The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-04-07


porting To give a clear account of the
ere umstances responsible for the
strained relations between The United
Stats ana Venezuela. 1t comes from
w.iter in New York not connected
with fhe paper. and in order that it
might be fairly criticised or corrected.
printed proofs Of it were submitted to
the Venezuelan legation in washington
and to the Venezuelan consulate in
the city.
The article begins by saying that the
recall of United States Minister LOOMS
\. from VenezueIa has released much in
formation concerning the methods of
the Venezuelan government headed by
President Castro New York Business
men who own large commercial inter
ests in Venezuela and who are kept in
\ formed by their representatives in
Caracas of the state of anairs, have
within the last few days given to the
writer facts long withheld.
From these merchants it is learned
that Castro is revising the constitution
to suiC his Revolutionary pohcy. de
called a congress together FEB ~
whose members are All OF his choosing.
Their rrst act was TO pass, according
TO his orders, an amendment TO the
\ cOnStitutfOn extending the term oil Of
@tce or the president from four years 10
six This was done without any. pre-
tension OF consulting the CHOICE OF the
people. During the mrs. week IN harcn
ne appointed as members of his can
inet seven men who have learned 10
subjugate their will 10 his.
Castro has been dictator ever since
he drive President Andrade by force
OF arms from Nenezuela'S executive
mansion eighteen months ago. He has
yet TO serve the remaining year OF An
drade's term, which does not expire
diltH Feb. 20, 1902. Then, according TO
his revision of the constitution, he viii
enjoy six years more in Office, making
eight and one-haf years altogether
AIeanwhilg the real president OF
Venezuela is Andrade, who is today in
the island Of Curacao, which ne has
chosen as the starting point of pro
posed exF edition.
Defies the Laws.
In Venezuela there is no sucn thing
as capital punishment Crimes penal
ties stop at imprisonment for ten years
But General Acosta, friend OF Andrade
and enemy OF Castro. who had dared
90 take up arms against Castro ano
was the head Of the revolutionary par
&. in the field, was put to death -
A CORRESPONDENT for a weekly news
paper. who recently returned from
Venezuela, tells how AcOsta was cap
tured. and in spite OF the law against
the form of punishment, was shot by
acCastro's. order on Feb 10 10 Nene-
zuela now il is asserted. government
diGnitaries. the justices OF the courts,
local officials in the various cities ana
states retain their places as long only
as they obey without question the or
ders OF Castle. IN January two JUS
tees Of the supreme court failed IN
certain case TO halfd down a decision
that accorded with CastrO's notion OF
Justice These judges were thrown into
a cell and kept there until thty agreed
TO think with castro.
a. y of
Castro called to his presence number
of wealthy representative merchants
I. and bankers aud informed them that
they must contribute TO the support or
the government According TO his
: own estimate OF the amount OF their
fortunes ne fixed the sum which each
should pay into the treasury at once
The amounts ranged from $4,000 TO
$50 coo. few objected and straight
way found themselves conveyed TO the
rotUnda. the worst prison in Caracas
subsequently, Castro had three of the
gentlemen handcuhed and sha ckled to-
gether and marched through the streets
OF the city. barefOoted and bareheaded,
surrounded by strong armed guard.
Rich Men Sent to Prison.
Then he sent each TO "a stone cell,
the dimensions of which were so small
as to make II impossible for hin 10 lie
down. After several days ne ordered
him to be transported 70 San Carlos,
the old Spanish fortress prison at
Maracaito. where are confined all the
criminal conNicts-
Al the pleadings of their families and
friends they surrendered. but not IN
Ill theY had again paraded the streets
An ShaclSies ard bare feet and with
uncovered heads Having paid over
the price of their freedOm-one $4,000
another S2o000 and the third $50 600
taey regained THAR liberty. They sub
81 lluentlyz escaped from the country IN
A2izguise and arrived at trinidad; In
~ his KAY Castro raised the funds for
conducting the government until the
I. revenues of The war taxes began to
come Ia Another method for raising
p1oney-l IS charging business men with
ccnrpiring against the government, ard
conhscatiaE their property.
Not long ago German merchant ar
rived at barcelona from Caracas to
collect moneys due on various enter
urises in which he was interested. He
coIie-tedrin all $4,000. Castro heard Of
this and gave orders that the money
must not he taken out If the country
and that the collector must leave the
cash with, the government. The man
WAS seized and placed on a stool in
prison yard, where the hot rays of the
sun beat upon his bare head. and a
soldier stood on each side of him with
q fixed bayOnet, with orders TO run
him through If be attempted to escape.
After seven hours OF suffering he an
nounced th&t he would give $4,000 II
they would release him. This was not
In the ninth hour Of his torture he
yielded. took the soldiers to the place
where ne had concealed the money.
and surrendered Il. RE sailed on the
next steamer leaving Caracas.
Hatred Of Foreigners.
A month later a German cruiser en-
tered Iaguayara- The captain and
twelve sailors pulled ashore and then
rode To Caracas. They at once entered
Castro presence and peremptorialy
demanded not only every penny of the
$4,000. but the punishment of the Of
fetal who had Experimental the tor
ture- Without word. Castro paid the
money and ordered the official. who had
oaIy carried out the presidents orders,
Castiuente. into the rotunda-
Curse all foreigners" Castro is re-
ported to Eve said when once General
Ayaia. The minister Of INDUSTRY, sug-
gested that foreign money and immi-
grafton should be epcOura ged to dsvel-
Oh senezuela's resources. IN annrl
every concession held by q foreign in
terest in the country" The dictator is
alleged TO have said, land sell the con-
cession over again"
IN December he annulIed all the con-
cessions IL the various OrinCco con-
Germs. the Trading company. the Col
onization company, the Shipping &