Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-19
Day Portrait Committee Is
Scored in Minority Report.
PARTISAN BIAS CHARGED
Majority Severely Handled by
Messrs. Tilson and Wedemeyer.
NO EVIDENCE OF wRoNGDo1NG
Effort to Condemn Michael Declared
TO Be ASSASSINATION OF Char
acter From Behind

In a scathingly severe report Represent
atives Tilson Of Connecticut and Weoe-
never of Michigan denounced the other
Ave members OF the House committee OH
eypenditures in the State Department
which. after investigating the Day por-
trait mystery, recommended tbs d smissai
FOR the good OF the service" OF Col. VIII
liam III. Michael. United States consul
general at Calcutta. and Thomas MOTIF
son. disburslng officer of the State De-
partment. Messrs. Tilson and Wede-
meyer filed their Iong-awaited minority
report today.
The report Of the majority of the
committee. they say. is weak,
partisan effort to make scandal 1t IS
an attempt to besmirch the memory OF
one of our greatest Secretaries or
State the late John Hay. whose shining
character and unfailing fairness are In
marked contrast with the report or the
committee, but whose probity extends
too high to be reached by partisan
prejudice.
Assassination of Character
The effort to condemn Michael with
out chance to be heard is itself a
scandal 1t reaches the lowest depths
Of unfairness 1t shows a biased mind
which is not seeking justice 1t Is
assassination Of character from be-
hind
Nor is there a particle of evidence OF
wrongdoing on the part OF Morrison
I'm fact, we consider the report of the
majority a greater reflection upon the
fairness and intellectual integrity OF those
who made il than 1t is upon the honesty
OF those whom 1t condemns.
I'VE take 1t that the majority report Is
only an evidence of a partisan intention
to accuse officials under republican ad-
ministration OF dishonest conduct regard
Iess OF facts and evidence. The intention
is to make mud and throw it. hoping that
some will stick. We protest against the
methods of carrying on the investigation.
and pronounce the report as subversive
of common fairness and the ordinary
rights OF persons accused OF crime
Chairman Hamlin Criticised.
The minority criticise Representative
Hamlin, chairman Of the committee. and
his colleagues for holding the investisa-
ton by q small subcommittee. when the
full committee consists only of seven
members. Such a practice the report de-
clares to be unjust to members of the
committee and the department under in
'If il had been intended to have fair
investigation" says the report. 1.-The full
committee should have been invited in.
After citing the facts relating to the
s2.iJO voucher in the portrait case. $3.50
OF which was paid for the Day portrait.
the minority declare that the facts were
old and that Secretary Root had investi-
gated all the circumstances and con-
vinced himself that there had been no
misappropriation of funds. Because the
voucher in the Day case was signed In
blank by the artist. Albert Rosenthal, the
report declares that the State Department
should not be condemned stating that
this Is the prevailing practice under the
government, members of Congress them
selves invariably signing vouchers in
blank for their own salaries and also for
salaries of their own clerks.
why should the members of the
committee" the report reads, who con-
stantly sign vouchers often many
Department for having permitted a
voucher to be signed after the work
had been performed"
No Chance to Be Heard.
Concerning the statement Of the ma
jority that every opportunity was
given those interested to be heard the
minority declares that Col. Michael the
man most vitality interested. was given
no opportunity to be heard. but was
cond demned in the bitterest language
and accused or dishonesty under the
same facts on which Secretary Root
dropped the investigation some years
ago as not demanding his further at
tention." The minority report calls at
tention TO the report made by Col
Michael to Secretary Root in 1906. in
which he said that "the price of the
portrait was taken out of the envelope
containing the money in the presence
OF Secretary Hay, who retained the
balance" and also to- his statement
that the money was obtained at Sec
retary Hays direction.
Nothing Against Michael.
There is no evidence In the published
reports OF the hearings in any way op-
posed TO the statements OF Mr.. Michael"
the report declares The majority Of
the committee. in reaching It's conclu-
sions, Intentionally or unintentionally ig-
nores the fact that the voucher bears
Nr Hav'S uyr{ffen anDroyal and the