The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-15
Rutland At'rtklu Glohr.
FRIDAY MORNING. AUG. Is. 1873.
The Vienna Exposition Management
REPORT OF rSvEsrreArlNe COMMITTEE

REPORT or INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
The investigating committee on the
Vienna exposition management have sent
to the state department a full report Of the
correspondence between the state depart
ment. Minister Jay and the implicated
commissioners are treated with testimony
by witnesses, all details of which are al
ready published.
CORRUPT MANAGEMENT DISCOVERED.
In conclusion, the special commission
find as the result of their investigation that
the commission To Vienna has been manag-
cd corruptly and for personal purposes, TO
the great delriment of the American de-
partmcnt and in violation Of American
honor. and that such corrupt management
has not only lost to the country an oppor-
tunity of exhibiting art, industry and cul-
turc of the Republic in their fair proper
tions to the most intelligent representa-
tives of all nations in n manner calculated
to enhance our national prestige and COM
mercial prosperity, the that 1t has exposed
us to national humiliation at Vienna and
throughout the world
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AFFAIEs.
Touching the responsibility for the bust
ness active part taken in ii by Gen. VIM
Mayer first assistant commissioner. has
been either openly acknowledged or dis
tinctly proven. OF the other assistant com
missioners none appear to have been close
~ connected with the management in New
York, excepting Albert f. Strasny and
Robert H. Sargent. of these Strasny alone
appears to have known that moneys had
been improperly taken, and there seems no
reason to doubt his declaration that he
heard il by accident and protested to May
er against it. and that he was excluded
from confidence in regard to this part of
the management.
Mr.. Sargent's conduct as commissioner
in the loading of the supply and guard and
his remaining at New York in violation of
his engagement. to report at Trieste for I'M
loading Of vessels. seems to demand eX-
Nv w lNlNllNt SlNlNN llb luklllH
of money by members of the commission
except Gen. Van Buren, aud Mr.. Mayer.
THE SHARE OF GEN. VAN BUEEN.
In regard to Gen. Van Buren, the special
commission do not hesitate to report that
they dissent from his justification of the
taking of $500, as II loan from IIItzel,
under the circumstances shown in the evil
dence that they hold unsatisfactory.
The explanations given by Mr.. Van Blu
rem touching 81, 900 which he received
from Messrs. BOehm and Wiehl, that they
find an utter want of trankness and unex-
cusable disregard of eXactness in state
ments made by him TO the secretary of
state in his letters of the 10th and 18th of
March in regard to the number of conces-
sions for bars and touching kilograms from
Vienna reporting the character of the cor
ruption, and that in the exactness of assur-
ance then given msled the government into
the belief that no irregularities had been
committed, demanding an investigation at
New York and thus compelled transfer
of enquiry at Vienna.
'"'e ""Ns"H'aIrN Ma EI
As to the justification set up by Mayer
that all he did in taking and asking of
moneys was done by him as subordinate
with the knowledge and approval of the
chief commissioner, and as to various ques-
lions of veracity raised by the evidence be-
tween Gen. Van Buren, and Gen. Mayer
touching the alleged completely of the for
mer in the proceedings of the latter and
the sharing by Gen. Van Buren, of the sec
ond thousand dollars obtained from Boehm
and Wiehl, the special commission re-
frain from expressing an opinion for
leasons,
First-That they do not deem the dis
cusslon Of these points essential to General
Mayer, since no such approval of acts nor
partition of moneys would, in theiropinion.
render their acts proper, or constitute
valid defence for their commission.
Second-That the testimony indicates
that additional and Rore conclusive evil
f''t WI NhNNN llbllltS II ulldllldDlt Ut NEW
York than can be found in Vienna.
Third-That we do not conceive, for
reasons to be previously stated, their iudg-
ment on this point is necessarily embraced
in the scope Of their instructions
THE NEGLECTED DUTIES
They hold that it was the duty of the
chief of the American commission to ex-
ercise so wise a vigilance in the appoint
ment of each of all of his assistants. and
especially Of his first and confidential as
sistant, and so exact a supervision of the
management of the commission as to pro-
tect it from the smallest faint of suspicion
of corruption, and enable it to accomplish
at Vienna reasonable success. and fully
to represent the integrity and honor of the
government,
Were the special commission to admit
justice of Gen, Van purens defence for
acts which he acknowledges and were they
to pronounce unproven every charge made
against him by General Mayer of having
approved and shared his eXactions of
money there would still be graver charge
than corruption which could be preferred
against the chief of the commission ap-
pointed to represent an assemblage of ma
tione tho industry, the culture and fair fame
Of our republic, the charge of having per-
united through period Of months from a
want of clear sighted intelligence and due
vigilance lose the management indicated
by the testimony, marked by irregularities
which have arrested the success of the COM
missiopers and brought dishonor ON the re-
public.
A sCATIIING REBCKE.
The special commission therefore with
out entering at all upon the charses OF