Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-24
SE ARCHING FOR SCHOLARS.
In Appointing the Venezuelan Commission President Cleveland Will Not Select
 Professional Politicians.

Washington, Dec. 25.-The Venezue- Ian boundary commission will probably not be announced by President Cleveland until the latter part of this week or the first of next week. It is to consist most likely of three members. The presidents aim is to put on the commission only such men as will inspire respect and con- fidence on both sides of the Atlantic and whose requirements will be acknowl- edged by the world of statesmanship, science and letters. In making the se- lections men with whom politics Is sim ply an incident and not their profession will be preferred, and one close to the president is authority for the statement that probably not a single name so far mentioned will be found on the commits sion. The president, it Is known, is searching the universities and colleges of this country for suitable men. The high standard which the president has set for the commission restricts the cir cle from which the members can be cho- sen and in this sense exemplifies his work. Secretary Olney is in daily con- sultation with the president on the mat ter.
 The comptroller of the currency has declared fifth dividend of 0,per cent to the creditors of the National bank of Knoxville, Tenn.
 It is learned that the suggestions made to Secretary Herbert that he recommend a congressional appropriation for the construction of four more battleships of the Kearsarge type, in order that con- tracts for their construction might be awarded to the three bidders for build ing the two authorized by the last con- gress and thus secure advantage of the economical proposals made were sub mitted informally eby members of the board of bureau chiefs and were not em- bodied in their formal report, the decis- ion having been reached that it was out side the province of the board to make such recommends tions officially. The board was mere called upon to examine and report upon the bids offered. Never theess, the suggestions will have all the force of a formal report, in which form they would probably have been embodied if consistent with the functions of the board.
 The recommendation of the board as such when in the formal report is that the bids of the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock company for constructing the Kearsarge and her mate on plans prepared by the navy de- partment be accepted; provided, how ever that the Union Iron works of San Francisco be given the opportunity of scaling it's bid to figure acceptable to the secretary, in which event the New port News company be given the con- tract for building one ship and the Un- ion Iron works the contract for the other. In the informal, but nevertheless semi official, manner previously noted the sec retary is urged to consider the report and its recommendation as contingent only on his rejection of the plan proposed for securing six battleships in place of two. How much this radical proposi- tion has impressed the secretary cannot be ascertained, as he has given no hint of his views on the matter. The sugges- tion. however, will undoubtedly be given consideration by the president and the cabinet before MT. Herbert acts, should he be inclined to look upon it favorably