The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-30

be SO wide open that not only Boynton shall be
investigated, but others equally guilty with him.
He was sorry for General Boynton. He was sorry
for any man who would be so low-lived and cor
rupt as to come to him presuming that he might
with safety make vile and corrupt proposition
TO him. He held himself responsible to his con-
stituents; that was enough When they were
through with him he would go home not soured
with the world, for he had been treated well, and
beyond the measure of his deserts. The House
might investigate as much as it pleased this or
any other matter. He was still going to try to
do his duty, uns7yerved by those who would have
them do corrupt things, or seek to have him pay
them for their compliments. Applause on the
Republican side.
MIR. BoYNToN's DEFENSE.
Mr.. Hopkins said, in his opinion, the gentle
man from Ohio had made a strong argument to
justify an investigation. If what he said was
true there were gentlemen in the gallery unwor-
thy seat there. He did not know General
Boynton, even by sight, but he asked, in justice
to that gentleman, that a communication from
him should be read. It was communication to
the Speaker of the House.
Mr.. Gibson thought it was but just to allow
the gentleman who was to be investigated to
have his correspondence read along with the
previous correspondence II was but right If
any popular sentiment was to be manufactured,
he should be heard also.
Mr.. Springer took the responsibility Of having
the correspondence read as part of his remarks.
1t is as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.
To Hon. John G. Carlisle, Speaker of the House of
Representatives:
Sir--I address you a correspondent amenaBle to
the authority of the House and holding seat in the
press gallery under its rules. last night received
letter from Hon. J. Warren Keller, ID member of
the House. charging over his signature that APP
preached him in his capacity Speaker of the last
House, that told him he fool for not making
money while Speaker as Blaine and Colfax had done
+b4 fbe Tae ssiIi rien+11 To- he nab f. tl MACS
rahan bill could be gotten through; that had col
leagues interested with in that Bill that Iexpained
to him it provided for the issue of many million
of land scrip which would be above the value of the
Valentine scrip then worth about $50 per acre, and
that there would be abundance to divide
| Mr. Keifer further notified that he would not
ask investigation by the House, as had in writing
asked him to do to the end that his charges might be
submitted to test examination under oath cannot
doubt that the House will consider it of importance to
inquire whether there correspondents enjoying its
privileges and protected IN their work by its rules
who carry lobbying with such effroHtery as not
hesitate to approach Speaker of the House with
rupt proposals. Having thus called your attention
the grave charges made in writing y e5-5tess2cr
Kefer Whit pronounce utterly devoid OF TRUTH
lsse the honor to inclose herewith full text of his
letter to me, together with the correspondence per-
tanning thereto and through you respectfully ask the
House to order investigation in the matter.
have the honor to be, very respectfully your
obedient servant, II. v BoYNToN,
Correspondent Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Mr.. Warner, of Ohio, offered an amendment
directing the committee to also inquire whether
any other member of the press now holding a
seat in the reporters gallery, against whom
charges had been preferred, had been guilty of
conduct which ought to deprive him of his seat.
The resolution, as amended, was adopted.
Accompanying the resolution offered by Rep
resentative Hopkins, providing for a committee
to investigate the charges of corruption made
by exSpeaker Keifer against General II.
V. Boynton, We're two letters, written by the
latter to the ex-Speaker, concerning the subject
matter of the charges, and referred to by Mr..
Keifer to-day in his statement TO the House.
The first of these communications, mentioned
by Mr.. Keifer in his remarks as scurrilous'
letter, as follows:
BoYNToN TO KEIFER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.
To Hon. J. Warren Kelfer, House Representatives:
Sir-About week ago you saw fit to declare before
the House committee accounts, where your official
action is undergoing Investigation that "a clique of
correspondents had misTepresented you before the
public because you had defeated claim they had
attempted to lobby through Congress. Being called
upon by several correspondents and asked for
and specifications you were pleased to use my name
in this connection and claimed that you had letters
from me which would be produced at the proper time
to make good your charge. For this publicly
denounced your statement, far it related to me
as dishonorable and false and challenge you to make
good your charges before committee of Investigation
In the multiplicity of Your public duties and added
tax upon your time and attention. caused by the in
vestigaon which the House is prosecuting into your
own acts is charitable suppose that your aten
has not been attracted to this published card there
fore take the liberty of incosng it to You with
the remark that cannot conceive it possible for
honorable to make such charges you have thus
circulated and maintain silence when asked for proofs
ON which they were based. In renewing my
proposition to test your charges before open
mtee empowered to send for persons and papers and
administer oaths, desire to give you the widest pos
sibe field for Your inquiries by asserting that
have had either direct contingent personal
in any claim other legislation pending before
either House of Congress during my service CORE
don't in Vas
Since am amenabe to the rules Of the House. and
hold seat in the press gallery subject to its will the
proof of your charge, any similar charge would
my expulsion from the press gallery and effect
my disgrace But on the other hand if you decline
to assume the courage OF your words, it
ought not to overtaX your powers of percep-
ton to that your political associates
will have abundant TO be mortified account
of their late complimentary votes for you, and that
the country viii have the right to conclude that You
are without Inanliness sentiments of honor and
move on so low and base a plane of political morals
that you regard false charges against honorable mon
proper weapons to WELD when you are yourself
arragned before committee of your fellow members
charges of most questionable conduct and lind these
are likely to be proved against you.
Unless you withdraw these charges, take action
hitting to investigation, shall consider myself at
liberty to make this letter public evidence that you
confess your inability to sustain your charges
Respectfully yours, H. Y. BoYNTON.
The second letter was from Boynton to Keifer,
in reply to letter of Jan. 2S, to General Boyn-
ton, which was read in the House to-day as
part of Kefer's statement. General Boynton's
letter was, in part as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan %.
Hon J. Warren Keifer:
Sir-Your charges l have twice publicly declared
utterly without foundation in truth. La the face of
your repetitons of Them your additions of pretended
details still declare your whole charge far it
reflects upon me to he unquafedly false and assert
further that never held any conversation whatever
with you concerning the provisions Of the Mcarrahan
bin = which by the way was reported
favorably by committee of your own
appointment; that never copy of the bill until
your charges against appeared, and never read it
until after the reception of your letter of this date
when the public became of the pitiable specta
Gle have made before the committee charged with
the investigation of your shameful abuse of the power
entrusted to you as Speaker of the last House. No
one viii be surprised at the in which You seek