The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-06
HAML|N CAUST|C
/ IN HIS CRITICISM
Ccnsures President and Secre-
tary of State for Secret
Use of Funds.
HE ALLEGES THEIR MISUSE
Says Only God and Little
White House Crowd Know
Where, Money Went.

Washington, December 5.-Criticism
of the President and Secretary of State
for their Interpretation of the statute
governing the secret fund for the state
Department was made by Representa-
tive E.amlin, or MISSOURI, in speech
In the House to-day. Mr. Hanlin is
chairman OF the Committee on state
Department Expenditures. which has
been making an investigation Of this
matter.
In six years, said Mr.. Hamlin. de-
partment officials had expended secret
~ St32,9s1, averaging si22,000 a year,
when the secret fund appropriated for
such purpose was only 500. 900 a year.
He called upon the House to amend
the statute to prevent the fund becom-
ins the very haven of official piracy"
Urges Passage of His Bill.
AS a remedy. Mr., Hamlln urged the
passage of his bill to create a Joint
committee of three Senator's and three
Representatives. to whom the Presi-
dent shall make an itcmiZed report on
the hrst OF each December on eNpendi-
lures of the money given him for the
preceding fiscal year for emergencies
arising In the diplomatic and consular
service The bill makes misuse OF the
fund high crime and misdemcnnor, and
an tmpeachable ofrense.
II have found enough, out about this
secret fund" declared Mfr. uamlin. ITO
make me anxious to know how many
thousand dollars have been expended
each year on portraits. pleasure trips,
dollar diplomacy, increased salaries
and other things that Congress- never
contemplated should be paid from the
secret fund.
Last year" he said. I've spent
nearly 100000 when there were no
war clouds on the horizon. The Presi-
dent, bearing the olive branch in one
hand, with the other was pulling. out
the money from the Treasury at the
rate of $3.50 day. including Sundays.
We are tol6 the money went for secret
purposes. but where It went only God
and the little crowd at the White
House. and State Department knows
During the last six nscel years.
he continued. the State Department
has used money from eighteen funds
besides the emergency fund, and cover
ed the expenditures by n blanket certi-
hcate of secrecy"
How Funds Are Used.
Among the funds so used Mr.. HAM
lin mentioned contingent expenses Of
iorcisn MISSIONS, III international SeiS-
moioEical association. interna tionnl
prize court conference ut London, ST.
Johns River litigation, celebration of
disco cry of Lake Champlain. $4,000
spent from tn Champlain fund to en-
able this country to participate in the
cele ration being covered by n secret
voucher.
I Mr.. IIamlin said that If this money
was actually used for that celebra-
ton, at probably went for railroad
fare, hotel bills. automobile hire. ban
quoting, wine and the like
Yet said he. instead of furnish
ing vouchers the President causes the
Secretary of State TO make n certif-
cate solemnly declaring that tho ma
ture and object of this expenditure IT
is deemed inexpedient to make known.
This is monstrous proposition
freighted with great danger to the
public treasury
He said that such construction
would open lnitless field ..by which
1t would be possible to make this fund
the very haven of official piracy"