The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-28
LOOMS DENIES THE CHARGES,
AND BOWEN WILL BE MOVED
FROM VENEZUELA.
Mr.. Loomis's Denial Is similar 70 One
Made tO the President when the
Charges were Filed and which SATISFIED
the President That They We're BHSeleSs,

Made to the PRECEDENT when the
Charges were Filed and which satiEned-l
the Presld ent That They We're BHSeleSs'
WASHINGTON. April 27,-Secretary OF War
Taft, acting in hehalf OF President Roose-
welt and Secretary OF State Hay, to-day |
called on Francis b. LOOMS, the Assistant |
Secretary Of State TO make complete |
answer to charges affecting his Official
conduct while serving as American Minister
at Caracas, Venezuela. These charges, It
was disclosed, were formally made by
Herbert W Bowen Of New York, who
succeeded Mr.. Loomis as the American MINI
lister at Caracas.
It became known also that President
Roosevelt was determined to transfer Mr..
Bowen to another post. This transfer will /
take place soon, probably before the Presi-
dent returns to Washington, and will be
only one Of several changes among
American Ministers 70 South American
countries Mr.. Bowen, Il n understood,
will be succeeded by Irving W. Dudley OF
California, the present Minister 10 Peru
Mr. LOOMS gave out the following state
ment tonight, In which he denied all the
charges made against him by Mr.. Bowen,
although he did not admit that they bad
been submitted officially.
sIn view Of certain charges affecting
my official character, published In the
| New York Herald, April 20, and again re-
| ferred to in that papers issue OF April
| n. and otherwise widely circulated, think
II proper to make the following statement;
Those charges were in substance first,
that while acting In my official capacity
as United States Minister to Venezuela
/ obtained considerable pecuniary benefits
from the New York and Bermudez Asphalt
Company. and that a check showing the
payment Of $40 900 20 me by that company
is now 10 the possession OF President
| Castro.
This charge is an absolute falsehood. I
never asked nor received, directly or in
directly, in any manner or form, any money
or property OF other thing Of value or any
promise or suggestion thereof from the
New York and Bermudez company OF
from any one acting in It's interest or behalf
Americans who have lived in Caracas
know that rates OF exchange between the
United States and Venezuela are high there,
owing TO unsettled conditions In Venezuela,
and that at times 1t IL impossible 20 pur-
chase New York exchange at Caracas. On
my final departure from Venezuela as Min
lister had money in a bank In Caracas
l wished TO convert my Venezuelan money
into United States money, and exchanged
checks at the posted United States Gov
ernment rates with the manager OF the
New York and Bermudez company at
Caracas, my check 10 the company calling
for Venezuelan money, aud his check TO
me calling for United States money.
'sIf was q simple business transaction.
American Ministers have similar difficult
ties In exchange and similar transactions
IN many parts OF the world where exchange
IA huctuating OF impossible TO obtain. The
transaction was absolutely free from evil
doing OF evil influence or suggesting the
thought thereof. The preposterous nature Of
this charge affecting my oficial integrity
Is shown by the fact that whatever | did
and all that did In giving my ofiicial sup
port as United States Minister 10 the New
York and BermudeE company was done
In obedience 10 instructions from the Sec
rotary Of State, and was approved by him
after full reports Of the entire controversy
from it's inception.
The second charge made is that while
Minister to Venezuela purchased a claim
Of 10000 boHvars Tor $4,000 against the
Venezuelan Government and then used
my influence as Minister to collect the
full amount from the Government. /
never purchased or owned OF had any
interest in auy claim against the Venezuelan
Government, and / never prosecuted In
any manner or form any claim against that
Government except in obedience 10 In
structions from the Secretary Of State
after submitting q fun report OF the case
10 him.
The third charge IL that l agreed with
Mr.. Meyers 10 use my influence TO adjust
an obligation 20 the amount OF 100000
for a consideration Of one-seventh OF that
sum, or noninally 81 400 900.
i never agreed or promised or suggested,
directly or indirectly, in any manner what
ever, that would use my influence to adj
just any obligation against the Venezuelan
Government. The charge Il absolutely
false.
The charges now made officially by Minis
ter Bowen against Assistant Secretary
Ioomis have been known, In part at least,
10 President Roosevelt. The President
showed deep interest in the charges,
affecting az they did an officer Of the Gov
eminent and pne Of Mr., RoOsevelt's closest
advisers, and he called on Mr.. LOOMS
for an explanation. But the President
did not stop there, for he also asked former
POLICE Commissioner Avery d. Andrews
OF New York, who had been connected
with the New York and Bermudez asphalt
controversy, TO give the details involved
In the allegation that Mr.. Loomis had TO
oeived $4,000 from the New York and
BermudeE company while serving as United
States Minister at Caracas. The eTplana-
ton Of the transaction made by Mr. An
drews to President Roosevelt was similar
10 that given by Mr.. LOOMS In his state
ment, and II was said to-day that the Presi-
dent was satisfied that Mr.. Loomis had
not been guilty Of any wrongdoing.