The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-19
MOVE AGAINST CASTRO URGED
ASPHALT COMPiNY ASKS TAFT
TO TAKE EARLY ACTION.


step Contemplated ny the Government May
10 fastened - Venezuelan Receiver
Alleged 60 NC wasting the CRWpany's
Property and II Wants Hlm Removed
WAsHISoToN. April is.--The New York
and Bermudez Asphalt Company whose
properties in Venezuela are in the hands
OF a receiver appointed by the Govern
ment of that country pending the result
Of . suit Instituted by President Castro
for the annulment Of the company's con-
cession, has again appealed to the United
States Government for assistance in re-
gaining control Of is property
John Bassett Moore and John Lind ny
OF New York attorneys for the company
to-day conferred with Secretary TAFT,
Acting Secretary Of state LOOMS and
Judge william &. Penfed, solicitor for the
State Department. The attorneys informed
Secretary Taft Of every phase Of the case.
and when the conference which lasted
several hour-. ended thrv left with Secre-
tnry Taft a lot Of documents pertaining
10 various legal points involved
u ia quito likely that como action will lie
taken In the matter as result Of to-days
conference. ilthough perhaps the greatest
effect Of the visit will uc merely to give an
imp tn. 90 whatever action this Govern
mrnt intends 90 take.
That Government officials have lost all
PATIENCE with Venezuela j. generally under
stood but the Cuunc which can le pursued
h a matter of -nmr doubt. At the time the
State D0Dp rtmgut -ent Ncnczue ella a strongly
VIC r,cd note asking for arbitration II was
generally believed that the Washington
Administer ton was about 10 take decisive
action
The note to Venezuela said that II that
Government would not consent 10 arbitrate
the PENDING issues the United States would
feel free 90 take j.. own course. tut RE I'M
Piled suggc-; ion ut ruraiIle action did not
change President Cu.t-o'~ attitude and he
rerled TINT he would not arbitrate anything
and that there was nothing 20 arbiJUte.
President Castro insisted that the asphalt
cass ron ain ia his own courts until final
d,,i-.ol was reached. soon after the
irrlS was received it was announced here
Il atno a, ton would lie taken unless the
President instructed ctEcIwisc Messrs.
Moore and Lindsay oontcrGed sfore
Secretary Taft to-day that the asphalt
CoruEany wRs entitled to Possession Of its
property in Venezuela.
The argument was made that there was
q gross breach Of justice in the action "
the Venezuelan Government in appointing
a receiver and selling the property Of tho
company first and instituting proceedings
for annulment Of the concession afterward
The losses to the company were also set
forth.
IL was shown that the receiver is con-
tinually taking asphalt from the lakes and
selling it in this country. Tho attorney
said that the receiver was selling the product
for s. a ton, whereas il Is worth from SlI
10 SIS a ton. The cutting Of the price in
this manner. it was said, was resulting in
great losses to the American Asphalt Com
pany, Of which the New York and Bermudez !
Is n part.
Secretary Taft has the ma tier under |
advisement and will probably reach de- /,
oision within few days 1t has been
Understood that the President does not
desire 10 take any action until he returns
from his Western trip, but it is quite posi-
bic that something will be- done before
thai