New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-08
VENEZUELAN COMMISSIONERS AT WORK.
THEY END THE FIRST MONTH OF THEIR OFFICIAL

Ilif1 END iiiL Fii'A 'iO.> II VI iiiEAN VI Fi'i>b
EXIsTENCE-ALI. HARD AT THEIR TASK.
Washington Feb The Venezuelan Commission
turned the first month of its existence at It's regular
weekly meeting to-day. all the members being In
attendance except Frederic X. Coudert. of New
York. Considerable progress has been made in the
preliminary study OF the since the last meeting.
Justice Brewer and Judge Alvey have temporarily
abandoned their court duties and devoted their en-
tire time 70 the accumulation and examination or
evidence. Andrew -. White and Judge Alvey have
pursued Il systematic search through the vast col
lection OF the Congressional Library. developing
expected and valuable side lights the contention
as WEI, as data bearing directly upon the problem
of finding the divisional line. while Justice
Brewer has been working the documents and
books OF reference presented by the State Depart
ment. Secretary Male;-prevost has kept the clerical
staff of the Commission busy all the week in the
volumnOus correspondence with Libraries and in
dvlduals possessing desirable information. and the
card catalogue of references has already reached
healthy proportions
The delay in receiving the Venezuelan case has
caused the Commission some annoyance. but as an
average OF twenty-five days must elapse for reply
to a communication Venezuela and the Commits
slons formal request to Great Britain and Venezuela
was dispatched until January Is, the answer of
the latter Government cannot be expected for an
other week.
Minister Andrade this morning received official
mail from Caracas dated as late as January 80 in
closing Il decree OF January 10 constituting Com
mission to prepare the evidence for transmission.
Up to this time nothing has been heard from Great
Britain. but the members of the Commission incline
the opinion that the report to Parliament will
contain exhaustive exhibition OF the British
argument I'm such shape as to be readily con-
sdered.
Justin Winsor the librarian OF Harvard College
who had been requested by the Commission TO
come to Washington. as an expert. appeared before
that body. and gave much valuable Information on
geographical subjects. lie has been a deep student
In cartograpny and f9r several hours the Commits
Marcus Baker. the principal United States Govern
ment map expert. was also present at to-days ses-
sion and Will follow up the Commissions ideas as
by permission of the Secretary OF the Interior has
been selected for that purpose. The great map
the true divisional line between the Republic OF
Venezuela and British Guiana Is now In course Of
preparation and Will be an elaborate affair 1t
will show only natural features and will be OF
composite nature. It's accuracy being verified by re-
ducing various authentic maps to the same scale
and taking the coinciding data.
York In the aftern but In time to take part In
most OF the proceedings. He viii, return home to-
right but the Other four commissioners will work
In Washington tomorrow and next week, holding
no formal meeting. however. until next Friday.
Senior Andrade the Venezuelan Minister, says
he has received a number Of complaints in the
man representing himself to be the Venezuelan
Minister of War, and claiming to be authorized to
settle the boundary dispute by force Of arms, II
necessary. This persons visiting cards read: den
era. Alberto de Artega de Socarros. Palaclo
Ministerial. Caracas Venezuela" Minister An
drade declares that there Is no such officer OF Ven-
Legation has authority to represent Venezuela ex-
cept In purely commercial matters.