Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-01-07
THE FIRST MEETING
Members of Venezuelan Commission
Given Their Credentials.
Justice Brewer Elected President and
Oath Of Office Administered-Ad-
journed to Meet January u.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Nenezue-
Ian commission met at ii o'clock Sat
urday morning. in the diplomatic room
of the department of state. Nlessrs.
Coudert, Brewer, Alvey and Gilman were
in attendance. Mr.. White was absent,
and is not expected to join the commits
sion until next week.
The four commissioners remained
with Secretary Olncy for half an hour
discussing routine matters pertaining
to their organization. Mr.. Olney will
not participate in any of the work of
the commission, and when the commits
sioners emerged from his Office into the
diplomatic reception room he remained
behind. Each member of the tribunal,
with the exception of Prof. White, re-
ccived his formal certificate of appoint
lnent from the president Saturday.
The form of this credential is pecul-
lar and extremely explicit, urging the
commissioners to proceed without de-
lay, pointing out rules for their govern
ment, and noting that the report must
be made to the president. The sub
stance of the credential is as follows:
Substance Of the Credential.
you are hereby appointed a member of tho
commission to investigate and report upon
the true location Of the divisional line be-
tween the territory of the republic of
Venezuela and that Of British Guiana
1T is expected that the commission will
avail itself Of all possible sources of infor-
nation. will apply to the matter all per-
tinent rules of municipal and International
law and will make report to the president
OF their conclusions together with the evil
dence and documents sumbitted to and
conceded by them, with as little delay as
ia compatible with the thorough and inn
partial consideration Of the subject to be
dealt with
Justice Brewer Elected President.
Upon assembling in the diplomatic
room, the commissioners Immediately
proceeded to the selection of presid-
ing officer, who will hereafter be desig-
rated as the president. AS was expect
ed Justice Brewer was chosen unani-
mously.
President Brewer proceeded to adj
minister the oath of Office to the other
commissioners and then Commissioner
Alvey acted in q like capacity FOR the
president.
A motion to designate clerk to act
for the present temporary session of
the commission was adopted, and Mr..
j. Walter Blanford, private secretary of
the secretary Of state, was accordingly
designated.
On motion of Mr.. Coudert, the matter
of the selection of quarters for the COM
mission was left to President Brewer
and Commissioner Alvey.
Want the Best Map.
Commissioner Gilman moved that an
inquiry be made as to the best map
showing the physical characteristics
of the country in question and whether
it could be reproduced in convenient
form for the use of the commission.
This was seconded by Commissioner
Alvey and adopted, and the commission
authorized Commissioner Gilman to make
such an inquiry.
ent consideration, and on motion of
Commissioner Coudert the commission
adjourned to meet on Saturday next,
January II, at 1890 o'clock a. m. (un-
less the president of the commission
chose to select another date) in the
diplomatic room of the department of
state.
Pay Their Respects to the President.
It was 1880 o'clock when the al.
1ournment took place, and the commits
sion had been in session for lust one
hour. The four commissioners went
back to Secretary Olney's office and