The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-03
TAFT REFUSES ID
 SUBMIT PAPERS
Congressional Probing Com mittee Clashes With
 Chief Executive

Washington, June "A lively contro- versy over the executives right to with hold confidential papers from a congres sional probing committee was precipitateo today by & flat refusal of Secretary oi State Knox, on the instruction of Presi- dent Taft, to lay before the House com mittee on expenditures in the state de- partment books showing the record of the payment for the portrait of ex-Secre- tary of State Day. The committee Is seeking to discover what became of the s1600 balance on the s2450 voucher drawn for the payment of the portrait. Artist Rosenthal received only $S50 for his work and the s16o0 is yet unaccounted for.
 The President held that the s2450 was paid out of the emergency fund for unfore- seen emergencies In the diplomatic and consular service and for extending diplo- matic intercourse with foreign nations, which Congress had provided need not be accounted for if the President cer- tifies that an item should be paid from this fund.- President Roosevelt had made a certification and President Taft hesi- tated to go back of that certification. Fur thermore, Secretary Knox explained to the committee that 1t was improper to produce the books because thereby other undisclosed items of expenditures would be revealed Secretary Knox said he was directed to complete his investigation into what became of the money and to re- port the facts to the President.
 Chairman Hamlin of Missouri took is-
 rxr,a ri Ob to refuse to produce the record of the expenditure.
 Do you mean to say that s2450 may be spent for a portrait and Congress re- fused all information in regard to it?' he asked.
 Secretary Knox replied that 1t was nroper when a former President certi- fled to the expenditure from the emer- gency fund.
 Mir Hamlin threatened to take the mat ter to the floor of the House. A col loauy between the chairman and the sec retary resulted In the suggestion tha the chairman might be allowed personal ly to inspect the particular record. Thi! course probably will be followed. MT Knox said the books showed no further information than the committee was il possession of.
 'I surmise, it Is just my impression, said the secretary, that if we find tha this $16OO was legitimately expended, not withstanding the irregularity of the rec ord, that will end it; but if 1t has beer f1lched, the greater the punishment oi the offender the greater will be our pleas. ure."
 Secretary Knox in his letter to the President cited President Folks refusal in 1s46 to furnish the House with sim liar records.
 The President said that when Secretary Knox concluded his investigation of the particular expenditure he should sub- init the matter to him and he (the Pres idenD would determine whether the money was lawfully ''or dishonesty anc improperly misappr1priated.'
 If I have rc1son to believe that tht latter alternative is the true one," tho President added then I shall direct yot to submit the result of your investiga tion with respect to the item to tn, committee. In the meantime, I do no deem it proper that you should submi to the committee telegrams and othel steps or partial details of your investi gation."
 Secretary Root, who was Secretary O State about the time the portrait wal naid, for, will testify next Tuesday as t, what he may know about the case.