New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
TROUBLES WITH CASTRO.
Ne-c Torb, and Bermude- Company
Tells Of Conspiracy in Tene-ueta.

-r-l Nevr York and Berr7udey Company has Just
issued book containing an exhaustive statement
--zsr5ing the seizure Of its property at Guanaco
- RE Venezuelan government in 1@li The state
--e-- Of the co1npany's troubles with tfS Castro
co-eruulent. which chronologicaily arranged,
co-e-s more than two hundred pages. and Is OF
71ric interest this time because OF the revival
~ activity shown III Washington now in respect
N -fs several cases in which II is alleged. Amer
cans have suffered from nesation OF justice
II Tenezuela.
According 70 the New York and. BerTnudez Com
ram which is z subsidiary concern OF the Gen.
s-sl Asphalt Company. for the last seven years
= has been the victim Of a conspiracy the part
n Castro regime. and il is further strongly in
rir-ated tLat these frequent attacks on the com
psa.-s rights were for the purpose OF extort-
.rE money Even the last action by the Ven
r-1Jels1 government for noncompliance with the
terms Of the concession. it is pointed out vas
brought only after the American company's re-
-gssl - adjust matters
The conrrac- for the exploitation OF the uuCulti-
ra7ed iands ~ the state Of Bermudez where the
Cus1aco asphalt lake is situated. entered into
bsrzeen the Venezuelan government and Horatio
: Hamilton IN 1ss3 for q term OF twenty-five
,=zrs and rin expire this year Hamilton as-
signed the contract 10 the New York and Bermu-
dez Company in 1855.
Al interesting letter tending 70 show the rapac-
tr- ~ the officials IS reproduced in the asphalt
oompsny-s statement It was written in 1900 by
Ambrose Howard Garner. then managing director
Of the New York and Bermudez Company. This
the time of litigation over claims made
o. -1vaI company and encouraged by Castro s
agents Several persons approached Garner and
represented that matters could be arranged salts
fzctorily 10 the New York and BermgdeZ Com
psny On payment OF s4oOeao. Mr.. Garner wrote in
psrt:
They are after money. That Castro is behind it
EeTrt7E closer 70 il / have been approached from
three different points. all eanatins from the same
we have all the justice want
Garner since that time has been out Of the en-
poy of the New York and Bermudez Company,
and an 1904 appointed by the Venezuelan Presi-
cent receiver of the asphalt property when it vas
seized.
Another chapter Is devoted to the suspicious dis
r-issal and reconstruction of the Superior Court,
to which the case brought Then, in 1861, while
the action zas in the High Federal Court, the
senior counsel for the company Was arrested, the
government refusing to state the grounds OF his
detention This litigation resulted finally in VIC
torv for The New York ard Bernludez Company.
6gt n the spring of 1874. ii is charged, there
sac renewal Of the plot 20 seize the company
property. This vas in the form OF the action for
1cr-fulflnenI OF contract, and another charging
ucnplicicy in the Matos insurrection- The seizure
= the Gusnooo property took place before either
q these cases was tried and Garner. who was
Interested win Arnzi Barber. former presi-
cent Of ne asphalt combination, was placed IN
c1srsr- The order OF sequestratlon was an eA
psrte proceeding without notice being given TO
rhe company. Action brought for So,OpU0 poll
fsrS 9o6opD with alternative OF paying w.
"Af1 bolivaTs and relnQuishing the property Car
1er taxing charge II is said began at once ship
Ping sspi ait TO BARRIERS. company in New York
TIE complaining company tells OF the govern
mental control Of the Venezuelan courts, saying
Nst the Independence Of the judiciary is pIih-
cple unknown ana not understood in that country.
ne government il is charged, uses the Juolciai
olonnsls instruments OF oppressioh' tearing
uen down and setting them up al will
me further charges are made that the govern
h'-ni entirely disregarded the company lano anu
inning tiles and that there was wfful Tioiauoh
o the Venezuelan civil code. The book quotes sew
'Tsl authorities on international law TO snow the
rlsht of country TO intervene In behalf OF one
q its citizens where he has been proved TO be the
Ffc'lnl OF q raaisdministration of justice az the
hsnds OF another country. Several precedents are
elso quoted