Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-06

tro Would Not Allow Him to Take
 It Out of the Country.
 New York, April 6.-The Tribune this morning contains a long article purporting to give a clear account or the circumstances responsible for the strained relations between the United States and Venezuela. It comes from a, writer in New York not connected with the paper and in order that It might be fairly criticized or corrected, printed proofs of it were submitted to the Venezuelan legation in Washington and to the Venezuelan consulate in cne city The article begins by saying that the recall of United States Minister ISoomis from Venezuela has released much information concerning the meth- ods of the Venezuelan government headed by President Castro. New York business men who own large commercial interests in Venezuela, and who are kept informed by their repre- sentatives in Caracas of the state Of affairs, have within the last faw days given to the writer facts long with held
 From these merchants it is learned that Castro is revising the constitution to suit his revolutionary policy. He called q congress together February 20. whose members are all of his choos- ing Their first act was to pass, a C. icording to his orders, an amendment to the constitution extending the term of office of the president from four years to six. This was done without any pretension of consulting the choice of the people. During the first week in March he appointed as members of his cabinet seven men who have learned to subjugate their will to his.
 Castro has been dictator ever since he drove President Andrade by force of arms from Venezuela'S executive mansion eighteen months ago. He has yet to serve the remaining year of 4ndfade's term, which does not expire until February %, 1902. Then, ac- cording to his revision of the constitu- ton, he Will enjoy six years more in office, making eight and One-half years altogether
 Meanwhile the real president of Venezuela is Andrade, who is to-day in the island of Curacoa, which he has chosen as the starting point of q pro- posed expedition.
 In Venezuela there is no such thing as capital punishment. Crimes pen- alties stop at imprisonment for ten years But General Aeosta, friend of Andrade and enemy of Castro, who had dared to take up arms against Castro, and was the head of the reYo- lutionary party in the field, was put to death.
 A correspondent for weekly news paper, who recently returned from Venezuela. tells how Acosta was cap tured. and in spite of the law against this form of punishment, was shot, by CaStrO'S order, on February 19 In Venezuela now, it is asserted, govern ment dignitarieS, the justices of the courts, local officials in the various cities and states, retain their places only as long as they obey. without question, the orders of Castro
 In January two justices of the su preme court failed in certain case to hand down a decision that accorded with Castro's notion of justice These justices were thrown into a cell and kept there until they agreed to think with Castro.
 In the first month of his presidency. Castro called to his presence a num- Der Of wealthy representative mer- chants and bankers and informed them that they must contribute to the SUD- port of the government. According to his own estimate of the amount of their fortunes he fixed the sum which each should pay into the treasury at once. The amounts ranged from $2O,- GOO to $50,000. A few objected and straiglitway found themselves con iyeyed to the Rotunda, the worst prison III Caracas. Subsequently, Castro had three of the gentlemen handcuffed and shackled together and marched through the streets of tile city bare footed and bareheaded, surrounded by a strong armed guard. Then he sent each t0-a stone cell the dimensions of which were so small as to make it impossible for him to lie down. After several days he ordered them to be transported to San Carlos. the old Spanish fortress prison at Maracaibo. where are confined all the criminal conyicts- At the pleadings of their families and friends they surrendered. but not until they had again paraded the streets in shackles and bare feet and with uncovered heads. Having paid over the price of their freedom S15.000, another $200O0, and the third Ssi0.OOO-they regained their liberty: They subsequently, escaped from the country in disguise and arrived at Trinidad In this way Castro raised the funds for conducting the govern ment until the revenues of the war faxes began to come in.
 Another method of raising money is charging business men with ..conspjr- ing against the government" aI con fiscating their property.
 Not long ago a German merchant arrived at Barcelona from Caracas to collect moneys due on various enter prises in which he was interested. He collected in all $12,OOO. Castro heard of this, and gave orders that the money must not be taken out of the country. and that the collector must leave the cash with the government. The man was seized and placed on a stool in a prison yard, where the hot days of the sun beat upon his bare head, and a soldier stood on each side Of him with fixed bayonet, with or ders to run him through. If he attempt ed to escape. After seven hours of suffering he announced that -he would give S10.000 if they would release him.. This was not enough. The whole $12,- 900 or nothing. In the ninth hour of his torture he yielded. took the sol dlefs to the place where he had con- cealed the money and surrendered it. He sailed for Germany on the next steamer leaving Caraeas
 A month later German cruiser en- tered La Guayra. The captain and