The weekly clarion., 1873-06-19
THE VIENNA SCANDAL.
The Irregularities I'm the Amer1-
can Department..
story of the Re-lauranr Game.

Story Of the ERe-IauranI Game
New YORK, June 3.-W. J. Still
man, writing to the Tribune from Wien
ma, about the irregularities in the Amer
lean department Of the exposition, tell
the story Of the old scandal Of restau
rant corruption Jewett, of Jewett &
Tracy, New York called on Gen. Var
Buren, in October last, and told HIM he
intended establishing an American res
taurant at the exposition. Van Burer
replied that he had many applicants
Tom Gable and Sutherland, of New
York, among them that he had al
ready made a partial promise to one
Hitzell, Of 308 Broadway, and suggest
ed that Jewett and HitzelI unite their
resources, as he wanted only one restau-
rant, and a good one The suggestion
was adopted, and Meyer drew up articles
of agreement which were signed, Never
also signing as witness. The articles
required the immediate deposit of one
thousand dollars each, and another of
five thousand each before June 1st.
Hitzell failed to make his deposit in
the time specified, his bankers declining
to honor the check presented. The
partners went to Meyer to arrange the
final details as to concession, and when
Meyer said the expenses of commissions
were heavy, and that no appropriation
had been made by Congress, and sug-
gested that they give him as a loan the
check rejected at the bank Jewett re-
fused, and was obliged to sail for Eu-
rope without the papers, and leaving
HitzelPs deposit unpaid. Meyer, how
ever, gave Jewett /. letter to Baron
Schwartz Seaborn, who informed him
that Van Buren had no right to make
concessions or grant space outside Of the
. building for any purpose.
Jewett's concession was made and
contracts entered into involving three
thousand dollars The understanding
. between Schwartz and Jewett was that
no other concession for a restaurant
would be made.
On returning to New York, Jewett
found that Hitzell had paid Meyer one
thousand dollars, to be returned when
appropriation was made, but had got no
. memorandum or receipt for it. He also
ascertained that Van Buren had made
to Bochme d Weille concession for two
or more bar rooms, and was informed by
one of the firm that they had paid from
two thousand to three thousand dollars
for the concession, in the shape of loans
and school-house donations, and that
part of this went to Van Buren, as Hit
! zell had not yet made the deposit re-
quired by the contract.
Jewett made a proposition to buy out
or sell out, which Meyer, as HitzelPs
adviser, refused but he insisted on
new articles. Jewett thereupon gave
his late partner notice Of withdrawal.
Z He gave Van Buren, n statement of af-
fairs and requested that he be afforded
the necessary facilities for transacting
! his business at Vienna but he was
obliged to leave America without further
recognition. Shortly after his arrival at
Vienna Hitzell arrived with the COM
mission for a restaurant, given him by
Van Buren for himself and Mr.. Denni-
son, for which they had given one thou
sand dollars originally paid in by Hit
zell, Dennison having paid Never five
hundred dollars, which latter was hand
ed over to Hitzell as his (Meyer's)
share of the original thousand dollars,
Van Buren, being in possession of the
other five hundred.
levitt protested to Baron Schwartz
against the concession made to the new
applicants, and it was refused so that
they not only had no consideration for
their deposit, but no compensation for
their trouble and expense, and it is only
since the whole matter was disclosed on
oath before the investigating commission
that attempts have been made to hush
i up the affair by returning HitzelPs
money, and inducing Bochme 4 Weille
to take him into their establishment.
1t is known that Van Buren, has ad-
mitted a knowledge of these transactions,
and the receipt of part of the money,
and that appropriations were made by
& Congress.
1t appears also that Meyer permitted
persons to send goods intended for pri-
vate use and profit goods intended for
the exhibition in United States vessels,
and that he offered Jewett & Tracy the
same privilege, which they declined.
One person is reported as having effected
a saving of several thousand dollars in
freight in this way.
\ phase of the corruption which can
have no relation or pretext of binding,
is the agreement to pay Meyer per
centage on sales by Bochme 4 Weiile,
and his direct demand of ten per cent. of
all profit from Jewett, which was not
admitted.