Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-21
AT THE WHITE H Gus E
The President Receives No Callers but the
Members of the Cabinet.
The Personnel of the Venezuelan
Commission Being Discussed-Army
and Navy officials Active.

Although there were many callers at the
White House today, the President declined
to receive any one outside of his cabinet.
Messrs. Olney, Carlisle and Herbert each
spent some time with the President. Be-
fore he went to the White House, Secretary
Olney saw Senator Lodge, Representative
McCreary of Kentucky, Minister Romero
and Representative Dinsmore of Arkansas.
There is every indication that the President
Will proceed Immediately to the selection Of
the commission to locate the Venezuelan
boundary line as soon as the act has re-
ceived his Signature.
Men for the Commfssion.
In view of the great Importance of the
work to be discharged by this commission,
the President will endeavor to secure the
services as members Of men of the highest
character and ability.
None of the names he has in mind have
been officially mentioned, nor will they be
until the President has been notified by the
persons selected of their acceptance of the
high commission. 1t is intimated. how
ever, that in view of the fact that the
work may in some respects be of a tech
nical nature there may be on the list the
name of an army officer or naval officer
May Visi, Madrid.
There is also probability that it may
be necessary for the commission to visit
Madrid and The Hague In order to obtain
access TO the ancient. official records of
the Spanish and Dutch claims, inherited by
Great Britain and Venezuela
The State Department has BEEN informed
by some persons of repute who have made
study of the subject that there is ground
for the belief that upon careful scrutiny
the claim of Venezuela to the territory in
dispute on the border will be found to be
without solid foundation, and that the COM
M c will Ia 10 find Crsaof
Britain is in fact really entitled to the
possession of the whole tract claimed by
her, and perhaps even more territory.
will Not Change It's Course.
These simple representations have not,
however, shaken the determination of the
administration to proceed in the course ii
has laid down. In its view, If the decision
is in favor of Great Britain, there will be
q practical demonstration Of the upright
demanding a settlement Of this great ques
ton on the sole basis OF absolute AID eX-
act justice.
Army and Navy officials Active.
Although affairs at the War and Navy
Departments show no unusual activity at
present, it is very evident that the officials
are fully alive to the Importance of being
prepared for any emergency that may
arise out of the present situation. Steps
are being taken quietly for the completion
and repair If naval vessels and the equip
Iaent of troops, etc. While there is gen.
eral impression that the Venezuela bound
ary dispute Will eventually be settled to
the satisfaction of the United States with
out recourse to aims. 1t is also realized
that it is necessary to be prepared to main
tain whatever line of action the progress
of events may entail upon the United
States.
The importance o. increasing our naval
. strength is engaging the earnest consider
alton Of the Secretary of the Navy and his
assistants, and it is said that Congress will
be urged to authorize the construction of
two additional battle ships In order that
the department may at once take advan-
tage of the liberal offers recently made by
Cramp & Co. and other ship building firms.
The plan proposed is to distribute contracts
for battle ships so as to provide for their
construction by the Newport News Com
pany. the Union Iron Works and the
Cramps, under the terms oi the bids re-
Gently submitted by the firms named. The
bids are regarded extremely advan-
tageous to the government, ard their ac-
ceptance would serve to add immensely
10 the strength of the navy without much
loss of time.