Evening star., 1911-05-29
Artist Says He Got $3.50;
Voucher Shows $2,450.
FOR JUSTICE DAY PICTURE
Portrait Painter Startles House In
vestigating Committee.
RECEIPT NOT IN THE FILES
Rosenthal Says Discrepancy Was
Accidentally Brought to His No
tdce Some Time Later.


Albert Rosenthal. a Philadelphia por-
trait painter, today startled the House
committee which Is investigating expend-
itures in the State Department with the
charge that he was paid only $3.50 for a
portrait of Associate Justice William r..
Day. former Secretary OF State, while the
State Department records contain q
voucher and receipt indicating that he
was paid 81. 45O.
Mr.. Rosenthal indicated that he learned
OF the voucher being made out for this
amount, practically three times what he
received, when Charles DENLY, who had
succeeded Col. w. H. Michael as chief
clerk of the State Department, reproved
Mr. Rosenthal for charging so much for
the Day portrait. Mr.. Rosenthal told
Mr.. DENLY he had received only $3.50,
and Mr.. DENLY Immediately sent for the
voucher and permitted the artist to see
1t.
Immediately after Mr.. Rosenthal had
given this testimony. the committee
took a recess until this afternoon and
sent to the State Department for the
voucher in question. 1t Is the inten-
bottom Of the affair.
Mr.. Rosenthal told the committee that
he painted the Day portrait for his
series Of the Supreme Court.
He said that If he liked the portrait
he would want 1t for the State Depart
ment," said Mr.. Rosenthal.
WHO said that?" asked Representative
Hamlin of Missouri. the committee chair
man.
.'Mr. Justice Day." Mr.. Rosenthal re-
piled.
Had Agreement With Day.
Mr.. Hamlin asked Mr.. Rosenthal if he
had any agreement with anybody con-
nected with the State Department as to
the cost Of the portrait
mo-" said Mr.. Rosenthal. but I had
an agreement with Mr.. Justice Day that
I should not charge more than $3.50. with
the frame"
Mr. Rosentha1 then remarked that the
was completed and placed In
the state Department, where 1t is at
present, and that he received $3.50 for II.
rs that all the money you received!
Mr.. Hamlin inquired.
Yes, sir.''
And how did you receive that money!
1T has been 30 long ago" said Mr..
RosenfhaI ..that all know is that I re-
ceived d check Tor $3.50
rtOn "~0s
.From Col. Michaeel, chief clerk Of
the Department OF State at that time"
Mr.. Rosenthal rej0ined.
What kind Of a check did you re-
ceive?' the chairman continued. WAS
It his personal checkT
WELL" replied Mr.. Rosenthal,
could not swear to that; my impression
is IT was. but I could not swear to that
NJ %h,~ o.i~~A ~. no.>~<A.,
II he had signed any voucher or receipt.
always In my dealings with the de-
partment," said the witness, Il have got
ten some voucher. and find q voucher
In this case"
"A government voucher?" he was
asked.
Eyes, sir" said Mr.. Rosenthal.
Ibid you know what that voucher con-
tanned when you signed it," chairman
Hamlin asked.
'T do not recall that It contained any
said Mr.. Rosenthal.
Signed Blank Voucher.
"Was 1t q blank voucherT'
'It was" Mr.. Rosenthal replied.
The chairman then asked the artist IL
he had since had occasion to see that
voucher. Mr.. Rosenthal said that he
had. He said that in February. or
March, 1907. he had occasion to 90 to
the State Department on another matter.
''The subject Of the voucher was
brought up by Mr.. Denby.' he said. land
the subject OF my price for Mr.. Days
portrait was brought up We were dis
cussing portrait Of Secretary Hay that
painted and loaned for the Portland
exposition. and that caused MI. DENLY 10
remark that my prsca was more than the
department had ordinarily been charged.
said that was not possible, that l had
gotten $3.50 He said There is some mis-
take. because the voucher calls for good
deal more My impression is he showed
me the voucher and 1t called for g, 400 or
81. $50. Either one or the other"
Was that the voucher that you had
signed?" the chairman inquired.
TT had my signature on 1t?" said Mr..
Rosenthal.
You signed it In blank?" suggested
the chairman. Mr.. ROsenthal replied
in the affirmative.
was for $2,4OO or $2.45O?'' a member
asked. Now. svhat did you say or do?'
''Of course. I told them ! had not re-
ceived that amount" said Mr. Rosenthal.
He added that he told Mr. DENLY the
amount he did receive. and also that he
thought 1t was only due to Justice Day
to inform him OF the fact. I did that.
/ simply told him that was confronted
with a voucher for 2.45O for his protrait
that I had agreed to paint 1t for $3.50.
and had received $500"
"Do you know what. II anything, he
did, after you told him that?" Mr.. Ham
lin inquired.
mo-" said Mr.. Rosenthal, adding that
he did not have any further talk with
Justice Day.
The committee was again startled this
afternoon. when the hearing was resum-
ed. when Thomas Morrison. disbursins
clerk and chief of the bureau Of accounts
of the State Department, testified that
the voucher in question had been re-
moved from the fles by former Chief
Clerk DENLY. who succeeded Col. Michael.
Mr.. DENLY. Mr.. Morrison said. had act
ed on the authority Of Senator Root Of
New York. who was then Secretary OF
State. Mr. Morrison said he recoliected
the voucher very well, that 1t was for
81, 40, and that he did not recall another
case in the last ten years where q vouch-
er had been taken from the files and not
returned.
Mr.. Morrison testified that he paid the
entire amount Of the voucher to Col.
Michael