Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-06-03
RIGHT Of CONGRESS
TOPRObE EXPENSE
ACCOUNT DENIED
PORTRAIT PAID FOR OUT
OF SECRET SERVICE FUND
Clash Comes In Committee
Hearing When Secretary
Knox, Under Order Of Taft,
Declines to Produce Record
of Deal.
lBy Morning Journal special Leased wireI


fBy Morning Journal Special Leased wireI
Washington, June "A contro-
versy over the executive right to with
hold confidential papers from cong
ressional probing committee was pre-
cipitated in the capital today by the
refusal of Secretary of State Knox, on
instruction of President Taft, TO place
before the house committee on ex-
penditures the house books show
ing the record for the payment for the
portrait Of former Secretary of State
Day.
The committee Is seeking to find
what became OF the $1,000 balance
Of the $2,450 voucher drawn for the
payment of the portrait. Artist Ros-
enthal received only $3.50 for this
work. and the $1,000 il unaccounted
for
The president held the $2.450 was
paid out of the emergency fund for
unforeseen emergencies In the diplo-
matte and consular service and for
extending diplomatic intercourse with
foreign nations. which congress had
provided need not be accounted for
if the president certifles that an item
should be paid from this fund.
President Roosevelt had made a
certfication and President Taft hesi-
tated to 20 back Of that certiflcation.
Furthermore Secretary Knox eN-
planned to the committee it was i'm
proper to produce the books because
thereby undisclosed items OF expend-
iture would be revealed Secretary
Knox said he was directed to COM
plete his Investigation into what be-
came of the mones and to report the
facts to the president.
Chairman lIamlin of Missouri
threatened to take the matter TO the
floor of the bsuse. A colloquy be-
tween the secretary and tlamlin fin
l.ally resulted in The. suggestion that the
chairman might, be allowed personall-
ly to inspect the particular record
This course probably will be follow
ed.
Mr.. Hamin questioned Secretary
Knox closely as to what justification
there was for paying for portrait
out of secret fund set aside for un-
foreseen emergency and extending
diplomatic intercourse.
Mr.. Knox said ii had been the prac-
tlce since 1890. He informed the
committee that no trace had yet
been found of the $2450 voucher
which Mr.. Rosenthal said he signed In
blank after receiving the $3.50 per-
sonal check of former Chief Clerk
Michael, now consul general to CAL
cutta.
President Taft said that in view OF
the facts and circumstances and that
the emergency fund expenditure for
this period. have, under the express
authority of congress, been certified
by Secretary Hay "for my predeces-
sor President Roosevelt as being of
such character as ought not to be
made public, | feel that nothing but
some extraordinary circumstance
would justify me in directing you to
take such records before the commit
tee named because the discretion thus
exercised under the statute, should In
my judgment. in general be conclusive
and binding upon this point"
Senator Root who was secretary or
state about the time when the portrait
was paid for. will testify next Tues
day as to what he may know about
the case.