New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-14
MISSING VOUCHER FOR
DAY PORTRAIT FOUND
ost Five Years, Discovered on
Eloor in State Department
Disbursing Office
SUMMON SECRETARY KNOX
uouse Investigating Committee
Wants Explanation of $4,000
Payment to Son of Ex-
Senator Hale.
,vrom The Tribune Bureau. J


,rroro The Tribune Bureau
.,,,0,on. June 13-The mysterious
-. long lost Day portrait voucher
az for s2.450, but covering a paint
cold for only $3.50, after an absence
%s,o years from the files Of the State
.r,rnent. has been found ION the floor
.ho Office Of the disbursing officer Of
a.,ortrent." This was the startling
'~s,-,pa;ion conveyed TO the House COM
,,,ee investigating the department by
-..u,as Morrison, the disbursing officer.
to-day
The voucher was found" by a mes
..,rer who was cleaning up the office,
w- Morrison testified and, despite its
-, absence. il was in good condition
:. f,c, according TO Mr.. Morrison. II was
he,,ar condition than when last seen
,..spse il had attached 10 il the ex-
,,.,a,ion by former Chief Clerk Michael
vbv the voucher called for s245O,
.,s,eas Albert Rosenthal, the artist, had
..s,se1 that he received only $3.50 for
=. nortrait Of ex-Secretary William r.
Day
Nr Morrison's explanation of the sud
e, finding Of the voucher was not en-
,relv satisfactory 10 the committee, and
spbnoara was issued for Secretary
Ynox with the request 10 appear before
the committee again in connection with
,he transaction.
The House committee also ran across
another state Department transaction in
ifs Investigation to-day. which it ac-
cen,ed in the light Of a mystery. II was
ascertained that in 1909 Frederick Hale,
soD Of ex- Senator Eugene Hale. had re-
esiyed $4,000 out of the Canadian boun-
dary fund the payment being made on
the sinple O. X. OF the Secretary Of
state.
Cannot Explain the Hale Bill.
O. H Tittman, Superintendent Of the
coast and Geodetic Survey. who was also
Mundsry commissioner. was put on the
sand and was unable To explain why Mr..
Hale had received $1,000. He said that
the survey asked for an appropriation Of
only $4,000 in connection with the
settlement Of the Passamoquoddy Bay
controversy, but th0t the appropriation
lad been increased $4,000 "on request OF
the State Department" Mr.. Tittman
aid he had made all the disbursements
except the $4,000 paid TO Mr.. Hale, which
vas done by direction Of Secretary Knox,
who had general supervision Of the fund.
DR. Tittman added that he had never
received the maps and briefs mentioned
It great length in the Hale account and
that he had never seen Mr.. Hale on his
trips to Washington.
Secretary Knox will also be asked by
The committee TO go into detail regard
Ing Mr. Hale's services. The voucher
fled with the committee shows that for
exhaustive researches Of treaties re-
ports. maps. historical works. various
documents. voluminous correspondence,
Photographs, study Of arguments and
preparation Of arguments in reply 10
British statement. etc" the government
owed Mr.. Hale $3.50, exclusive Of S932
for miscellaneous expenses and S6G4 for
mileage. The total bill was S61I6 10.
The discount was S1,176 10. and the re-
mainder 5000. was paid to Mr.. Hale.
Voucher Found a Week Ago.
II was the return of the Day portrait
voucher. however, which surprised the
committee most. The long missing
voucher. Mr.. Morrison testified, had been
found about q week ago.
rs Il customary 10 find vouchers ly-
Ing around on the floor like this. after
they have been missing from the files
for five years?" asked Mr.. Hamlin.
Mr. Morrison said he had never known
Il 10 happen before.
Asked who had been in the room that
Gay, Mr. Morrison recalled that for
mer Third Assistant Secretary Of State,
Thomas Cridler. and several consuls had
been in
do you think the voucher was placed
On the floor by some one?" asked Mr..
Eamnn.
That is my impression" emphatically
responded Mr.. Morrison.
Mr.. Morrison also recalled to-day in
contradiction 10 his former testimony,
that he had himself cashed the $3.50
craft for the Day portrait. and that he
had turned the cash instead Of the
voucher. over 10 Michael. He said he
had taken no receipt from the former
chief clerk
The committee then reverted 10 the
payment Of 5000 to Mr.. Hale for his
services in the boundary dispute. Mr..
Morrison said he had paid the money
on the O.. X. OF Secretary Knox. Mr.
Morrison said he did not know Mr.. Hale
personally, but that he understood he
was the son Of Senator Hale
The State Departments position is that
The Hale payment was usual and precise
ly along the lines Of the appropriation
covering the definition Of the Canadian
boundary. notably the Passamaquoddy
Bay negotiations. IN connection with
which Mr Hale had been employed on a
phase with which Commissioner Tittrnan
had nothing 10 do New regulations have
Already been issued mOdernizing the de-
iar'ments methods Of keeping accounts.
~ was stated that before Morrison's ex-
animation Secretary Knox to-day sent
NVro 10 Chairman Hamlin of the COM
tali'tee mat the Day portrait voucher had
% %seh round and that Secretary Knox had
r"cucaliy completes his investigation OF
md rfaL L..