The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-17
MYSTERY DEEPENS
Knox Fails to Explain Find.
ing of Day Voucher.
ADDS NEW ELEMENT TO CASE
Receipt Attached to Papers For $3.50
With Notation That $50 Was
Paid For Frame TO Pic.
ture Dealer.
ADDS NEW ELEMENT TO CASE

Washington, June 15.--The mystery
that surrounds the sudden discovery
in The state department of the Day
portrait voucher found week ago on
the floor of the office OF Discussing
Clerk Morrison was not cleared up
when Secretary of State Knox appear
ed before the Hamlin committee OF
the house in response to the commit
tees subpoena.
Secretary Knox explained appar.
emily to the satisfaction of the com.
mittee the payment of $4,000 to Fred
erick Hale, of Maine, for services in
connection with Canadian boundary
negotiations. Mr. Knox produced the
sections of the treaty in 1908 which
authorized negotiations with Canada
TO establish the line through Passama-
quOddy bay. MIR. Hale was employed
for this work. performed his duties TO
the satisfaction of Secretary Root and
Secretary Knox approved his bill Of
$4,000 a few weeks after coming into
control of the state department.
MIR. Hale was not employed to act
ually locate the boundary. but for the
diplomatic work Of agreeing on the
line through Plssamaquoddy bay.
said Mr.. Knox. when he failed To
reach an agIC sment with Great Britain
the matter automatically went to arbi-
tratiOn. Congress then apprOp riated
Sl5.0O0 for that work. but Mr. Bryce
and sat in my Office one day and SET
tied the matter not regarding II Of
enough value to go TO the expense Of
arbitration. We reduced our agree
ment to writing, it became a treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain and as such was ratified by
the senate"
Vague as to RosenthaI.
As to the voucher signed by Albert
Rosenthal. a portrait painter OF Phila-
delphia, calling for $3.50, Of which
sum Rosenthal got only $3.50. Mr. Knox
could give no new facts. He only
anew that he had started a search for
it as soon as he had heard about the
case and that the search failed to re-
veal any trace of the voucher, or let
ters that were supposed to be with il.
A week ago said Mr. Knox, MI
Carr. chief of the consular bureau,
brought the voucher and papers TO
him. saying that they had been found
on the floor of Disbursing Clerk Nor
risOn's Office.
Did you make any inquiry to find
out how they got there?" asked Chair
man Hamlin
Il did" said Secretary Knox. and
could learn nothing. All | know about
the whole case is embodied in this
voucher and the papers attached TO
H."
At this point Secretary Knox added
a new element 10 the mystery.
you will he interested in another
receipt from Mr.. Rosenthal that is al
tached to the papers" he said 10 the
committee. 1T was signed Jan. Is,
1904. and is for $3.50. with a notation
that $50 for the frame OF Secretary
DAYS picture had been paid TO a
Washington picture dealer.
Mr.. Hamlin grabbed the papers.
Where did this second receipt come
FROM" he demanded.
Il found it with the papers; that
is all know of it," said Secretary
Knox.
The members Of the committee, on
examination. found that it was not
actually dated Jan. IS, 1904, but read:
Received Jan. IS. 1904 the sum OF
1870" with an explanation Of the pur-
pose.
Mr.. Hamlin declared he believed
theer was something wrong about the
receipt. He minated that he believed
it had been fixed up. at least as to the
explanation in ink across the bottom,
after the present investigation began.