Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-01-08
COMMISSION MEETS.
Justice Brewer the Unanimous
Choice for Pres ident of
the Board.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 4.-The mem
! bers of the Venezuelan commission, Mr..
White alone being absent, were at the
state department today and had an n
portant conference with Secrets. Y
Olney.
Mr.. Coudert was the first member of
the commission to appear. He arrived
about 1920 o'clock, accompanied by his
son, and had a short talk with Assist
ant Secretary Uhl, who showed him into
Secretary Olney's Office. About fifteen
minutes later Justic Brewer and Mr..
Gilman appeared and were admitted at
once to see Secretary Olney. Judge
Away was the last member to come to
the department. The fifth member, Mr..
/ White, has not yet reached Washington.
After exchanging greetings with the
secretary and with one another, Secre-
tary Olney presented to. each member
commission of which the following is
a representative copy:
To the Hon. David j. Brewer: You are
hereby appointed member of the commits
| sion to investigate and report upon the
true loca tion of the divisional line between
the territory of the republic of Venezuela
and that Of British Guiana.
1t is expected that the commission will
/ evail itself of all possible sources Of in
formation, will apply to the matter all
! pertinent rules Of municipal and interna-
tiOnal law, and will make a report to the
| PreSlQo0C OF their CONCLUSIONS, IOSeCnef
with the evidence and documents submitted
! to be considered by them, with as little de-
! lay as compatible with the thorough and
| impartial consideration of the subject to be
| dealt with.
| In testimony whereof, I have caused this
letter 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 4th day of January, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and ninety-six, and of the indie
/ npndp0cQ States America
By the President
Richard Olney. Secretary of State
The members of the commission then
entered upon a consultation with Secre-
tary Olney lasting a little over half an
hour, probably with a view to securing
a suitable meeting place and reaching
an understanding as to what clerical and
expert assistance would be necessary.
The language Of the commission issued
to the members so clearly yet succinctly
defined the nature of the task set for
them that it left little to be said by Secre-
airy Olney on this point, and the most
important feature of his remarks was
the explanation of the desire of the gov
eminent that the commission should re-
gard itself as entirely Independent of
control in the pursuance of its investga-
tons and as master of its own procedure
at all times.
At the conclusion of the conference
with Secretary Olney the commission re-
tired to a diplomatic room to hold the
first preliminary meeting, Secretary Oh
ney rendering the services Of his own pri-
vate secretary, Mr.. Blandford, to act as
recording secretary until other provision
The session lasted about an hour and
at its conclusion a formal statement of
the proceedings, so far as it was deemed
proper to make public, was given out as
! follows:
The Oath of Office.
Justice Brewer was unanimously elect
ed president of the commission and pro-
ceeded to administer to Messrs. Alvey,
Coudert and Gilman the following oath:
|. -2 of E. The United }sR {pfdn q
-, do soemnly swear that I viii. sup
port and defend the constitution Of the
United States of America against all enc,
mics, foreign and domestic, and that Will
bear through faith allegiance to the same;
that l take this obligation freely, without
mental reservation or 81, purpose Of evasion ION
charge the duties of the Office of member of
the commission to investigate and report
upon the location of f. the ne desGna Inc be-
zuela and that of British Guiana, etc.
Commissioner Alvey then in turn adj
ministered the same oath to President
Brewer. It was moved and seconded
that the president designate clerk to
act for the present session of the COM
pointed in that capacity. Commissioner
Coudert moved that the matter Of the
selection of quarters for the commission
be left to President Brewer and Com
missioner Alvey, which motion was
agreed to. Commissioner Gilman moved
that an inquiry be made as to the best
map showing physical charac teristics Of
the country in question and which should
be reproduced in a convenient form for
the use of the commission. This motion
was also agreed to. Commissioner Gil
man was authorized to make the inquiry.
The commission then, upon motion of
Commissioner Coudert, adjourned at 80
o'clock, to meet Saturday next at 1870
o'clock, unles the president shall desig-
nate another day meanwhile.
Commissioner White, who was expect
ed to arrive in Washington next Monday,
will be notified so that he may defer his
coming until next meeting day.
The commission, after adjourning, pro-
ceeded in body to the white house and
paid their respects to the President. It
appears that in the mater of selecting
assistants and officers the commission
will proceed with great circumspection,
and particularly in the selection of a sec
rotary for which place some names of
prominent persons have been mentioned.