Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-07
v[NEZU[LAS TROUBLES
DUE 70 CASTRO'S IYRANY,
DISREGARD'S ALL LAW AND MOVES
AS HIS DESIRE FOR POWER
DICTATES.
ANY CONCESSIONS ANNULLED..
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT INFLICTED
WITHOUT REGARD FOR
THE LAW.

NEW YORK, April 6.-The Tribune
this morning contains a long article
purporting to give a clear account OF
the circumstances responsible for the
strained relations between the United
States and Venezuela 1t comes from
a writer in New York not connected
with the paper.
1t is learned Castro is revising the
constitution 70 suit his revolutionary
policy. He called Congress together
February 20, whose members are all
of his choosing. Their first act was
to pass an amendment extending the
term of the President from four years
to six, without any pretension of con-
sulting the people.
Castro has been dictators ever since
he drove President Andrade by force
OF arms from Venezuelas executive
mansion, IS months ago. He has yet
to serve the remaining year of An
drade's term. Then, according to his
revision of the constitution, he will
enjoy six more years in Office.
In Venezuela there is no such thing
as capital punishment. Penalties stop
at Imprisonment for 10 years. But
General Acosta, friend of Andrade, and
enemy of Castro, who had dared to take
up arms against Castro and was the
head of the revolutionary party in the
field, was put to death.
In Venezuela now, it is asserted,
government dignitaries, the justices of
the courts, local officials in the various
cities and States retain their places as
long as they obey without question, the
orders of Castro.
In the first month of his presidency,
Castro called to his presence wealthy
representative merchants and bank
ers, and informed them that they must
contribute to the support of the govern
ment. He fixed the sum which each
should pay from $4,000 to 100000 A
few objected and found themselves
conveyed to the Rotunda, the worst
prison in Cara :.
Another method for raising money is
charging business men with 'conspir-
ing againse the government" and con-
fiscating their property. Not long ago
a German merchant arrived at Bar
celona from Caracas to collect money
due on various enterprises in which
he was interested. He collected in all
$4,000 Castro heard of this and gave
orders that the money must not be ia
ken out of the country and that the
collector must leave the cash with the
government The man was seized and
placed on stool in the prison yard,
where the hot rays of the sun beat
upon his bare head and soldier stood
on each side of him with fixed bayo-
net, with orders to run him through
if he attempted to escape. After nine
hours of suffering the collector yield
ed took the soldiers to the place
where he had concealed the money and
surrendered it. He sailed on the next
steamer, leaving Caracas.
A month later a German cruiser en-
tered La Guayra. The captain and
twelve sailors pulled ashore and then
rode to Caracas. They at once enter
ed Castro's presence and peremptor-
lily demanded not only every penny of
the $4,000 but the punishment of the
Official who had superintendent the tor
ture. Without a word Castro paid the
money and ordered the officials, who
had only carried out the Presidents
orders, cast into the Rotunda.
In December he annulled all con-
cessions of the various Orinoco con-
cerns-the trading company, the COL
oniZation company and the shipping
and transportation company, all Amer
lean concerns with headquarters in
New York. The reason he gave for
this procedure was that the companies
had not carried out the conditions
named in their contracts
Previous to this he had annulled the
concession of the Asphalt Company in
the State Of Bermudez, a concession
which for ten years or more had been
yielding the country a large annual
revenue, He then sold the asphalt
property. which had been purchased
years before in fee simple from the
government of Venezuela The Asphalt
Company protested and carried its case
into the Venezuelan courts, where it
was rewarded with an adverse decision.
Then the company brought its case to
Washington and placed it before the
United States government The State
Department Immediately sent instrue-
lions regarding it to Minister Loomis
in Caracas These instructions LOOMS
carried GU to the letter.
This precipitated the present trouble
in Venezuela. Meanwhile, it is said
by excellent authorities, each of the
entire diplomatic corps in Caracas is
posting his government daily regarding
the state of affairs.
Senior Augusta Pulido. charge DAFT
fairies of the Venezuelan legation in
Washington, examined the article with
considerable attention last night at
the Waldorf Astoria. He said:
Il believe this article to be greatly
exaggerated During the troubled
months when the whole country was
in a state of seige, extraordinary
measures were necessary to preserve
any semblance of order. If these
things did occur. it was long ago and
much less narrowing than portrayed
by YOUR correspondent