The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-04-01
COURTS UNDER
CASTRO S
THUMB
President Of Venezuela Has As
sumed Nearly All Offices Of
Government.
Special to The Journal.

OpGClat TO ! TIC JSdtuots
Washington, D. c., March 31.-The
futile negotiations at Caracas between
Minister Russell and Clyde Brown,
representing the New York and Ber-
mudez (Asphalt) Co., with the Ven
ezeulan Government, shows that Pres
ident Castro has assumed nearly all
the important Offices of the govern
ment So far as the asphalt contro-
Yersy is concerned, he has from the
first made it a personal matter. For
eign Minister Ybarra was nominally
in charge of the recent negotiat oRs,
but every question was referred to
Castro for decision.
In this policy he follows the prece-
dent established in dealing with all
controversies before the Venezuelan
courts in which he has a personal IN
terest. This has greatly complicated
the problem of the Washington gov
eminent, for nearly all foreign claim
ants against President Castro's repub
lie complain that they can not get a
square deal" before judges who are
likely to be dismissed or imprisoned
if they do not act in accordance with
the Presidents wishes.
Germany some time ago refused to
submit her citizens claims 10 Vene-
zuelan judges on the ground that they
were entirely dependent on. the gov
eminent and have frequently been
dismissed by the President" France,
Great Britain and other powers have
taken the same stand
Judges Put in Jail.
New evidence of the state Of things
complained of includes an instance
where four judges of the Superior
Court were put in Jail because they
had taken action favorable to a mum.
Der of newspaper editors, imprisoned
for utterances offensive to Castro.
Lately two courts d SIN; ssed a charge
of murder against man accused of
snCcting a brother of Castro's Secre-
tary The President promptly dis
missed the Judges of the Superior
Court, and the Supreme Court revers-
ing itself, ordered the new Superior
judges to hear the case again.
Evidence is also offered that during
the asphalt litigation no less than
IuIG6 COuIlS nave DSCA uduG ONCl "
Castro's orders. After ''reOrganiza-
ton" the new Court Of Cessation. had
no difficulty in ordering the seizure,
without notice, of the asphalt COM
pany's property, ana then solemnly
sanctioning it's own illegal proceed
ings in a separate judgement.
First the asphalt lake was seized
on the ground that the concession
aires had not dredged rivers as re-
quired by the original grant made in
1888. No proof Of this was offered,
but a receiver was appointed, who i'm
mediately proceeded to mine and sell
the asphalt. Protests against these
acts on the ground. that there was no
warrant for them under Venezuela's !
own laws were ignored by the courts, /
which also refused to recognize the
land and mining deeds for the same
which had been acquired by
purchase from the government.
Two of the asphalt company's at
torneys have been arrested at critical
moments in the proceedings and
thrown into prison. Castro has alsoI
dismissed the companys present at
torney from the Drofessorship of In
ternational law in the University Of
Caracas, and conferred the position
upon DR.. Parejo, the agent of the GOV.
eminent in it's suit against the asphalt
company Men whU have gone to /
to gather evidence for the
company have been warned away by
threats that persistence would mean
death. Since October, 1904, the COM
pany has not been allowed to conf
municate by cable with its counsel
and other representatives in Vene.
zuela.