Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-01
Signing the Warrants.

brown ink on paper about the size of a
bank note. were diplomatic warrants 4,JG9
up to 4512, and the certificate of the
auditor for the State Department was num-
bered 1883.
The first full signature was that of As
sistant Secretary Vanderlip who decided to
sign in the absence of Secretary Gage, in
order to comply with the promises made
to the French ambassador and the Spanish
government, that the money should be
forthcoming a. once when the proper au-
thority for its payment was received. 1t
was about quarter past oclock Saturday
afternoon when DR.. Miller, acting chief OF
the warrant division of the treasury, af-
fixed his initials in red ink near the place
for the signature of the Secretary, in order
to indicate that the warrant had the ap
proval of his division. He laid the warrant
at once before Assistant Secretary Wander
lip, who picked up a plain steel pen in
rubber holder and in the presence of a few
officials of the department successfully
signed the four warrants. There is the
pen," said Mr. Vanderlip. handing it to one
of those present for inspection. Il am
going to send it to my mother"
DR.. Miller then took the warrants to Con-
troller Tracewell, where his chief clerk
Mr.. c. NJ. Force, affixed his signature in
the usual form. 1t remained to secure he
signature of Treasurer Roberts to permit
the money to be drawn from the treasury
Ii minute after o'clock when one
of the treasurer's subordinates accompa-
MED by Dr. Miller, laid the warrants before
Mr.. Roberts, and he attached his signature
in the neat hand so familiar upon govern
ment notes, Ellis II. Roberts. treasurer of
the United States" This completed the
official forms far as the treasury was
concerned. Assistant Secretary Vanderlip
decided to take the warrants personally to
the State Department, where 1t was ar
ranged that they should be handed to Am
bassador Cambon by Secretary Hay.
The Indemnity Paid.
Word was at once sent to the French en-
bassy that the warrants were on hand and
would be turned over to Ambassador Cam
bon at any time.
Shortly before II o'clock Ambassador
Cambon strolled over to the State Depart
ment. He was alone and no extra precau-
tion was taken to guard the transfer of
such large amount Secretary Hay re-
ceived the ambassador in the diplomatic
ROOM where the transfer took place with
little formality. The ambassador showed
the special authorization of the Spanish
government to receive the payment. The
Secretary then handed to MIN the four
treasury warrants, each for 50, 100000, read
ing as follows:
United States Treasury Department.
Diplomatic Settlement Warrant.
100000. No. 4511.
Washington. D. c., April 30 1899.
To the Treasurer of the United States:
Pay to his excellency Jules Cambon, am
bassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
of France, representative of the govern
ment of Spain, or order five million dol
lars ($5 900 OOU).
Countersigned F. A VANDERBILT,
Assistant Secretary.
r. J. TRACEWELL,
Controller.
c. M FORCE,
Chief Clerk
The assistant treasurer L. S, New York
Will pay this warrant.
ELLIS n RORERTS
The ambassador in turn handed Secretary
Hay receipt, which had been already pre-
pared
The original receipt was handed by Sec
retary Hay to Mr.. Frank Branagan the
disbursing officer of the Department of
State, to be filed away. The first copy was
given TO M Cambon. The second copy
will be sent to Mr. Storer the newly an
pointed minister to Spain. The third copv
goes to the United States ambassador TO
Paris, Mr.. Porter. and the fourth copy goes
10 the auditor of the treasury
Resuming Diplomatic Relations.
After receiving the s2O, 600. Nj. Cambop
nonchalantly folded up the four warrants
and put them in his card case Then he
and Secretary Hay chatted over the
speedy restoration of diplomatic relations
between the United States and Spain. for
this payment marked the very last sten or
the war negotiations.
Mr. Hay desired to know when the Duke
ID ARGOS would arrive in Washington
M Cambon said he thought that the
Spanish minister would come in about two
or three weeks; still he was not certain
of this, and he said this had been left large
ly TO the dukes personal convenience
When the ambassador left the State De-
partment he returned to the French en-
bassy, stiil unaccompanied and without the
slightest concern as TO the vast sum he
carried with him. A cable notification was
sent TO Madrid concerning the payment
and preparations made for having the war
rants paid and the funds forwarded This.
however, will not be done today, and ths
four warrants remain for the time being
In Washington. The money will be Deposit
ed in the City National Bank of New York