Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-30

LIVELY PROCEEDINGS IN THE HoUsE-AN INvRsTI-
CATION ORDERED OF THE Ex-sPEAKER's CHARGES
AGAINST THE CORRESPONDENT.
Late yesterday afternoon, While the clerk was
reading the call Of states for the presentation Of
bills In the House, Mr.. Hopkins offered resolution
for the appointment OF a committee OF i've to In
vestigate charge made by j. Warren Kelfer,
member OF the House, that H. v. Boynton, Wash
1ngton correspondent OF the Cincinnati Conn.,
maerctat Gazette, now holding seat In the press
gallery under the rules OF the House, had ap-
preached the Speaker OF the House during the
closing days OF the last Congress with corrupt
propositions intended to influence his Official ac-
ton.
After some debate Speaker Carlisle held that the
resolution involved question OF privilege, and was
therefore properly before the House.
MR.. KElFERS CHARGES
Mr.. keifer then spoke to the resolution, and
read from letter which he had addressed to H. v.
Boynton, under date of January Is, 1884. The let
ter was OF strongly personal nature, and char
acterized Boynton among other things as a liar,
a defamer and forger, saying he forged letter
ana sent IL throughout the country purpOrting to
be from Mr.: kefer. Mr.. Keifer then stated that
Boynton told him near the close OF the last session
Speaker, as Blaine and Colfax had done. and that
there there was stu stu plenty to be made II the
says 1C would doubtless have been wiser for him
II he had thrown BoyntOn from the room when
this suggestion was made
The M letter closes by refusing Gen Boynton's de-
mand 1or an investigation. At the conclusion of
the reading OF the letter, Mr. Kefer made an elab-
crate explanation OF the circumstances OF Boyn-
tons visit 10 MIN and subsequent differences He
submitted letter nom BoyntOn asking him to
recognize amember o! the House to move to sus-
pend the rules anl pass the McGarrahan biIl,
which he refused to do, having satisfied himself
that the bill ought not to pass. His connection
and relation with BoyntOn ceased with the inter-
view above referred TO- and from that hour to the
present he had never recognized or spoken to him.
MR. KEIFRR DENOUNcEs THE CORRESPONDENTS.
Mr. keifer said II the resolution was adopted he
wanted it to be torn wide open, so as to include
William B. Shaw, correspondent, who took $4,000
as lobbyist and who presided over the meeting of
newspaper men which passed resolutions to defame
Keller near the close of the last Congress- He de-
nOunced those correspondents who had "traduced
him through the land" but admitted that many
correspondents had treated him kindly
MI hopkins said that in his opinion the gentle
man frOin Ohio had made strong argument to
justify, this investigation. II what he said was
seat there He did not know Gen. Boynton even by
sight, but he asked, in justice to that gentleman,
that communication from him should be read.
GEN. BoYSToN DENIES.
After debate Mr. Springer assumed the RESPONSE
bility OF having Gen. Boyntons communication
presented as part Of his remarks Gen. Boynton
refers to the charge in regard to the McGarrahan
b pronounces Mr.. Keifer's version OF their inter-
view as utterly devoid OF truth, and respectfully
requests the House to investigate the matter.
Mr. Warner offered an amendment directing the
committee also TO inquire and report whether any
other member OF the press now holding seat In
the reporters gallery against whom charges have
been preferred has been guilty OF conduct that
ought 70 deprive him Of his right to such seat.
Adopted.
Mr. Kasson moved to refer the whole matter to
the committee ON the judiciary, but this was de-
feated by party vote, and the resolution as
amended was adopted