The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-05
THE LARGEST GRGyLAT10M OFF AMY NORTH GARQlMA DAMY
HOLD THEIR FIRST MEETING.
Formal Organization of the
Venezuelan Commission.
Justice Brewer Elected President
Conference With Secretary Oiney
Call at the White House.

Conference With Secretary OIney
Call at the White House.
Washington, Jan. 1.-The members
of the Venezuelan Commission, Mr..
White alone being absent. were at the
State Department to-day and had an
important conference with Secretary
Olnev. After exchanging greetings
with the Secretary and with one am
other. Secretary Olney presented to
each member a commission OF which
the following is a representative copy:
'sro the Honorable David j. Brewer:
.sYou are hereby appointed member
of the commission to investigate ana
report upon the true location Of the
divisional line between the territory
of the Republic of Venezuela and that
of British Guiana.
1T is expected that that commission
viii avail itself of ali possible sources
of information, will apply to the mat
ter all pertinent rules OF mnnlc'p's ana
international law, and will make re-
mort TO the President of their conclu-
sions, together with the evidence and
documents submitted to and consid-
cred by them with as little delay as is
compatible with the thorough and i'm
martial consideration of the subject to
be dealt with.
.'In testimony whereof, have caused
these letters to be patent and the seal
OF the United States TO be hereunto
affixed.
Given under my hand, at the. City OF
Washington. on the fourth day OF
January. in the wear of our Lord, one
thousand. eight hundred and nine
six, and OF the independence OF the
United States OF America, the one
hundred and twentieth.
"GRONER CLEVELAND.
'.By the President:
ORCHARD OLNEI,
Secretary OF State.
The members OF the commission
then entered upon consultation with
Secretary Olney lasting little over an
hour. probably with view to securing
a suitable meeting place and reaching
an understanding as to what clerical
and expert assistance would be neces-
sary. The language Of the commits
sions issued TO the members, 50 clearly
The task set for them, that il left little
TO be said by Secretary Olney on this
point and the most important feature
of his remarks was his explanation OF
the desire Of the government that the
commission should regard itself as en-
tirely independent Of control in the
pursuance OF it's Investigations, and as
master of it's own procedure AT all
times.
At the conclusion of the conference
with Secretary Olney the commission
retired to the diplomatic room to hold
the first preliminary meeting, Secreta-
ry 0iney rendering the services OF his
own Private Secretary Mr.. Blandford
To act as recording secretary until
other provision Is made.
The session lasted an hour and at its
conclusion, a formal statement OF the
proceedings, so far as il was deemed
proper to make public was given out
as follows:
Justice Brewer was unanimously
elected President Of the Commission
and proceeded to administer to Messrs.
Alvey, Coudert and Gilman the oath of
Office.
Commissioner Alvey then in turn adj
ministered the oath TO President
Brewer. II was moved and seconded
that the President designate q clerk
to act for the present session of the
commission, and Walter Blandford
was appointed in that capacity.
Commissioned Coudert moved that the
matter Of the selection Of quarters for
the commission be left 10 President
Brewer and Commissioner Alvey,
which was agreed 70.
Commissioner Gilman moved that IN
inquiry be made as to the best map
showing the PHYSICAL characteristics
Of the country In question andwhether
it could he reproduced IN convenient
form for use Of the commission. Jh1s
motion also was agreed To-
Commissioner Gilman was authori-
zed to make the inquiry. The commits
sion then, upon motion Of Commits
sioner Coudert. adjourned ut 1880
O'Clock to meet Saturday next at i0;30,
unless the President shall designate
another day meanwhile.
Commissioner White, Who vas e&-
pccfed 10 arrive in Washington next
Monday viii bc notified 50 that he may
defer his coming until the next meet
ing day.
The Commission after adjournment
proceeded in body 10 the White
House and paid their respects 70 'resi-
dent Cleveland. It appears that IN the
matter Of selecting assistants and OH
GERS. the Commission will proceed with
great circumspection and particularly
in the selection Of n secretary, Tor
which place some names Of prominent
persons have been mentioned
MGR. SATOLLPS ELEVATION.