Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-04-28
ABSOLUTELY
FALSE CHARGE.
Acting SeCretaryOf State LoOmis
Denies Fraud in the
Asphalt Matter.
NEVER RECEIVED MONEY

WASHINGTON. April IS Absolute
denial of certain charges affecting his
official integrity while minister at Ca
ra'as were made hy Mr.. LOOMS. the
acting secretary Of state. in a state
mout given ONT hy him al his residence
lust night. The statement briefly but
cmphaJicully denies IN detail and in
t~Otality each ana every charge.
The issuance Of this statement was
not unexpected. as the acting secretary
has had several conferences in the past
few days with Secretary Taft, and. al
though until now be has refused to
comment in amy way on the charges
and has appeared not to be at all an
nOyed 10y their publication, it was init
mated that = statement would be made
soon on tho subject. The issuance Of
the statement is due entirely TO the
wide publicity which the charges have
received. and il is the opinion Of GOV
erunrnt officials that II WAS due the
public ~ well as Mr.. LDomis that he
publicly and ois.ally take note Of
them. This h" has done in the follow
ing statement:
"In view Of certain charges affecting
my off al character published in thc
New I0ri Herald and otherwise wide
iy circula p | think it proper 10 make
the following statement:
Those charges were in substance.
first. that willie acting in my official
capacity as United States minister t.
Ns.,oYunl, ! ,ItaipaI IIp IN.
c~uniary benefits from the New York
and BerniudeZ Asphalt company and
that Il check showing the payment Of
$1,000 to me by that company is now
in Tie possession OF President Castro.
This charge Is an absolute false.
hood. ! never asked nor received, di-
rcctly or indirectly. in any manner or
form. any money or property or other
thing of value or amy promise or sug.
gestion thereof from the New York
Bermudez company OF from any one
acting in its interest or behalf.
Americans who have lived in Cara
cas- know that rates of exchange be-
tween the United States and Nenezue-
Ia are high there owing II unsettled
conditions in Venezuela all that at
times il is impossible to pur, hlse New
York exchange at Caracas. ON my
final departure from Venezuela rs min
lister | had money in Il bank ia Cara
cas-. | wished to convert my Ncarzue.
Ian money into United States III ,ney.
and | exchanged checks III the Pc 'tei
United States government rates With
the manager of the New York and Der
mudez company ~ Caracas.
The second charge made is ,hat
while minister to Venezuela | pur-
chased Il claim OF COCOA bolivarS 81
900 against the Venezuelan govern
mcnt and then used my influence as
minister to collect the fun amount
from The government. | never pur-
chased or owned or had any interest in
any claim against the Venezuelan gov
eminent, and | never prosecuted in
any manner or form any claim against
that government except in obedience
to instructions from the secretary of
state after submitting Il full report Of
tie ease To him.
The third charge is that | agreed
with Mr.. Meyers to use my influence
Ia adjust an obligation to the amount
of S%lUU00l0OU for Il consideration of
one-seventh Of that sum. or nominally
~S1.4u0.OO0.
Il never agreed or promised or sug-
gested, directly or indirectly. in any
manner whatever that ! would use my
influence 10 adjust any obligation
against tie Venezuelan government.
The chnrgn is Ah,nlntelv fnlse-"