Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-06-17
Unable to Shed Light on POr-
trait Voucher.
EXPLAINS FEE PAID TO HALE.
Says $4,000 Was Paid to Senator's Son
IN Connection With the Canadian
Boundary Negotiations.

The mystery that surrounds the sud.
den discovery in the state department
OF the Day portrait voucher, found a
week ago on the floor OF the Office OF
Disbursing Clerk Morrison, was not
cleared up when Secretary of State
Knox appeared before the Hamlin
committee of the house in response to
the committees 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. Mr.. Hale was employed
for this work, performed his duties TO
the satisfaction of Secretary Root and
Secretary Knox approved his bill OF
$4,000 few weeks after coming into
control of the state department.
"Mr. Hale was not employed to act
ually locate the boundary, but for the
diplomatic work of agreeing on the
line through Passamaquoddy bay"
said Mr.. Knox. when he failed To
reach an agreement with Great Britain
the matter automatically went to arb.
tration. Congress then appropriated
$4,000 for that work, but Mr.. Bryce
and sat in my Office one day and set
tied the matter. not regarding 1t of
enough value to go to the expense OF
arbitration. We reduced our agree.
ment to writing, ii became treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain and as such was ratified by
the senate"
AS 10 the voucher signed by Albert
Rosenthal. portrait painter of Phila.
delphia. calling for $2450, of which
sum Rosenthal got only $3.50. Mr.. Knox
could give no new facts. He only
knew that he had started search for
II as soon as he had heard about the
case and that the search failed to re
veal any trace of the voucher. or let.
tiers that were supposed to be with 1t.
A week ago, said Mr.. Knox. Mr..
brought the voucher and papers to
him. saying that they had been found
on the floor of Disbursing Clerk Nor.
rison's Office.
Ibid you make any inquiry to find
out how they got there?" asked Chair
man Hamlin.
II did, said Secretary Knox. "and
could learn nothing. All know about
the whole case Is embodied in this
voucher and the papers attached TO
IT,"
At this point Secretary Knox added
a new element to the mystery.
you will be interested in another
receipt from Mr.. Rosenthal that is at
tached to the papers" he said to the
committee. 1T was signed Jan. rs.
1904, and is for $3.50. with 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 II with the papers; that
Is all know OF It," said Secretary
Knox.
The members OF the committee. on
examination. found that II was not
actually dated Jan. Is. 1904. hut read:
Received Jan. is. 1904. the sum OF
$780," with an explanation OF the pur.
pose.
Mr.. Hamlin declared he believed
theer was something wrong about the
receipt. He intimated that he believed
IL had been fixed up. at least as to the
explanation in ink across the bottom.
after the present investigation began.