The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-22
Sub Commissions Bought
and Sold.
Six Thousand and Two Thousand Dol
lars Paid for Appointments.
RESTAURANT RIGHTS PURCHASED.
Minister jay and Mr.. McElrath Investigat.
ing the Matter in Vienna-The De.
tected Commissioners To Be Re.
mOved-What the Herald
Has Accomplished.

WASHINGTON April q, 1873,
The special despatch to the HERALD from Vienna
regarding the purchase or oiclal positions at the
Exposition by American Commissioners did not
reach here until this morning, as there are no sun
day morning trains from New York, and the ordi-
nary press dispatches are not much In advance Of
the Monday morning mail. The absence OF high
toned congressman and the usual corral OF lobby.
lists and strikers did not lessen the Importance Of
the HERALD despatch in official quarters The
position OF Commissioner to the Vienna EXPOSE
ton, whether honorary or onerous had
been sought after with the biggest In
nuence that could be got, either politi-
cally or pecuniary, and right here in WASH
ingtOn is the headquarters or the .ring" The
HERALD's special sent thunderbolt into the state
Department, lor it Is well known that when
Thomas Van Buren, appointed Chief Commits
siOner there had not been dollar appropriated,
To tnaugurate the work OF having the United States
represented at Vienna it was necessary to pay his
expenses out OF the Contingent Fund OF the State
Department. He was also authorized to appoint
thirteen sub-commissoners but no provision
could be made for them. At the last session OF
Congress, however, Mr.. Van Buren, managed TO get
an appropriation OF some 100000 to defray
the expenses Of the United States at Vienna, out
of which the original appOintees were to be paid
all necessary expenses. The ruling passion among
Americans, who are famed for acquisitiveness all
over Europe, must certainly crop out at this inter-
national reunion OF the handiwork OF all nations.
Some OF the Van Buren, sub com missioners, taking
time by his short hair, entertained proposals from
certain enterprising Yankees to open restau-
rants and provide victuas for the wander
ing sight-seers, which proposals were to
give them privileges on the American domain
In the Exposition building. While the Austrians
working hard complete the building, and the
guards were scrupulously sbeying instructions to
keep everybody out of the precincts ofthe grounds
there appears the ubiquitous Yankee with his
tract right to certain space IN the American de-
partment, with orders to clear away the lumber
and give him a chance to get his bean shop in
order. Such interference could not be tolerated,
but as he was reinforced by sub-agent, who had
also purchased the right to sell soda water there
was nothing else to be done but refer the compli-
cation to the American Minister at Vienna, and
leave to him the settlement OF the important
problem. Who had been selling corner lots in
American quarters in ViennaS The Secretary was
accordingly informed OF the muddle, and two weeks
ago teegraphed to Minister Jay, after consultation
with the President, appointing Mr.. Jay and Thomas
McElrath, one Of the sub-commissoners appointed
by Van Buren,, board to inquire into the charges
OF corruption against some OF our Commissioners
were explicitly that two OF the appointees
of Van Buren, had agreed, for $4,000
and $4,000, to obtain certain restaurant
privileges. 1t was not to be wondered at that the
HERALD special from Vienna should have revived
at the State Department this unpleasant bit OF
scandal, now sweet morse for the gathering rep
resentatives OF all nations at Vienna, but Secretary
Fish unwilling to admit the full force Of the
HERALD despatch. He would not deny that accu.
satons had been made against two OF the SubCom-
mlssioners, and emphatically said, minister Jay
and Sub-Commssioner McElrath are not only In
structed to make thorough examination into the
charges made but have had authority conferred to
suspended peremptorily any official who has been
guilty of the acts charged.n Heewas not willing to
say who the Sub.Commissioners were who had
been temporarily suspended, because they might
be innocent and II guilty their names would be
published soon enough. The report could not
affect the scientific artisan or honorary commits
sioners as none OF them had arrived at Vienna
He mad hoped this bit OF scandal would have
escaped the notice OF the press, but somehow the
HERALD correspondent was always turning up
Just where he was not wanted by the State
Department. AS 1t had appeared 1t was no
longer any use conceal the information at hand.
Not only had Messrs. Jay and McElrath plenary
power to Investigate charges already made, but
were unlimited in their authority should results
point TO persons now unsupported The instruc-
tions we're specific TO remove every one on whom
the slightest suspicion Of rregularity could be
proven, and this for the honor OF the United
States Secretary Fish says that 1t was originally
intended to restrict appointments to 100 honorary
commissioners, but the political pressure over
run that number. After the number was
almost indefinitely increased. there came
another bother; In fact, the greatest OF all
the difficulties. Two classes, through the biggest
kind OF influence, sought appointments, first
agents OF inventions-men who had wondrous
schemes for setting the world fire., with cannon,
mnskets, breechloaders, sewing machines, me-
chanical devices, India rubber articles-who. II
they secured the appointment were to be hand
somely paid and endowed with large fortunes
hereafter, provided, the inventions, &c. were
highly endorsed and vigorously whitewashed
by the Vienna Exposition; and, second,
the political bummers and workers who,
failing in securing anything better were
anxious to go abroad on pay to sponge az commits
sioners on Austrian hospitality, and make money
in any. way they could. The Secretary was reso-
lutely opposed to both these classes loreseeng the
mischief 1t was bound TO make. The President,
who has other matters to attend to than the per-
sonnet OF the American Commission at Vienna, was
Influenced by this Senator or that Representative
until the head OF the State Department got indtg-
nant. When the scandal above alluded to was
made known, the President most cordially agreed
with the Secretary that the list should be revised
by Trustworthy parties, ana said he would readily
agree to the removal OF any one appointed by him
II there was the shadow OF rejection against his
integrity and honor, or anything discreditable in
his use Of the honor conferred. Hence the order
to Minister Jay and McElrath. Employees at the
State Department say that the HERALD can claim
Its share OF honor for having thus timely exposed
the rascality OF some who have already sold their
birthrght and anticipated the acts OF others who
would have don~ N96wise had not this revelation
! been made.