New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-15
Chairman HamIin of Investigate
ing Committee Intimates 1t
Has Been Tampered With.
SECRETARY RESENTS IT
Messenger Tells How 1t Was
Found, and Michael Says He
Gave Balance to Secretary
Hay-Payment to Hale
Explained.
lFrom The Tribune Buresu.l


Washington, June 14.-Satisfactort-
" explaining the payment OF So'"o 10
Frederick Hale for services rendered In
connection with the Canadian boundary
dispute but admitting that he Is as
deeply puzzled as the committee over
the sudden finding" Of the long lost
Day portrait voucher. the Secretary OF
State appeared this afternoon before the
house committee investigating the state
Department.
Secretary Knox confirmed the testi-
mony of Thomas Morrison. disbursing
officer OF the state Department, that
the Day portrait voucher was found
week ago ION the floor Of the Office OF
Mr.. Morrison" by a messenger Of the
State Department Mr.. Knox said he
had theory that the voucher had been
in the department all the time. He said
emphaticaly that If the committee could
aid him in discovering that any persons
had tampered with the voucher or had
been responsible for its disappearance
there will be some vacancies in the
department
The Secretary filed with the committee
the explanation made TO Secretary Root
in 1906 by William II. Michael now
consul general at Calcutta. who was
chief clerk OF the State Department
when the voucher was drawn for S2,-
100, although the artist, Albert Rosen-
thai. received only $3.50 for the painting
and signed the voucher in blank
Mr.. MichaePs explanation 10 Secretary
Root was that the remainder of the
money was turned over 10 and expended
by Secretary Hay. who used the 81 800
excess in paying other bills due from
the emergency fund.
The hearing was marked by one dra-
matte interchange between the Secretary
and Chairman Hamlin Of the committee.
when the chairman broadly insinuated
that the voucher had been tampered
with since the present investigation be-
gan. Mr.. Hamlin based this insinuation
on the fact that the voucher when
found contained a receipt from Rosen-
thai. following Rosenthars testimony
that he signed no receipt
Mr.. Knox Resents Insinuations.
What do you suspect?" demanded Mr..
Knox. Indignantly. DO you think that
somebody is trying to commit perjury or
forgery"
Il am not inslnuating anything against
you personally, Mr.. Secretary,"S "Sreplied
Mr.. Hamin. but I might as we'll say
frankly that l believe that this Rosen-
thai receipt has been recently signed and
attached 10 this voucher. Somebody In
the State Department knows about IT,"
Il would like to have your aid in find
ing him out said the Secretary. Per
sonally know nothing of this transac-
ton. | have submitted all the papers
we have, but If ascertain that any en-
ploye OF the State Department has con-
nived or winked al such a scheme 10
attach a recently signed receipt 10 this
voucher | can promise you there will be
some vacancies in my department.
II will tell you why / think this re-
ceipt has but recently been attached 70
this voucher. which has been missing for
five years and now bobs up on the floor
of the department" said Mr.. Hamlin.
MFR. Rosenthal said he received $3.50 for
the Day painting. on June he wrote
a letter which / produce here in which
he SAYS that after examining his bank
account for that year-19O4-he finds
that he received S190 and that the 500
additional was paid TO a Mr.. Fisher for
the frame.
Now the voucher reappears. At
tached is a receipt for $50. signed by
Rosenthal and an notation In INK by
Rosenthal. as follows: This does not In
clude the frame. for which Mr.. Fisher re-
ceived SEQ To my mind this shows that
Rosenthal signed that receipt after going
over his bank books. for he wrote me
only a few DAYS ago saying that he had
lust discovered the payment for the
frame"
WHY don't you summon Rosenthal
again?" suggested the Secretary
We will" answered Chairman Ham
lin.
Tells Of Finding the Voucher.
Answering questions as TO the finding
Of the voucher Mr.. Knox said.
81 ordered a thorough search for the
voucher as soon as / learned of this dis
crepancy. A week ago yesterday the
voucher was brought TO me with the ey-
planation that It had been found on the
floor. | cannot explain II and | nave
found no one else able 10, although
have made many inquiries. | have told
the committee all know about TINS DIS
crepancy, which happened years before
came into office. Mr. Michael says ne
knows nothing else about the transac-
ton except what he reported TO Secre-
tarv Root in 1906 | think we nave
given the committee all the information
that we can obtain"
Did YOU make any inquiry TO ma out
how the popers got there" asked Chair
man H1mln.
Il did" said Secretary Knox and
could learn nothing. All | know about