The Washington times., 1905-05-15
Mr.. BOWEN SEES
PRESIDENT AND :
SUBMITS CHARGES
Secretary Taft Recipient
OF Documents ii
the Case.
MINISTER IS CONFIDENT
Mr.. Loon1is Makes Counter
Allegation ef Serious
Nature.
MINISTER IS CONFIDENT

The Administration began It's invesfi-
cation CT the Loornis-Bewen scandal to-
day:
Herbert ". Bowen, recently minister
to Ve9ezuela. who has made charges
against his superior officer. the first
Assistant Secretary OF State, and VINO
was summoned home 70 substantiate
them, saw President Roosevelt at the
White House this morning.
After talk with the President. which
lasted for some time. Ar Bowen went
| 70 the War Department. where he saw
Secretary Taft This was done by the
Presidents direction. YniIe in seere-
tary Taft's Office, Mr. Bowen received
duplicate copies of the written answer
70 the Bowen charges which Mr. LooEnEs
| has fled.
| The papers were given to him in order
70 enable Mr. Bowen in his turn to pre-
pare a written statement Of his case.
| Upon completing this ne will fife it with
t Secretary Taft. The whole matter viii
shen 60 before President Roosevelt who
/ viii thus have a complete record in tias
case 10 pass upon
Taft Court Of Review.
| Secretary Taft is acting as court
| Of review and the prelinInarses in the
matter OF receiving the evidence are in
| hfs hands President Roosevelt viii not
! deal with the matter until It is in such
shape that he can take up the evidence
| IN definite form.
Nr. Bowen arrived II the city last
night. but did not see the President
until this morning. He appeared 10 have
The utmost conGdeSce in the strength
Iof his case He takes the position tfssss
/ he can prove 10 the AdElllxlssra eio.. tI1ae
It IS plainly his duty t,@sapoft to the
State Department the stories which he
| heard regarding Mr.. Loornis past record
/ and which were related 10 him by feE-s
| in9W-menbers e e OF the diplomatic corps In
Caracas.
Ar. Bowen feels himself 50 safe IN
this position that il is said he does NOT
consider IL absolutely essenfisI for him
70 oflng documentary proof OF the truth
reported 70 the State Department
Loomis Makes Charge.
Shortly before Mr. BoYen,s arrival at
| the War Department this morning. First
Assistant Secretary Of state Loomis took
| 10 Secretary Taft the papers which he
| has prepared In defense of himself In
/ the LoGmis-Bowen investigation. Despite
| the fac that IT is customary fer a mem
/ Der OF the Diplomatic Corps To report
| To the State Department. Mr.. Bowen did
( ii.b s4S4t AllC department LQ1d{. ana
/ thus the embarrassment OF a meeting
between himself and Mr. I.oofnss was
avoided One feature zaf the inyestfga-
| ton about which interest ceslters is the
/ counter charge which has been fled by
MIR. LoomiS 10 the effect that Minister
| Bowen inspired the publication OF an ar
| ucie which appeared IN the New York
Herald. first calling public attention TO.
| the alleged Loonais scandals Mr.
Leomis has charged that the story
could not have been printed without
some Of the information being furnish
| ed by Mr. Bowen.
| Accusation Is Serious.
| This action. If substantiated. It is said.
| Is alone enough 10 result in Mr. Bow
ems dismissal from the service on the
ground that It was Incompatible with
official regulations
The charges which Mr.. Bowen made
| in a personal letter TO Secretary Taft
were that Mr.. Loomis, when Minister.
! to Venezuela, received $4,000 check
| for services on behalf OF the New York
Rermudez Asphalt Company and that
! he used his Office to promote claims
] The wide circulation OF these stories
| In Caracas, he said, had esnbarra sseS
| Castro and his efforts 10 secure a SAT-
| isfactory adjustment of the troubles bs-
tween the United States and Senezuela-