The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-06-16
That Voucher investigation.

Washington, June 15.-Secretary
Knox has explained apparently to
the satisfaction of the committee the
payment of $4,000 to Frederick Hale,
sen of former Senator Eugene Hale,
of Maine, for services in connection
with Canadian boundary negotiations.
Mr.. Knox produced the sections of
the treaty of 1908, which authorized
negotiations with Canada to establish
the line through Passamaquoddy Bay.
Mr.. Hale was employed for this work,
performed his duties to the satisfac-
tion of Secretary Root and Secretary
Knox approved his bill of $4,000 a
few weeks after coming into control
of the State Departm ent.
AS to the voucher signed by Albert
Rosenthal, the portrait painter, call
ing for ,450, of which sum Rosen-
thai got but $3.50, Mr.. Knox could
give no new facts. He only knew
that he had started a search for it as
soon as he heard about the case, and
that the search failed to reveal any
trace of the voucher, or letters that
were supposed to be with it.
Secretary Knox added a new ele-
ment to the mystery.
"You will be interested in another
receipt from Mr.. Rosenthal that is
attached to the papers" he said to the
committee. '1t was signed January
| 18, 1904. and is for $3.50 with nota-
| ton that $50 for the frame of Secre
tary Days picture had been paid to q
Washington picture dealer.
| Mr.. Pamlin grabbed the papers.
Where did this second receipt
come from?" he demanded.
| 'I found it with the papers; that is
I ali 1 know of it, said Secretary
i Knox.
The members of the committee
upon examination. found that it was
not actually dated January 18, 1904
| but read: Received January 18, 1909
the sumo of $780," with an explana
ton of the purpose.
Mr. Hamlin declared he believed
there was something wrong about tht
receipt. He intimated that he be
lieved it had been fixed up, at 1eas
as to the explanation written in inl
across the bottom, after the presen
investigation began.
do you mean that you suspec
Isome one in the State Department il
guilty of committing perjury de
manded Secretary Knox, with heat.
''There is no intention to reflect OF
you personally, Mr.. Secretary" re
turned the chairman, s'but an
lstrongly of the opinion that this wa
prepared after this inquiry began
'"Then you think that Mr.. Rosen
thai has written at least part of thi
receipt since the time indicated il
it?" asked Mr.. Knox.
Mr.. Hamlin replied that he though
it was curious receipt and that h
intended to probe the circumstance
to the bottom
81 will welcome such an investiga
tion,'' said Secretary Knox, 'sand i
you corroborate your theory, and cal
show that any one in the State De
lpartment was cognizant of such al
act, there will be some vacancies il
the Department.
| Howard Sangston, the messenger II
Distributing Clerk Morrison's office
who found the envelope containing
the voucher on the floor of the dis
bursting office after the whole depart
ment had been ransacked for it
was then put on the stand, and test
fed, saying among other things tha
he found the envelope among 10
of crumpled ones by Mr.. Morrison
waste basket, about four and hal
fleet from the latter's desk.
81 laid it on Mr.. Morrison's desk,
said Sangston, land he sGid: stWh.
Howard, where did you get this; thi
is the voucher that has been causin:
all the trouble?'''
Sangston said he had not put tn
lenvelope there, had seen no on
throw it there and had no idea how /
got there. He said he did not know
that it contained the missing papers
Esave for the fact that Mr.. Morrison
Fhad said it did when he took it III
and opened it.
i Secretary Knox introduced the let
ter Secretary Root had written to w
H. Michael, now consul general a
Calcutta, and former chief clerk
when the Rosentha1 matter first cam
up in 1906; and the reply of MI
Michael These. were all the explana
tons the State Department has, sai'
.Secretary Knox. The Root letter call
ed Michael's attention to the fac
that the voucher had been found with
sout any hill or memorandum attach
ed, and that the aount was much il
excess of the. sum usually p;.id TO
portraits Of former secretaries
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