The Portland daily press., 1884-04-02
KEI FER-BoYNToN.
General Boynton vindieated,-Gaen
Aeifers stasements in the House. and
Hts Testimony Given Un-er ORsk,
Thoroughly Discredited.
WASHINGTON, April /.

WASHINGTON, April !.
The special committee appoin ted toinyesti-
gate the charges against General Fl. V. Boyn.
Ton made by ex speaker Keifer has submitted
the following:
Resolved That the charges against II. Y.
Boyhton are not sustained by the evidence,
anu that there is no ground for action by the
House. Laid over without action.
Inc acsien OF the committee on the resolu
Ton was unanimous. Two reports accompau-
led the resolution, one sigued by represents
yves Hopkins, Ward and j. Adams, (Dsm.),
the other by Representative Poland and Will
son, tkep) The majority after summary OF
undispuied facts call attention to the further
iact that the case against Gen. Boynton rests
almost entirely upon the testimony of Gen.
Meier. They then proceed to an examina-
bloe OF the evidence offered by the latter In
corro6oration of the charge. The testimony
OF White did not seem too them very positive
and they say that IN estimating the proper
Weight to be given to his testimony, it is to be
remembered that he is protege dependent of
Ten. Keifer, and has been designated by Gen.
Refer as a small edition of a tramp. The
stories told by Elder and Garfield the remain
ing witnesses for Keller the majority consider
extremely improbable. Having thus consid.
cred all OF the evidence tending to corroborate
Gen; Keller and believing IL to be entitled to
put httle weight, we are forced to conclude
tnaI proof of the charge reSS on the testimony
oisGen. Keller alone. Gen. Keifer's testimony
% 70 the alleged corrupt proposition and all Of
tsSHoe0hn 10 lulIy ana naLiY CO0Gr8O1CtoQ OV
the testimony Of Gan. Boynton. If there was
morning but the conflicting oaths of these two
men IT might be more embarrassing in reach
ing conclusion, but Gen. Boynton being ac-
cused OF grave crime the penalty OF conviction
being disgrace and imprisonment, we are bound
to start upon our investigation with the legal
presumption that he is innocent. In the next
place we must consider the probabilities. Is it
likely that Boynton, without the slightest pre-.
iimiDary hint, without anything to arouse sus-
TaTr f6nA LIB - AL 49,
would burst upon him with such proposition
L. 1t likely that Boynton, who stood well with
Gen. Keller, would expose himself without An
assurance of success? Neither tyro nor veter-
an in lobbying would dare approach man Of
recognized integrity except in gradual and
insidious way, without any premonitory re-
marks. Gen. Boynton blurted out, EXETER,
what do you think think of you? think
you are fool" With this startling prelude,
1t IS said, Boynton proceeded to tell Keller
that he might have made money during his
term, as Speakers Blaine and Colfax had done,
and unfolded plan by which there would be
millions to divide if the McGarrahan bill
should be passed. If this purported conduct
OF Gen. Boynton was extraordinary, the con-
ducr of Gen. Keller was still more so. He
made no answer to the first bold suggestion
that he might pervert his high Office
Tor personal gain, but he listened
to the details OF the scheme, and
then instead of pitching his seducer out of the
WiAuOW VI AlCkluS MIN lrOul INC uOOFa d0Q6ral
Keller contented himself with q mild express
sion OF SURPRISE But in addition to the inn
probabilities there are points of emphatic con-
tradiction to General Keifer's testimony.
Keller swea-s that after the interview with
BOynton, Dunnell came to him while in the
Speakers chair and asked to be recognized to
call up the McGarrahan bill and that he was
told that he could not be recognized. Dun
nell on the contrary says that the Speaker pos
luveiy agreed to recognize him for the pur-
tnA III -
were disposed of. In addition and in palpable
contradiction, It seems singular that If the
interview with Bovnton had occurred as de-
tailed by General Keller, that Dunnsll would
seek recognition which had been so emphat-
ically refused and equally singular that he
should have been treated with so much cour-
tesy by the man who had been SO grossly in
suited IN reference to the very bill. There
Is another very important aud material part
OF General Refers testimony upon which
he Is eontradicted by several witnesses. He
says that his friendly relations with General
Boynton ended with the interview in the
Speakers room, and that they have never
spoken to each other since. Bot 1t is clsarly
proved by seven witnesses that after midnight
OF March LIST Gen. Keifer was in Gen. Boyn-
toms Office in close aud friendly conversation
with him. It cannot be believed that General |
Keller would seek General Boynton in social |
and friendly way on the night OF March LIST if |
there had been such an interview as General |
Keller says took place on Feb. 2sth March |
1st |
General Keifer admits some such interview |
as that spoken of took place in General Boyn~
toms office, but says that it was several even
ings prior To the date fixed by the seven wit
nasses. Il is 4eleaV that this could not have |
been so, because the subject of conversation |
aud OF dispatches sei,t out the night of the |
visit was the action of The conference commit |
zee, and that committee did not meet until /
March LIST,
We have already referred to the proof OF /
Gen. Boynton's high character. The barri or /
was thus thrown down and an attack invited |
yet there was not single witness called to |
show flaw in Boynton's previous reputation
Tor truth and honor or to show that he had ev-
or been known to be connected with any legis- |
lative job, and the irresistible inference is that
no sucn proof could be obt ained,
The report of the minority states that Messrs.
Keller and Roynton being gentlemen of un-
Dlemished reputation and equally honorable
and having under oath made and denied the
charges, corrobarstive evidence would be nee.
essarS to establish those charges Keifer's |
the minority consider, unreliable.
They think that the state of affairs on March
lst was such as to make it highly improbable
that the conversation between Keller and l
Boyrton on the night of that day could have
They do not doubt that such con-
versation did take place, bat think the wit
On 81, ban 49,