The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-05
CHOSE BREWER FOR CHAIRMAN
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION HOLDS
ITS FIRST MEETING.


Mr.. White the Only Absentee-The
Next Meeting to he Held Next sat-
urday-The Commissioners Have ~
Talk With Secretary OIney Before
Beginning WOrk-PresIdent GiI-
man Authorized to Hunt Up a Good
Map Of the Disputed Territory.
Washington, Jan. 4-Four members Of
the commission appointed by the Presi-
dent Ito determine the true divisional line
between the territory of the republic OF
Venezuela and that of British Guiana"
assembled at the state department at II
O'Clock this morning for discussion. The
absentee was Hon Andrew D. White OF
New York, who will be in Washington
Tuesday.
Frederick Coudert was the first member
OF the committee to appear He reached
the state department shortly after 1870
O'Clock and was shown into Secretary
Olney's office. Fifteen minutes later Jus
tice David J. Brewer and Prof Daniel C..
Gilman arrived together, and Just at IL
O'Clock, Chief Justice Richard Alvey, the
remaining commissioner put in his ap-
pearance, having just arrived from Hag-
erstown. Nd.
The four commissioners remained with
Secretary Olney for half an hour discuss-
ing routine matters pertaining to their
organization. Mr.. Olney will not particle
pate In any way In the work of the COM
mission, and when the commissioners
emerged from his Office into the diDlo-
mauc reception room he remained behind.
Hach member OF the tribunal, with the
exception OF Mr.. White. received his for
mai certlhcate of appointment from the
president to-day. The form Of this cre-
uehual Is peculiar and extremely explicit,
urging the commissioners to proceed with
out delay, pointing out rules for their
government, and noting that the reuorr
must be made TO the President The form
OF this credential is as follows:
TO the Honorable David j. Brewert
You are hereby appointed a member OF
the commission to Investigate and reporr
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 the commission will
aVall itself OF all possible sources of in
Iormauon, VIII apply to the matter all
pertinent rules of municipal and interna-
tional law and will make report to the
President OF their conclusions, together
win the evidence and documents sub
mltted 20 ana considered by them, with
as little delay as is compatible with the
thorough and impartial consideration OF
the subject to be dealt with.
In testimony whereof, 1 have caused
these letters to be patent and the seal
Of the United States to be hereunto ar
fixed
"Given under my hand at the city of
Washington on the fourth day of Janu-
ary in the year OF our Lord one thousand
Independence of the United States OF
America the one hundred and twentieth.
Grover Cleveland.
Secretary OF State
Upon assembling in the Diplomatic room
the commissioners at once proceeded to
the selection OF a presiding officer, who
VIII hereafter be designated as president
As was expected; Justice Brewer was
chosen unanimously.
The fact that he was named first on
the list Of the commission as announced
by the President was the basis for this
expectation, but Justice Brewers high
standing as a jurist is understood to have
been the real reason why he was the
choice Of his colleagues. President Brew-
er proceeded TO administer the oath OF
office TO the other commissioners and then
Commissioner Alvey acted in a like ca
pacity for the president.
A motion to- designate a clerk to act for
the present temporary session Of the COM
mission was adopted and j. Walter Bland-
tord, private secretary of the Secretary
or state, was accordingly designated.
Commissioner Gilman moved that an in
quiry be made as TO the best map show
ing the physical characteristics Of the
country in question, and whether it could
be reproduced in convenient form for tha
use OF the commission. This was second
ed by Commissioner Alvey and adopted
ana the commission authorized Commis-
sionef Gilman to make such an inquiry
This concluded all business for presenr
consideration and on motion of Commis-
sloner Coudert the commission adjourned
TO meet on Saturday next, Jan. H. at 1890
o clock a. m. (unleSs the president Of the
commission chose to select another date)
In the diplomatic room of the department.
of state.
The four commissioners went back to
Secretary Olney's Office and, after telling
him or what they had done walked over
to the white house to pay their respects
to President Cleveland. They spent about
fifteen minutes with Mr.. Cleveland, and
then went to lunch. The commission will
exercise great care In the selection of a
permanent clerk, as this matter is deen1-
ed to be of some Importance. 1t Is un-
derstood that person who speaks and
writes the Dutch, Spanish and English
languages is desired.
PEACE III POSSIBLE.