Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-17
TOLD NOT TO TALK
Attempt to Prevent Discussion
of Day Portrait Case.
DENNY SENDS HIS REPORT
Criminal Action Considered at Time
of Root Inquiry.
WHY MATTER WAS HUSTLED
Desired to Protect Memory Of For
mer Secretary Hay From Any
Suggestion of Scandal.
DENNY SENDS HIS REPORT
WHY MATTER WAS HUSTLED

The Day portrait mystery continues
to interest the committee on expendi-
lures in the Department of State. 1t
developed at the hearing before the COM
mittee yesterday afternoon, when Thorn
as Morrison, the disbursing officer of the
department. was on the stand. that an eff
fort apparently was made to put the
lid on the voucher mystery. 1t will
be recalled that this voucher for 81. 400
ostensibly TO pay for the Day portrait,
but of which the artist who painted it
received only $50, mysteriously disap-
peared in 1905 and did not come to light
until June e. last. when it was found
on the floor of Mr. Morrisons office,
among a lot of waste paper.
Representative Hamlin of Missouri.
chairman of the expenditures committee,
asked lr. Morrison yesterday if he had
made any further efforts to discover who
had been in possession of the voucher
since 1906 and who had returned 1t the
other day. Mr.. Morrison said that he
hadn't.
why not?" Mr.. Hamlin asked
Told to Keep Quiet.
Il was to,i not to say anything about
it, the witness replied
At first Mr.. Morrison couldn't remem-
Der who had given him this direction,
but later recollected that it was Wilbur
j. Carr, director of the consular serv-
ice.
When did he tell you that" inquired
Mr.. Hamlin
After the voucher was found" Mr.
Morrison answered. 1T was thought ad-
visable that the matter be kept quiet and
not discussed
Another interesting feature of the ses-
sion Yesterday afternoon was the receipt
by the committee of the cablegram and
letter forwarded to the State Depart.
at Vienna, Austria. Mr. DENLY succeeded
Col William II. Michael as chief clerk
OF the department, and ii was he who,
under the direction of Secretary Of State
Root. in 1903 made an investigation Of
the circumstances surrounding the pay
ment of the amount of the voucher to
Col Michael and the latters payment of
only one-third of the sum to Albert Ros-
enthal OF Philadelphia. who painted the
Day portrait. Both the cablegram and
letter from Mr.. DENLY were In response
to cabled inquiries from Secretary Knox,
made after the recent disclosures before
the expenditures committee.
Mr.. Denby's Report.
The cable dispatch from Mr.. DENLY,
which was received at the department
May !, is as follows:
Cablegram oath received. No written
report was made. Careful preliminary
investigation failed to convince depart-
ment that criminal charges could be
sustained. My report by next mail
This cablegram referred Of course. to
the results of the investigation ordered
by Secretary Root.
In his letter, received at the depart
ment yesterday. Mr.. DENLY explains that
the voucher discrepancy was discovered
in lU6, when the department negotiated
for a portrait OF Secretary Hay. The
chief clerk adds that prior to the Root
regime IL included in one voucher smaller
sums paid for various expenses out of
the appropriation allotted to the depart
ment TO be expended at the discretion
of the Secretary of State and known as
the emergency secret fund
As to the result of the investigation
conducted by order of Secretary Root
in 1906 which Mr.. DENLY says was never
known outside of the department, the
former chief clerk reports as follows:
Practices Discontinued. 0
HoW Tar the alleged irregularities in
the use of the particular fund In aues-
ton were within the knowledge of Sec
rotary Hay could not be ascertained, as
he died in 1906, in which year also Mr..
Michael went as consul to Calcutta Such
practices were not continued under Sec
rotary Root, but reports were brought
to my knowledge while chief clerk that
the practice had existed previously
In view of the entire lack jahl
proof of misappropriation Of funds and
the inevitable unpleasant criticism of the
administration Of an honored man which
would result in public action. the incident
was passed over and official action
was taken
The committee proposes 70 continue its
inquiry along lines intended to throw
light on Chairman Hamlins suspicion
that the voucher and other papers in
the Day portrait mystery We're doctor
ed when an investigation of the matter
was ordered.