The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-23
'NOWHITEWASH BRUSH
Mr.. Russell, Minister to Colon
bia, Summoned to Washing
ton to Give Testimony.
BoWEN'S FINAL STATEMENT

President Roosevelt Said to Have Been
| Reluctant to Extend Asphalt lnvesti-
cation Further, but 1t Was Decided
to Be Necessary-checks Still Remains
Of First Importance.
Washington, May 23.-All thoughts
Of the whitewash brush vanished when
Secretary Taft, who is investigating
the charges forwarded by II. w. Bow
en-, American minister to Venezuela,
against f. 3. Loomis, assistant secre-
tary of state, announced that he had
summoned to Washington to give tes-
timony w. W. Russell, American min
lister to Colombia.
Mr.. Russell was secretary Of lega-
ton in Caracas in 1900 when, as Amer
lean minister, Mr. LOOMS is alleged to
have wrongfully accepted a check for
$4,000 from the New York and Ber-
mudez Asphalt company and to have
trafficked in Venezuelan bonds and
loans. President Roosevelt consented
to the necessary three or four weeks
extension OF the investigation in order
that 1t may be so thorough that there
may be no afterclap once the admins
tration has made its decision as to Mr.
Loomis' guilt or innocence.
MIR. Rowen's Final Statement.
Minister Bowen appeared in Secre-
tary Taft's Office with his final state
ment, which he handed to Secretary
Taft It's most noticeable feature was
request that examination be made of
cancelled checks, stubs and bank books
of Mr. Loomis and w. H Bean, former
resident agent of the New York and
Bermudez Asphalt company in Cara
cas-. Mr.. Bean gave Mr.. Loomis the
check for $4,000. Both say it was
merely in return for Mr.. LOOMS Vene-
zuelan money, which he desired to ex-
change, as he was leaving Caracas.
Mr.. Loomis has stated that his check
book, with the stubs, has been lost. |
The $4,000 check is alleged to be in
the possession of President Castro, |
who is said to rely upon the scandal
its production would cause to keep the |
United States from pressing him too |
hard in diplomatic questions. AL |
though General Avery D. Andrews of |
the asphalt company convinced Pres
ident Roosevelt that the check figured |
only in "a matter of exchange" it still |
remains the charge of first Importance.
Dissatisfied With Evidence.
Secretary Taft is dissatisfied with the
character Of the evidence submitted. 1t
has all reflected upon Mr.. LOOMS. but i
it has not been direct.
Mr.. Loomis expected that with the
examination of the witnesses sum-
moned the case would be closed, but
Mr.. Bowen has brought Mr.. Russell
into the case. His name is attached to
some OF the documents submitted by
Mr.. Bowen in connection with the
charges.
Secretary Taft told the president he
believed the investigation should con
tinue Mr.. Taft thought that as Mr..
Russell had been in Caracas under both
Mr.. Loomis and Mr.. Bowen and was
with the circumstances sur
the charges he should be
questioned.
Assistant Secretary LOOMS Is under
stood to have protested that if nothing
convincing had yet been brought
against him he should not remain I'M
der the cloud of the charges until Mr..
Russell reached Washington.
Reluctant to Extend Investigation.
Although President Roosevelt is said !
to have been reluctant to extend the in
vestigation further, it was decided
that it was necessary. Otherwise, it |
was realized, something might develop |
after the case had been closed which
would cause another investigation. |
That would put the administration in
the position Of having insufficiently
probed for facts or having been in
clined to "whitewash."
Mr., Russell is on his way from Bo
gotta and will probably not reach Wash
ington for more than two weeks. Mr..
Bowen has been advised that he need
not return to Washington until Mr..
Russell reaches this country.