The Portland daily press., 1896-01-06
LAB0Rs COMMENCED.
The Venezuelan Commission Has
Begun to Work.

Justice Brewer Will Be the Chairman.
Washington, January -four men,
bers of the commission appointed by the
President to determine the true division
al line between the territory of the repub-
lie of Venezuela and that Of British Gui-
ana, assembled at the State Department
at ii this morning for discussion of the
great work before them. The absentee
was Mr.. Andrew D. White of New York,
who will be in Washington next Tues
day.
The four commissioners remained with
Secretary Olney for half an hour discuss
ing routine business pertaining TO their
pate in any way in the work of the com
mission. and when the commissioners
emerged from his Office into the diplo-
matio reception room, he remained be-
hind.
Each member of the tribunal with the
exception of Prof. White. received his
formal certificate from the President to-
day. The form of this credential is pc
ouliar and extremely exploit, urging the
commissioners to proceed without delay,
pointing out rules their for government,
ana noting that the report must be made
to the President. The form of the creden-
tial is as follows:
"To the Hon. David j. Brewer:
"You are hereby appointed member
of the comm ission to investigate and
report upon the true location of the
divisional line between the territory OF
British Guiana.
cit il expected that the commission
will avail itself of all posi- BILE sources
Of Information, will apply to the matter
all pertinent rules of municipal and in
ternational law. and will make report to
the President of their conclusions, to-
gether with the evidence and document
submitted by them, W it'll asrlittle delay
as is compatible with the thorough and
impartial consideration of the subject to
be dealt with.
SIN testimony whereof have caused
these letters to be patent and the seal OF
the United States to be hereunto fixed.
"Giyen under my hand at the city of
Washington on the fourth day of Janu-
airy in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-six, and of the
independence Of the United States of
America the l20th.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
"By the President-Riohard Olnsy,
Secretary of State.''
Upon assembling in the diplomatic
room the commissioners Immediately
proceeded to the selection of presiding
officer, who will hereafter be designated
as president. As was expected. Justice
Brewer was chosen unanimously. The
fact that he WAS named first ON the list
of the commission announced by the
President, was the basis for this ex-
pectation, but Justice Brewers high
standing as a jurist is understood to
have been the real reason why he was the
choice Ct his colleagues.
President Brewer proceeded to admins
ter, the oath of office to the other commits
sioners. and then Commissioner Alvey
acted in like capacity for the president.
The form of oath was as follows:
81 do solemnly swear that will sup
port the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and
domestic; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same; that I will take
this obligation freely, without mental
reservation or purpose of evasion. and
that will we'll and faithfully discharge
the duties Of the office of member of the
commission to. investigate and report
upon the location Of the true divisional
line between the territory of the repub-
lie of Venezuela and that of British
Guiana. (SiSnature)