The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-21
ROOSEVELT SCATHINGLY
 ARRA|GNS THE MINISTER
Writes Exhaustive Letter to Secretary Taft, Giving a Complete History of BoWen's Underhand
 Work.

Washington, June 20-The dismissal or Herbert A Bowen. for some years Unit ed States minister to Venezuela. and the exoneratng of Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis of the allega- tions brought against him by MT. Bowen are the outcome of the Loomis-Bowen controversy, which has attracted wide attention for many months past.
 This disposition of the case Is made by President Roosevelt in letter ad- dressed to Secretary Taft. made public tonight, approving MT. Taft's report on his findings and conclusions in the case The President scathingy arraigns Min ster Bowen, declaring that his conduct Is especially reprehensible," in that MT Bowen asked one of his witnesses to en- ter the employ of a certain company for 1 the purpose of, "in plain words, stealing" documents in order that he may incrimi- nate Mir Loomis, and that MT. Bowen has evidently for many months, indeed for the last two years. devoted himself' to hunting up scandal and gossip until It became a monomania and caused him ] to show complete disloyalty'' to the country he represented.
 Usefulness Is Now Ended. | The President says he had hoped to promote MT. Bowen, as during his serv- ice he had done good work but that his usefulness in the diplomatic service is now at an end. The President adds that he would direct that MT. Bowen's resig- nation be required but for his statement that he would consider a resignation an admission of misconduct. and the dis missal is therefore ordered.
 The President states that 1t appears that MT, Bowen while minister secured the publication of attacks on MT. Loofnis and furnished to the press documents pending before the state department for approval and that his explanation is in- excusable and shows his "entire unfit ness for the service. Even if Mir Loo mis had been guilty, says the President, MT. Bowen's conduct would be unpardon- able. The letter quotes certain corre- spondence and testimony. The report of Secretary Taft on the case. on which the Presidents action is based is a vo- luminous document, reviewing the charges and the evidence taken.
 Loomis Was Indiscreet.
 In his report Secretary Taft says that there was nothing dishonorabe in the transactions in which MT Loomis ag- ured, but he was not discreet The re- port says that Mir. Loomis was not jus tihed in becoming personally interested in any of the schemes either with a mercenary interest or substantial inter- est. He says, however. that Mr. Loomis has been most cruelty slandered, com mends him for the self-restraint with which he has met the charges, and points out that MT. Isoomis bitter experience in this case makes it unnecessary to point out the moral.
 The Presidents letter to Secretary Taft was as follows:
 The Presidents Letter.
 "To Secretary Taft:
 Sir; l have received your report of June 19 on the Bowen-Looms matter. agree with all your findings and concu- sions regarding Mir. Loomis and have nothing to add thereto
 There remains to be considered the case as affecting MT. Bowen against whom MT. Lewis had made counter charges. MT. Bowen has denied that he made charges against Mir. Loomis. This Is mere matter of termnology. In his letter to Secretary Taft of April g. be- ginning My Dear Bill and signed Her bert he writes: understood that you are to be the head of the department of state during the absence of Mir. Hay, feel that I ought to see that you are fully informed az to the terrible scandal in the situation here Consequently I en- close herewith copies of papers which have been in MT Hays hands and which will furnish you with the facts that think you should know
 Various Documents Presented.
 "Then follow certain cablegrams, in cluding a report that Mir Loomis was paid a check and that the custodian of I the Bermudez lake had 1t in his possession in the city. and also letter promising that the United States would not inter vene and that the President of Vene- zuela felt safe because of these facts; copy of a letter to MT. Hay of February lS. 1905, in which MT. Bowen distinctly states his belief that this alleged and as 1t turns out, wholly fictitious check, and wholly fictitious letter were in the hands of President Castro who, because he had them undoubtedly hao not feared to re- fuse arbitration with the United States He then furnishes documents which he says were found by him in the legation safe a year ago and were sent by him to MT. Hay together with many other documents and MT. Bowen states that Mir Hay intimated in return that he had performed his whole duty, by sending these documents to him. MT. Bowen makes certain comments on the docu- ments as follows: 'As to MT. Russell, now minister to Columbia. through the influence of Mir. Loomis (which is true) MT. Bowen says:
 MT. Loomis collected the Merceda claim from the Venezuelan government. got share of it for a small sum and never reuorted the case to the department of state.' and again he says. He dealt with Buchanan. whom Loomis subse- quently got appointed minister to Pan anna (which is again an untruth. MT. Ioomis had nothing to do with the ap- pointment of either Mir. Russell or Buch- anan).
 Never Preferred Charges sIu Mr. Bowen's statement, dated at