of Virginia offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That this Convention do now adjourn to meet the second Tuesday in June next, at such place as the Executive Committee may indicate.

Carried.

Convention declared adjourned.