New-York tribune., 1912-01-26
KNOX GIVES VOUCHERS
Shows ChampIain Celebration
Expenses Were Proper.
A "SCANDAL" EXPLODED
Secretary Explains Bills, but
Says Payments Should Not
Have Been Made from
Emergency Fund.
A "SCANDAL" EXPLODED
IEronl th. Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. Jan. 25-The scandal-hunt-
ing Democrats investigating the state De-
partment met with another disappointment
to-day when Secretary Knox, with the con-
sent Of the President, cheerfully FURNISHED
TO the Democratic investigators the vouch-
ers covering the expenses incurred by this
country I'm connection with the tercenten-
nial celebration OF the discovery Of Lake
Champlain.
When Secretary Knox was subpnnacd
Tuesday lie declined 10 furnish the vouch-
crs because the expenditures were made
from the emergency fund Of the state Dc
partment The law provides that only thq
President may make public expenditures
from this fund. but this did not prevent the
House committee from becoming pccvish
at the declination OF Secretary Knox. The
Secretary agreed TO bring the matter 10
the attention Of the President. who directed
the production Of the vouchers for tho cdi-
fcation Of tho House committee.
The vouchers show that the $4,000 ap-
proprfation was accounted for by the
officers commissioners and other psrtici-
pants in the Lake Champlain celebration
of 1909 The bill paid 10 the Lake Cham
plain Hotel was more than $4,000, this
amount covering the bills OF the 260 Amer
lean guests and the cost Of two dinners.
One item covered excess fare for five mem
bers Of the New York Legislature who
missed their train. Among the incidentals
are listed mineral water, flowers, tc,e-
phones, livery and lunchcons.
Secretary Knox, referring n needed
changes he has made in the bookkeeping
methods Of the State Department, frankly
declared that the expenses OF the celebra
tion should not have been covered by the
emergency fund, as Congress had specif.
cally appropriated $4,000 for the purpose,
In writing tc the President Nj Knox sad:
In my judgment IL was improper 10 cover
the amount under Section 29l, and there
was not sufficient reason TO make a Ccrtih-
cate to the effect that II was not advisa-
bic to specify the purposes for which the
money was expended. The money was
appropriated for the expenses of the pro-
posed celebration, and what Il was neCcs-
sary for the State Department TO ascertain
was whether as a fact, that amount OF
expenditure had been incurred.
When scandal failed 10 materialize. tho
committee seized on the fact that the
money had been accounted for by two COM
mssiOners, Governor George H. Prouty Of
Vermont, and W. G. Witherbee. Of New
York. Chairman IIamlin said he disap-
proved the Idea OF turning the appropria-
tion over 10 the State Commissioners for
accounting, and his committee would in
vestgate" this
Secretary Knox, in response 10 the Senate
Foreign Relations Committees request for
information concerning tho recent sending
OF American troops 10 China, made re-
port to tho subcommittee to-day. saying
the President had acted under the rights
granted by the protocol of 1901. The com
mittee probably on Wednesday, will take
up Senator Htchcock's resolution. I'm which
he contended that President Taft had no
right, without authority Of Congress or by
treaty, TO order troops TO China unless
there was an emergency requiring protec-
tion Of American rights and property. Mr..
Hitchcock will address the Senate on the
subject after the committee reports.