The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
First Meeting Of the boundary Fixers
Held I'm the Diplomatic Room OF
the state Department..
CONFERENCE WITH OLNEY
NATURE OF THE WORK DEFINED IN
THE COMMISSIONS TO MEMBERS.
Sentiments Of yenexue1ans Expressed
I'm a Letter 40 President Cleveland
speech by Erastus Wiman.

WASHINGTON. Jan 4-The members of
the Venezuelan Commission, Mr.. White
alone being absent were at the State De-
partment to-day aad had an important con-
ference with Secretary Olney. Mr.. Coudert
was the first member OF the commission TO
appear at the State Department to-day. He
arrived about half-past 10 O'Clock. accom-
panied by his son, and had a short chat
with Assistant Secretary Uhl, who showed
him into Secretary Olney's office. About
fifteen minutes later Justice Brewer and
Mr.. Gilman appeared. and were admitted at
once TO see Secretary Olney. Judge Alvey
was the last member 10 come TO the depart
ment. The NTH member. Mr.. White. has
not yet reached Washington. After ex-
changing greetings with the Secretary and
with one another. Secretary Olney present.
ed 10 each member a commission. OF which
the following is a representative copy:
ITO the Hon. David J. Brewer:
You are hereby appointed a member of
The commission TO investigate and report
on the true location of the divisional line
between the territory OF the republic of
Vehezuela and that OF British Guiana. II
Is expected that the commission Will avail
itself or all possible sources Of information,
VIII apply TO the matter all pertinent rules
VI lluUIcllii ana international ana Will
make report 10 the President of its con-
customs. together with the evidence and
documents submitted to and considered by
II, with az little delay as is compatible with
the thorough and impartial 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 Attn day OF January, in
the year or our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and ninety-s.x, and of the indie
pendence OF the United States OF America
the one hundred and twentieth:
BY the President:
RICHARD OLNEY, Secretary of State"
The members Of the commission then en-
tered on a consultation with Secretary Oh
ney lasting a little over half an hour. prob
ably with view TO securing a suitable
meeting place and reaching an understand
ing as to what clerical and expert assist
ance would be necessary. The language of
the commissions issued to the members so
clearly. yet succinctly. defines the nature of
the task set for them that it left little to
be said by Secretary Olney on. this point,
and the most important feature of his re-
marks was his explanation OF the desire
OF the government that the commission
should regard itself entirely independent
OF control in the pursuance OF its investi-
cations 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 pre-
liminary meeting, Secretary Olney tender
ing the service of his own private secretary,
Mr.. Blandford, to act recording secre-
tary until other provision is made. The
session lasted about an hour, and at its
conclusion formal statement of the pro-
ceedinEs so far as it was deemed proper
to make public was given out as follows:
Justice Brewer was unanimously elected
president or the commission and proceeded
to administer to Messrs. Alvey, Coudert
and Gilman the following oath: Il -,
United States at ~, do solemnly swear
that / will support and defend the Con
stitution of the United States of America
against all enemies. foreign and domestic;
that / will bear true faith and allegiance
20 the same; that L take this obligation
pose OF evasion, and that 1 viii We'll and
faithfully discharge the duties OF the office
gate and report on the location Of the
divisional Inc between the territory of the
republic of Venezuela and that Of British
Commissioner Alvey then in turn admin
tstered the same oath TO President Brewer
1t was moved and seconded that the presi-
dent designate clerk TO act for the pres
ent session of the commission. and Walter
Blandford was appointed in that capacity.
Commissioner Coudert moved that the mat
ter OF the selection OF quarters for the
commission be left 10 President Brewer and
Commissioner Alvey, which motion was
agreed 10. Commissioner Gilman moved
that an inquiry be made as TO the best map,
showing the physical characteristics of the
country in question, and whether IL could
be reproduced in convenient form for the
use OF the commission. This motion was
also agreed TO. Commissioner Gilman was
authorized to make the inquiry. The COM
mission then. on motion of Commissioner
n or 70
Saturday next at 1870 oclock unless the
while.
Commissioner White. who was expected to
arrive in Washington next Monday, will be
notified so that he may defer his coming
until the next meeting day. The commits
sioners. after adjournment. proceeded in
body TO the White House and paid their
respects 10 the President. II appears that
IN the matter OF selecting assistants and Of
ficers the commission will proceed with
great circumspection. and particularly in
the selection of a secretary. for which place
mentioned.
The question Of going abroad was dis
cusSed informally by the commissioners and
the suggestion came from one OF the COM
missioners that 1t might be possible TO send
the secretary OF the commission abroad to
pursue such lines of verifcation were
desired. IL was felt. however, that the
work had not advanced sufficiently TO per-
nit any definite talk the subject. That
Secretary Olney especially wanted TO i'm
press on the commission that the body was
entirely independent OF the State Depart
ment was shown when he was asked TO
name the officers thus relieving the COM
mission from the annoyance Of patronage
He declined. saying he preferred to have
the commission choose its own officers and
quarters and direct all its affairs without
reliance on the State Department.
The call of the commissioners on the
President was entirely formal and brought
out no expressions beyond the usual greet
ings. The President refrained from making
any reference to the plans OF the commits
sion Mr.. CoIdert returned to New York
ard Mr.. Gilman TO Baltimore during the
afternoon. Definite hours for the daily
meetings Of the commission will he fixed,
and when this is done all the commissioners
will take up their residence here.
ERAsTUs wIMAN SPEAKS.