The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-23
Charges That HarieS Assent
ed to Requisition Wben
Latter Signed 1t, and That
Boynton Approved 1t.
Vigorously Denied BY Gen.
= Boynton = Committee on
Text Books Investigating.
Deliberations Kept Secret.

at is strange that members of the
Board of Education should forget the
method used to pay Miss Johnston the
5000 which was due her, but which
could not be paid in the regular way
because of technical objections to the
form of the voucher" said Major H. H.
Twombly, former secretary of the
Board of Education, this morning.
Several members of the board and
many, many outsiders knew that Miss
Johnstcn's bill had been listed as some
thing else.
General HaTries certainly knew of it
when he signed the requisition, and
General Boynton was informed of it
Immediately on his return to the city
from a trip to Chattanooga at that
time, June, 1901.
superintendent Stuart introduced
Miss Johnston to me, explained the in
justice which had been done her, and
: knew of the plan adopted to pay her"
Remembers Transaction Well.
81 remember the transaction with Miss
Johnston very we'll She had a contract
for two sets OF pictures al $500 each.
The FIRST set was delivered and paid for.
When a voucher fer the second set was
drawn. a clerk wrote on It. for the Paris
Exposition These words led to n re-
lection OF the voucher It was held at
the Treasury Department that pictures
TO go to Paris could not be paid for out
Of the school funds.
Several attempts we're then made TO
pay this bill b. other means. A state
ment Of the case was sent the American
commissioners TO the Paris Exposition,
and they were asked to pay the bill.
They refused.
"Afterward the District Commission
ers asked the House Committee on Ap-
propriations 10 provide in the general
deficiency bill an item covering Miss
Johnstons claim. Chairman Cannon re-
jected the proposition vigorously He
said he was tired of deficiency appro-
priations for the Paris Exposition. The
consequence was that movement ceased
in that committee room.
Miss Johnston Suggested Plan.
Miss Johnston then reported 20 me
q conversation with some officer of the
Treasury Department / think it was
Comptroller TracewelL According to
that officer Miss Johnston's only hope Of
obtaining payment lay in the issuance
Of a voucher generally like that which
subsequently was issued to Mr.. Parker.
We considered the matter Informally.
1 told Miss Johnston nothing could be
done until the enc of the year. when l
could determine what sum remained un-
expended cut OF the general appropria-
tion for schools. There proved 70 be a
balance, and oct Of that balance l pro-
vided for the purchase of maps. the
reqUisition in Miss Jobnston's favor. the
purchase of some general school sup
plies. and a piano for the normal school.
"A Matter CT General Knowledge"
The proceeding was then a matter Of
general knowledge. When I handed the
reqUisition TO General Harries I said:
This provides for the payment OF
Miss Johnston's claim
General Harries replied. either Good
or I'm glad of it,
General BOynton returned to Wash
ington soon afterward and 1 said to him
when first I saw him.
" General. you were saved the annoy
ance while you were away OF signing
Miss JohustOn's voucher
"His reply was. as / recollect It now:
I'm very glad the account is paid.
would have signed the voucher willing
ly.'
Another account OF this same sort
Continued on Tenth Pagc)