Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-16
BOWEN MAKES REPLY
Statement Filed With Secre-
tary Taft.
HIS ALLEGED DEFENSE
DENIES INST1TUTING CHARGES
AGAINST MR.. LOOMS.
No Decision on Any of the Points Iu-
volved Has Been Made by the
Secretary of War.

Secretary Taft has authorized Inv fate
ment that he has rendered no decision on
any of the points involved in the contro-
versy between Mr.. LOOMS. assistant score
tary of state and Mr.. Bowen. formerly
United States minister to Venezuela. and he
remarked that it would be a gross impro-
priety for him to express an opinion as to
the merits of the case while the invest!-
cation Is in progress.
In another quarter IL was explained that
Secretary Taft is simply hearing the case
with view to submitting the facts TO the
President for action. The evidence SO far
submitted IS documentary and no witnesses
have been heard on either side. Mr. LOOMS
and Mr.. Bowen have each had a personal
conference with Secretary Taft. and each
has prepared written statement of his
side of the case
Secretary Taft yesterday furnished Mr..
BOVINE with copies OF Mr.. LOOMS explana-
ton of the charges made against him IN
Venezuela and of the charge made by Mr.
LOOMS that Mr.. Bowen inspired the publ
cation of the original charges in the news
papers.
Mr.. Bowen Files His Reply.
Mr. Bowen called on Secretary Taft today
and filed his statement in reply to Mr..
LOOMS charges. as well as explaining his
action In informing the Secretary of State
of the circulation in Caracas OF the charges
against Mr.. Loomis. Mr.. Bowen Informed
Secretary Taft of the existence on file in
the State Department of certain papers I'm
the case. The papers Were sent for and
were turned over to Mr.. Bowen for consid-
Grafton. He will return them In a short
time with statement showing their sig
niticance. 1t seems these papers were sent
to the State Department some time ago
Their exact nature is not known. but II is
understood they are copies OF certain pa
pers found by Mr.. Bowen at Caracas con
nected with the charges afloat there.
Mr.. Bowen's Alleged Defense.
1t is said that Mr.. Bowen defends his
action in sending the charges against Mr..
Loomis to Washington on the ground
that it is the duty of a minister OF any
country to transmit information to the
government which concerns the relations
of his predecessor with the government
He took the position before Secretary
Taft that he had never made any direct
charges against Mr.. Loomis, but that he
merely. matter of duty, transmitted
to Washington Information that was com
mon gossip in Caracas. He has not given
Secretary Taft or any one else an eNpla-
nation of the charges themselves. nor has
he made any effort so far known To
SubStantiate them.
To Continue Several Days.
The investigation will probably con-
tinue for two or three days longer, as
there is every disposition to give the par
ties to the controversy all the time they
desire in the preparation OF their state
ments. 1t is probable that Mr.. Bowens
reply to Mr.. Loomis' charge that he in
spired the publication of the original
charges may call for further statement
from Mr.. Loomis. When all the papers
are in Secretary Taft will prepare a re-
view of the case and submit it for the
action of the President.
Developments at the White House.
There were some interesting developments
at the White House in the Bowen-Loorr4s
affair today. The first of these was the
appearance Of Jose Saul. the special rep
resentative In this country Of Venezuela.
He saw the President and made state
ment of his knowledge of the draft that
Mr.. Loonis bought from the asphalt COM
pany on his departure from Caracas. Mr..
Paul is understood TO have been acquaint-
ed with the facts. He is not friendly 20
Mr.. Bowen and stands ready to make a
full statement, If desired regarding some
things that concern the retiring minister -
Venezuela. Mr.. Paul saw the President six
or seven weeks ago. before the Bowen
statement was filed, and at that time he
complained that Mr.. Bowens management
of affairs in Venezuela was not satisfactory
to that country.
Mr.. Paurs statement to the President is
said to have corroborated the claim OF Mr..
Venezuelas he had on hand large amount
of Venezuelan money which he could not
bring away with him, and had this ex-
changed at the offices of the asphalt COM
pany for draft on New York.
The second feature of interest was the
appearance of Minister Bowen himself. He
saw Secretary Loeb and made an arrange
ment with the latter to have N. Pastor
Mora presented to President Roosevelt and
Secretary Taft. who had remained after
the cabinet meeting. Mr.. Mora was ush-
cred into the Presidents office by Secretary
Taft, and remained there some time. He
made statement. but declined TO say what
1t was about AS he was presented on the
request of Mr.. Bowen, 1t is presumed that
what he had to say was in substantiation
of some Of Mr.. Bowen's statements.
Mr.. Mora was at one time connected with
the asphalt company in Caracas. and is IA
miliar with dts affairs.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Taft
remained with each other some time later,
and when Secretary Talft walked. away he
said, in answer to questions, that the af-
fair was still unsettled, additional papers
being under investigation by both Mr..
Bowen and Mr.. Loomis.
Ionpfellow and Osler