Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-21
THE KNOX PORTRAIT
Renewed Criticism of the De-
partment of Justice.
EXPENDITURE DISGUISED
In Estimates Classed as "Miscel-
laneous"
ON URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL
Little Progress Made by the House
Appropriation for Transporting
Silver Cut Down.
EXPENDITURE DISGUISED
ON URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL

Abuses in the expenditure of appropria-
lions the text of the discussion In the
House OF Representatives yesterday during
the consideration of the urgent deficiency
appropriation bill. But little progress was
made in the considera ton of the bill. which
will be the continuing topic for tomorrow.
The portrait of ex-Attorney General Knox,
for which the Department of Justice has
asked S2,C15 was again the topic of com
ment. The most animated discussion of
the day took place on an amendment by
Mr.. Keller OF Ohio to increase the amount
for the transporta ton of silver coin. Two
well-defined arguments were advanced on
this question. One was that to cut this
appropriation meant distress to the interior
sections of the country, where silver money
was used, and the other that the appropria-
ton was abused by the express companies.
for whose benefit 1t was stated the appro-
priation was annually made.
The Knox Portrait
Regarding the item in the bill of S2.615
for portrait of ex-Attorney General Knox,
Mr. Padgett CTenn.) asked Mr.. Tawney If he
believed that to be justifable appropria-
tion.
In answering Mr. Tawney read the esti-
mate from the Department of Justice COW
erng the picture expenditure. 1t read:
For miscellaneous expenditures, includ-
ing telegraphing, fuel. lights, foreign post
age, labor. repairs of buildings. care of
grounds, books of reference. periodicals
and other necessaries directly ordered by
the Attorney General himself. s.. 615.
Mr.. Tawney said this request was in
vesttgated by the committee and found to
cover the picture in question The COM
mittte took the ground that if the appro-
priatiuu to be made il ought to be
disclosed to the House and made i'll the
open.
gentleman justify the appropriation
Mr.. Tawney said he understood 1t to have
been the custom for some years in all de-
partmeRts that when a Secretary retired
soon therea fter his portrait adornS the
walls Of the Office in which he served and
the expenditure has been paid out of the
contingent fuEd."
Il do not think any can justify it,
continued Mr. Tawney.
MIR. Tawney said 1t was hoped the pres
ent d scussion. if nothing else, would put
an end to the practice.
''TheEe should be d specific appropriation
IN each ease" said Mr.. Littauer.
State Department Restricted.
Il developed during the considerati ton of
the bill for amendment that, Mr.. Lit
tauer remarked. the State Department had
sought to evade the law OF last year re-
strct.ng the use of government carriages
carriages for assistant secretaries out of
the fund Ito enable the President to meet
unforeseen emergencies in the diplomatic
and consular service"
To prevent this, the item in the bill sun
plying deficiency in this fund prohibits it's
expenditure within the District of Columbia,
except for the entertainment of the repre-
sentatVes of foreign governments.
In answer TO a query to what caused
the deficiency in this fund Mr. Littauer
said the Portsmouth peace conference had
cost the government $4,000 and the en-
tertainment of Prince Louis of Battenberg
had cost 4.3l1.07. The fund he said was
not entirely exhausted.
Rising to the defense of a provision for
eight clerks in the treasury to count money
MT. Gaines said this old money should be
retired. IL was rotten. dirty, bacteria car
rying, dlsease-breeding paper money" 1t
smelled like dead animals and ought TO be
retired from circulation.
Mr.. Lttlefield calculated the tonic nv
stating, in Germany II is germs in Paris
parasites in Ireland. microbes, and
when they get here again, 'backteria' p"
Mr.. Gaines believed these germs were
responsible for much of the reported de-
hciencies These germs simply run off
with the money" he declared
Transportation of Coin.
AN hour's debate was arranged on an
amendment offered by Mir. Keifer (Ohiol
Increasing from S}.426 to 2l9e9O the amount
Tor the transportation of silver coin, Mr..
Keller made an argument in-behalf OF sill
yer money and said the cutting down OF
this appropriation was discrimination
against it,
MI Smith iowa declared the practice
OF transporting silver coin from and 10 sub
treasures was graft pure and simple in the
interest Of express companies
l l.Fl t.
Grated graft Every Secretary of the treas
uly from Carlisle down, he said has dis
approved Of the practice. He said he could
give a specific instance where an exnrsss
company was paid by the government s1g ..
200 for transporting It's own money FROM,
San Francisco to New York A person he
sad, could send a draft to a subtreasury
10 pay duties on i'm ports. The government
was compelled to send silver coin to the
port OF entry at its own expense and then
snip II back TO the subtreasury, also at It's
own expense.
Mr.. Williams (Miss) stated that If the
movement of silver was stopped or re
strtcted 1t would work hardship In agrIcul-
tural districts.
Referring to the consideration OF the tier,
IN committee. Mr.. Tawney said the sub
committee had found evidence of abuses
and had about concluded not to recon-
mend the fun $4,000 asked for
Interest of Express Companies
BY some unknown means" he continued
INC representatives of the express COM
panies were the first to receive the news
and waited on members of the COMMITTEES
the next morning to change that conclusion -
Further inquiry by the committee Mr.
tawney said; developed that the law was
being abused by the express Companies
bank IN Honkers. n. Y. he said asked
Tor several thousand dollars in silver. and
mace us demand upon the subtreasury In
New York city, which was fourteen miles
from the fonkers bank. The shipment
was made by an express company, which
sent the silver first from New York ~
Binghamton, $50 miles. 1t was there
transferred TO another express companv
which carried 1t to Tarrytown, about I5
miles, There II was transferred to stiIl
another express company and sent fftcar
miles TO Yonkers This was one of The
abuses of this fund The total annual an.
preparation for this purpose he said had
been $4,000.
Mr.. Keifer closed the debate in favor OF
the amendment. He said he would no,
attempt to answer the argument against
the appropriation that Il was abused be-
cause some one in the Treasury DEPART