Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-26
VEN EzUELAN CASE
TALK AT CARACAS AFFECTING
ASSISTANT SECRETARY LOOMS.

The latest development In the long-pend-
ing controversy between the United States
and Venezuela over the famous asphalt
case is the arrival of mail from Caracas
the Venezuelan capital, containing news
dispatches retailing lot of gossip there re
Meeting upon the integrity Of Mr.. LOOMS.
the present assistant secretary of state.
me allegations in brief were to the effect
that while Mr.. Loomis was United States
minister at Caracas he had dealings with
the local agent of the New York and Ber-
mudez Asphalt Company involving the
payment to him of $4,000. in consideration
of aid rendered the company, and that this
had been made the subject of formal
charges by present Minister Bowen against
his predecessor
That was alleged to account in a measure
for the policy which the State Department
has pursued in endeavOrng to protect the
company from seizure OF its property at
the hands of President Castro.
There was a notable Discrimination on the
part of the officials here to talk on this
subject. Secretary Taft declared that his
lips were sealed and Mr.. Loomis himself
had not returned to Washington this after
noon from Connecticut, where he yesterday
attended the funeral of the late Senator
Patt
1t is known. however. thatthe assistant
secretary is not at all surprised nor dis
concerted at this latest development In the
asphalt controversy. for the State Depart
ment officials privately do not hesitate to
ascrloe the inception and circulation of
these rumors to the agents of President
castro as part of their attempt to thwart
the efforts of the department to secure a
satisfactory settlement of the asphalt case.
Mr. LOOMS is quoted saying: Some OF
the details of the charges are already known
to President Roosevelt
In view of his absence fro mWashington
ana IN view of the absence also of Secre-
tary Hay 1t is impossible for to dis
cuSS the matter. In due time the charges
VIII receive all the attention they deserve
Taken In connection with Secretary Taft's
noncommittal statement. this declaration
Is taken to mean that thorough investiga-
ton is to follow the Presidents return 10
Washington and IT is also certain that this
investigation will involve the course pur-
sued by Mr.. Bowen, the United States min
lSter at Caracas, in respect to these asher
sions cast upon Mr.. Loomis 1t can be
stated positively that Mr. Bowen himself
d1d not father any charges against Mr.
Loo mis-. but the question in the official
mind Just now is whether he adopted cor
rect attitude when he knew of their fire..
circul ion in Caracas
While Mr.. Loomis himself declines to
discuss the matter in the absence of mis-
official superiors. his New York friends
are reported to have assured the President
or his absolute innocence of any wrong
doing while in Caracas. 1t is said that
strong testimony to that effect was sup
piled to the President by Avery d. An
drews now member of the asphalt com
pany and at one time associated with Mr.
Roosevelt as police commissioner in New
York. Mr.. Andrews is reported to have
said that the checks which passed were in
the ordinary and proper course of bust
ness; that at different times Mr. Loomis
had obtained Venezuelan cash from the
companys agents in Caracas in exchange
for American bank checks that in this
there was no improperly. as other minis
ters had repeatedly done the same thing to
save charges for money changes and that
President Roosevelt had agreed with him
in that conclusion.