Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09
THE VENEZUELAN COMMISSION
Frs CHOSEN BY CLEVELAND.
A VERY NOTABLE QUINTET
Jurists, Diplomats, Educators and
Writers of High Sanding Selected
for a Delicate and Momentous Mis-
sion-Brewer Heads the List-First
Meeting Saturday.
3.-PreSident

ment Of the Venezuelan boundary COM
mission, as follows: David !. Brewer,
Of Kansas, justice United States su-
preme court; Richard H. Alvey, of
Maryland, chief justice of the court of
appeals of the District of Columbia:
Andrew D. White, Of New York; Fred
erick R. COudert, of New York; Daniel
c Gilman, of Maryland. The commits
sion is regarded here as very salts
factory one, whose opinions and con-
illusions will be received by the Amer
lean public with that confidence which
the standing Of the mem bers of the
commission in the public eye inspires
Justice Brewer is a republican in pol
itics and about IS years Of age. He
is a graduate Of Yale and has spent
considerable time in the practice of his
profession in Kansas, where he filled a
number Of judicial offices. In 1884 he
was appointed circuit court judge Of
the United States for the Sth district
and was appointed associate justice of
the supreme court in Dc G mber, 1889,
by President Harrison.
Richard H. Alvey is democrat in
politics and man of married legal
ability. 1t was the great reputation
he gained as judge in the Maryland
counts which led President Cleveland
in the absence of political influence on
Judge Alvey's part to appoint him to
the position of justice of the court of
appeals of the District of Columbia.
He is about so years old.
Andrew D. White is a republican in
politics. He is one of the best-knoWn
men of letters in this country, ana per-
haps in the world, is an author and
historian and has been the president
of Cornell university. Mr.. White was
appointed minister to Russia by Presi-
dent Hararison and this position he
held through HarrisOn's administration
and for a year or more during Mr.
Clevelands administration.
Friedrich R. Coudert is a democrat
and is one of the best-kpown members
Of the bar in New York. Mr.. Coudert
was one of the counsel for the United
States on the Boring sea commission
and in that capacity made one of the
most eloquent and effective speeches
delivered in behalf of the American
contentious.
The last named member of the COM
mission, Daniel G. Gilman, president
of Johns Hopkins university is well
known as an authority on international
law. He was at one time president of
the University of California, and was
later called to take up the work of the
organization of the university of which
he is now at the head. One of his
principal acquisitions is the mastery Of
the science of physical geography, he
having studied in Germany under a
prominent instructor and in this coun-
try under Guyot He is the author of
a life of President Monroe. Mr.. Gill
man has never figured prominently in
politics. At the white house it is stat,
ed that he mas no politics, but his pro-
clivities are understood to be republi-
can The two great parties, it will be
seen, are equally represented on the
commission, with the fifth member
having no outspoken politics.
The appointments are made in COM
pliance with a resolution Of congress
passed at the request of President
Cleveland, and the work Of the COM
missioners will be to examine and col
/ lect evidence with view to determin-
ing the true divisional line between
Venezuela and British Guiana. It has
S100 900 to spend. The conclusions
reached by the commission will be re-
ported to the president for his infor-
.1ation in connection with any
further representations and communi-
cations that may be made by this gov
eminent to Great Britain in connection
! with the boundary-line dispute be-
tween the latter country and Ven
ezuela.
Justic Brewer said that he presumed
the commission would begin an in
vestigation in this city, where much
necessary information is at hand. Ven
ezuela and England may be asked to
present their respective cases; ard
when ali evidence obtainable here is
in hand question may arise as to the
Gesirability of verifying certain fea-
lures of it by personally viewing the
locality of contention along the Gui-
ana Venezuelan line. The investiga-
ton will probably not begin in earnest
before February /.
1t is authoritatively stated on behalf
of the administration that the Ven
ezuelan commission will be absolute
master of it's own procedure, determ-
ming for itself whether or not it will
visit foreign countries, what class of
evidence shall be taken, and how the
interested governments may be repre-
scented before it. This is deemed nee
essary to give the findings Of the COM
mission due weight and respect among
other nations. Our government will
occupy a state of exact neutrality in
the proceeding. 1t will furnish 9 war
ship to carry the commission
wherever it desires and will supply
any records in its possession called
for: but will not take sides as to the
controversy nor undertake to present
the Venezuelan case, nor even to en-
deavor to offset any evidence which
leans toward the British contention.
The latest expectations are that the
first meeting Of the commission will
be at the state department next Satur-
day All the members Of the body eX-
cept Commissioner White have signi-
fed their intention to be here by
that time. 1t is thought that Justice
PpoTz-nr will bo oh q irD1aT,