Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-06-15
SECRETARY KNOX
EXPLAINS DAY
)
VOUCHER
COMMITTEE SATISFIED
CONCERNING PAYMENT
Money Went to Son of Former
Senator Hale for Services
Rendered In Connection With
Canadian Boundary Dispute,
my Morning Journal Special Leased wire,

tBy Morning Journal Special Leased wireI
Washington. June 1.-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 disburs-
ing Clerk Morrison, was not cleared
up when Secretary of State Knox APP
peared today before the Ramlin
committee in response TO subpoena
issued yesterday
The secretary explained apparently
to the satisfaction of the committee
the payment of 5000 20 Frederic
Hale son of former Senator Hale of
Maine, for services in connection with
Canadian boundary negotiations, Mr.
Knox produced the sections OF the
treaty In 1908. whicn authorized me-
gotiations with Canada to establish
the line through Passamaquoddy bay
Mr.. Hale was employed for this work.
performed his duties TO the satisfae-
ton of Secretary Root and Secretary
Knox, approved his bill Of $4,000 a
few weeks after coming into control
of the state department.
Mr.. Hale was not employed actu-
ally to locate the boundary, but for
the diplomatic work of agreeing on
the line through Passamaquoddy
bay" said Mr.. Knox. When he fall
ed TO reach an agreement with Great
Britain the matter automatically went
to arbitration. Congress then appro-
priated $4,000 for the work, but Mr.
Bryce and | sat in my office one day
and settled the matter, not regarding
| II Of enough value to 20 to the ex-
| pense Of arbitration. We reduced our
agreement to writing, II became a
treaty between the United States ana
Great Britain and as such was rati-
fled By the senate"
"As TO the voucher signed by Al
bert Rosenthal, the portrait painter,
lcalhng for $2,450, of which sum
Rosenthal got but $3.50. Mr.. Knox
could give no data. He only knew
that he had started starch for II
as soon as he heard about the case
and that the search failed to reveal
iAnN trace Ol lllt Nia'iiNAf VI ANN'N'N
that were supposed to be with 1t.
A week ago, said Mr., Knox, Mr..
Carr. chief Of the consul bureau
| brought the voucher and papers TO
him, saying that they had been found
on the floor of Disburslng Clerk Nor
rison's office
Did you make any inquiry to find
out how they got there?" asked Chalr-
man Hamlln.
Il did" said Secretary Knox, and
could learn nothing. All know about
the whole case is embodied In TINS
voucher and the papers attached 10
IT,"
At this point Secretary Knox added
a new element TO the mystery
you will be Interested In another
recent from Mr.. Rosenthal that Is
attached to the papers" he said 10
the committee. 1T was signed Jahu-
ary is. 1904, and is for $3.50, with
notation that $50. for the frame oil
Secretary Days picture had been paid
to a Washington picture dealer.
Mr. Hamln grabbed the papers.
"Where did this second receipt
come FROM" he demanded,
81 found it with the papers that Is
all | know of It," said Secretary
Knox
The members of The committee
upon examination, found that II was
not actually dated January IS, lsVf'
but read; ~ -,
"Received January Is, 1874 the
sum of $3.50" with an explanation
of the purpose.
Mr.. Hamln declared he believed
there was something wrong with 'he
recent. He minated that he oeheN-
al II had been fixed up, at least as
To the explanation written IN iln
across the bottom, after the present
investigation began.
"Do you mean that you suspec.
some one In the state department -
guilty of committing perjury Z! de-
manded Secretary Knox with neat
"rbere is no intention to reflect
on YOU personally, Mr.. Secretary = re-
turned the chairman, but am
strongly Of the opinion that this was
nrepared after this inquiry began
"Then you think that Mr. Rosenthai
has written at least part of this re-
ceipt since the time indicated IN itF
asked Mr.. Knox.
Mr. Hnmlin replied that he thought
il was curious receipt, and that he
intended to probe the circumstances
to the bottom.
Il will welcome such an investiga-
ton" Secretary Knox said, and II
YOU can corroborate your theory, anu
can show that anyone In the state
department was cogniznnt Of such an
act, there will be some vacancies In
the department
Howard Sangston. the messenger IN
Disbursing Clerk Morrisons office,
who found the envelope containing
the voucher on the floor of the dis
bursting clerks office after the whole
department had been ransacked for 1t,
was then put on the stand.
He said he found the envelope
among a little pile OF crumpled ones
by MIR. Morrlson's waste basket, about
four and half feet from the latter's
desk. lie said Mr.. Morrison always
threw the crumpled envelopes down
on the floor. and that In picking them
up at the close Of the day he found
the heavy envelope among them.
II laid u on Mr. Morrisons desk"