The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-05
FIRST PRELIMINARY MEETING HELD
Justice Brewer Unanimously Elected
President Of the Commission.
THEY ALL TAKE THE OATH
An Inquiry as to the Best Map Sussssts1
Statement Of the Mint
Director. X

Washington. January l-rhs membsto
OF the Venezuelan commission, Mr.. white
alone being absent. were at the state a..
partment today and had an important cou-a
ference with Secretary Olney. The secre-
tary presented each member with a COM
mission. The important feature Of Hecre-
tary olney's remarks was the explanation
OF the desire OF the government that the
commission should regard itself AZ en-
tirely independent of control In the pur-s
suancc of Its Investigations, and rs mas
ter Of its own procedure at all tines..
AT the conclusion OF the conference With
Secretary clncy. the commission retired
to the diplomatic room to hold tho first
preliminary meeting. The session lasted
about an hour and at its conclusion
formal statement OF the proceedings. 50
far as II was deemed proper to mako pub
lie. was given out as follows:
Justice Brewer was unanimously elected
president of the commission and proceed.
ed to administer to Messrs. Alvey, Could
crt and Gilman the following oath:
- - - of - 49,. appointed -
OF the United States. at - ----
----. do sclemnly swear that will support
and defend the constitution OF the United
States OF America against all enemies.
foreign and domestic that will boar
true faith and allegiance to same; that I
take this obligation freely. without mental
reservation or purpose of evasion and thnt
| Will faithfully discharge the duties OF
the office OF member of the commission to
investigate and report upon the location
of the divisional line between the territory
OF tho Republic of Venezuela and that Or
British Guiana, etc"
Commissioner Alvey then In turn adj
minlstered tho same oath to President
Brewer It was moved and seconded thnt
the president designate q clerk to act Tor
the rresent session of the commission and
Walter Blnndford was appointed In that
capacity,
Commissioner Coudcrt moved that the
matter, OF selection OF quarters for the
commission be left TO President Brewer
and Commissioner Alvey. which moton
was agreed to.
Commissioner Gilman moved that an
inquiry be madc as TO the best map, SHOW
ing the physical characteristics OF inc
country In question and whether 1t could
be reproduced in convenient form Tor
the use of the commission. This motion
was also agreed 10.
Commissioner Gilman was authorized 10
make the inquiry
The commission. then on motion OF
Commissioner Coudert, adjourned ut $50
To meet Saturday next AT 1890 unless the
president shall designate another day
meanwhile.
It appears that in the matter OF select
ing assistants and officers the commits
sIoners will proceed with great circum-
spectlon In the selection Of secretery,
for which place some prominent persons
have been mentioned. The question OF
going abroad was discussed informally ny
the commissioners and the SUGGESTION
came from one of the commissioners that
{, nigh, be possible to send the secretary
nj The commission abroad to pursue sueh
lines Of veriiication as were desired. ~
was felt. however. that the work had not
advanced sufficiently TO admit denns'e,
talk on the subject, That Secretary Oiney
especially wanted to impress upon my
commission that tho body was enttrely
,paependent of the state department was
shown when he was asked to name the
ooicers thus relieving the commission
from the annoyance Of patronage re o.
clined. saying he preferred to have tne
commission choose its own officers ano
quarters and direct all its own omar
Without reliance on the state Department.
The call of the commissioners on ING
president was entirely informal en1
brought out no expression beyond ny
usual greetings. ~.
Definite hours for the meeting OF W.
commission will be fixed and when tni1
Il done all the commissioners VIII take
up residence here n