The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-09
PRESIDENTIAL PLUMBER.
How Venezuelan Revenue In Diverted
from Venezuelan Uses.


London Telegraph.
A representative of the Daily Telegraph
had an interview yesterday with a gentle
man who has been well acquainted with
Venezuela for many years past, and has
been associated with several important in
dustrial undertakings in that country. Ac-
cording to his view, the one chance of sal
walton would be the placing of the customs
under European control-an event, how
ever, which is not very likely to take place.
Venezuela itself teens with natural re-
sources. Apart from its mineral wealth, 1t
grows almost anything. and it's coffee and
cocoa are considered to be the best in the
world. The trouble is that the people. who.
left to themselves, would be content to
trious life, are ruled by class of broken
down journalists and lawyers, whose one
object is to get into power for the sake OF
what they can make during their term OF
office.
1T may seem incredible said our in
formant, but not many years ago, on the
very day before DR.. Palacio was elected
President, he was unable to get credit
for the price of a ham. Yet in fourteen
months he retired to the more genial cline
of Paris with ES0O,000 and 1 can guarantee
the accuracy of the amount because l as
sisted in counting the boxes Of bullion in
which the treasure sent to Europe.
The fact is, that the one object of the gov
ernmene is to divide as much of the rev.
enue as they can among themselves, and
to spend as little as possible upon the ad-
mfnistration of the country. The revenue
returns that are supplied are wholly UNI
inner ring know what 1t really is. The late
President Crespo used to send down every
day, including Saints days and Sundays,
to the treasury for 2360, which he said was
due to him for his salary as President, so
that he regarded his position as being
worth at least S1S0,0OO a year. The huge
fortune which was made by the now de-
ceased GuZman Blanco is matter of his
tory, but 1t is not SO well known that when
he retired from the presidency he went to
Paris as envoy extraordinary with sal
airy of E25.OOO year in addition to ex-
penses, one item Of these expenses on one
occasion being $4,000 for ball.
''Of course, If the government class live
in this extravagant manner and fail to pay
the subordinate officials, the latter have
to earn their living by getting backsheesh
wherever they can. No one who has not
had practical experience can realize the in
finite annoyance to which foreign indus
trial undertakings are subjected unless
they are prepared to pay handsomely for
being left alone. TO take only one in
stance, the Laguayra harbor was under
taken on a government guarantee of per
cent? but owing to the constant interfer-
ence of government officials, the company
was eventually. glad to relinquish the guar
antee in consideration of being allowed to
carry on its business I'm peace.
1.-The only thing in favor of President
Castro is his pluck, and. In my opinion. he
would not have taken up such an attitude
had he not been under the impression that
the United States would come to his assist
ance. 1t is unfortunate that the revolu-
ton was not successful because what the
country wants is an honest President, and
General Matos, who has been defeated, is
rich enough to be above temptation. More
over, he has lived in Europe for many
years, and is more civilized than the half
breeds who frequently attain to the high
est post I'm Venezuela. AS regards the
railways, their promoters were not in all
cases free from blame. They traded on the
cupidity of the government, and obtained
large guarantees which they knew the lines
would never earn. The Germans especially
were at fault, and the last loan of 1896
raised by the Observation-Disclosures, was
brought out mainly in order to fund the
unpaid railway guarantees. Still, il all
comes back to this, that Venezuela, with
all it's natural resources, will never do itself
justice until stop is put to the corruption
of the ruling class, and l do not see how
that is to be brought about unless the
country is placed under the tutelage of the
European powers or the United States"