The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-31
Col. Michael, Whose Name is Mem
toned in Suspicious Voucher
Drawing, Once Lived
Here.
DIFFERENCE IN AMOUNT
Artist Got $3.50 for Painting While
Books Show He Was Paid
Three Times That
Sum.

WASHINGTON, D. G., May ST.
Iowa and Nebraska friends of Col !
William H. Michael, consul genera
at Calcutta, are confident he will be
exonerated from any wrong doing in
connection with payment for painting
the portrait Of Judge Day for the state
department, regarding which Artist
Rosenthal of Philadelphia has testi-
fed he received but $3.50, though the
voucher was for $2,45O.
Col. Michael, who was chief clerk
of the state department at the time,
was formerly from Keokuk, served
with an Iowa regiment in the civil
war, was wounded at Shiloh, saw
naval service, was a city editor in
Sioux City, and editor and owner of
Nebraska papers
He was chief clerk of the state de-
partment from 1897 to 1905 and was a
friend of Allison's.
Albert Rosenthal, Philadelphia
portrait painter, startled the house
committee which is investigating ex-
penditures in the state department
with the charge that he was paid only
$3.50 for portrait of Associate JUS
tice William r. Day, former secretary
of state. while the state department
/ records contain voucher and receipt
| indicating that he was paid $2,450
According to Rosenthal, he painted
the Day portrait in 1904, having had
an understaRi with Mr. Day that
/ he was to receive $3.50 for it.
After the delivery of the portrait,
he testified, William H. Michael. then
/ chief clerk of the department and now
/ consul general at Calcutta, sent to
/ him blank state department. voucher
which, at Michaels request, he sign
/ ed. He then received check for
$3.50.
Il think it was Michaefs personal
check said Mr.. Rosenthal.
Rosenthal further testified that he
was engaged later to paint portrait
of ex-Secretary Hay and that upon
completing the picture he sailed fol
Europe. When he returned to this
country he found the Hay picture hat
Il D6SH TSIuSSu Dy tHe SOSSll llllleHN.
Upon going to the state department
he said, he was told by Charles Den
by, now consul general at Vienna
who had succeeded Michael as HE
clerk, that his prices were exorbitant
Mr.. DENLY exhibited the voucher 70
$2,450, alleged to have been paid 70
the Day portrait, which brought ou
the fact that the price paid was onl
$3.50.
Thomas Morrison, disbursing clerl
Of the state department, was calle
and told the committee that he coul
not find the voucher for the Day pic
ture in the records of the department
t He said the voucher had been witt
; drawn by former Chief Clerk Denb
r earlv in Mr. Roots administration
y and that to his knowledge it had ne,
: er been returned. He said he kne'
the voucher was for $2,450 and tha
r he gave former Clerk Michael a chec
S for that amount
J. 1t was said at the state departmen
6 later that the books of the depar
s ment showed an entry Of S2,450 wit
i. notation that of this amount sS5
was paid to Mr. Rosenthal for po
/ trait of former Secretary Day an
6 that the remainder was disbursed b
!. Chief Clerk Michael under the dire
J. ton of the secretary of state Nj
Michael has been asked by Secretar
Knox to explain the entry.