The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-04
ALASKA CASE ON
First Meeting of the Commits
sion Has Been Held.
CHAIRMAN is NAMED
Have a Short Session and
Then Adjourn.

London. Sept S.-Mr. Root and Senator
Lodge left London tonight for Lord Rob
erts' country home in Surrey.
Senator Lodge will go tomorrow to
Paris, where he will join his wife. He
will remain there until September II.
After weekend visit to Lord Alver-
stone Mr.. Root will go to Ledyard Car
ter's place in Scotland. Senator Turner
remains in London.
Messrs. Root and Lodge hope TO sail
for home October 21
London, Sept 3.-The Alaskan bound
airy commissioners held their first meet
ing today in the conference room of the
foreign Office. Prior TO the formal as
sembling, the commissioners met in
their private conference room and Sc
lected Reginald C. Tower of the British
diplomatic service, formerly attached to
the legation at Washington. and recent
ly minister 10 Siam, to be secretary of
the commission.
j. R. Carter, second secretary of the
United States embassy, and Mr.. Pope, a
representative of the Canadian govern
menL, were appointed assistant secre-
taries. Lord Chief Justice Alverstone
was subsequently chosen chairman of the
commission. 1t was announced that oral
arguments would commence September
Is and Lord Alverstone expressed the
hope that they would be finished by Octo-
Der 9.
The conference room of the foreign
Office, where the commissioners met is
the choicest apartment in the British
public buildings. Ii Is a magnificent sa-
Ion, with Gothic ceiling and panelled
walls and has been the scene of many
notable ga.hel pEs 1t was generally
used by the late Lady Salisbury to re-
ceive the guests after the late Lord Sails
burys dinners to the diplomatic corps.
At the end of the room platform had
been constructed and on it was long
desk with a blue covering. Behind this
desk were six comfortable chairs, which
were occupied by the commissioners.
whose international regulations empha-
sized the Importance of the occasion.
Lord Alverstone, after formally an
nouncing that the commission was in
session, stated that he had been selected
appreciated, and asked counsel when
they desired to begin the oral argu-
ments.
Sir Robert B. FinIay, the attorney
general, IN behalf of the British counsel.
suggested that at least two weeks would
be equired for preparation, to which
Judge John NJ. Dickinson. representing
the American counsel. assented. though
he said :iie American counsel would be
ready within a week. Lord Alverstone
asked when the oral arguments would be
finished and Attorney General Finlay
suggested October Is, but his lordship re-
marked that he thought shorter period
was advisable. and October was fixed
upon
The commission decided to sit five days
per week, commencing September 10. and
excluding Saturdays, and To be in session
from II IA II. to 4 T.. m. daily, and grant
ed permission for limited number of
representatives OF the press to attend
the sittings.
In order that the presentation Of the
cases may be exhaustive. it has been ar
ranged that three OF counsel for each
government shall make arguments, the
British opening and being followed by
Americans and British alternately, the
former securing the advantage Of deliv-
ering the closing argument
The commission then removed the in
junction of secrecy on all documents
hitherto exchanged. and the sitting was
adjourned. the commissioners, agents and
counsel proceeding to the quadrangle,
where they were photographed.