The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-01-31
KEIFER CORRALED.
Herding the ex-Speaker Into a
Tight Corner.
The Western Trunk Line PeO-
pie Ignore the U. p.
And Cover the Territory with
the Cut Rate.

Washington, 29.-Accompanying the
resolution offered in the House this after
noon BY Representative Hopkins, pro-
viding for committee to investigate the
charges of corruption made by the ex-
Speaker against General b. V. Boynton.
were two letters written by the latter to
the exSpesker concerning the subject
alter Of the charges and referred to by
Keller to. day in his statement to the
House. The first of these communica-
tons mentioned by Keller in his remarks
ss "a scurrilous letter." was as follows:
WAsHINGToN, January 18th.
To Hon. j. Warren Re fer. House OF
Representatives.:
SIR: About week ago you saw fit to
declare before the House committee of
accounts, where your official action is
undergoing investigation, that q clique
Of correspondents had misrapresented on
before the public because you had de-
feated claim they had attempted to
lobby through Congress. Being called
on by several correspondents and asked
for the names and specifications, you
were pleased to mention my name in
this connection, and claimed you HAD
letters from me which would be pro-
duced in proper time to make your
charge. Thereupon / publicly denounced
your statement, so far Is it elsted to me,
az dishonor and false, and challenged
you to make good your charges before
the committee Of investigation. In the
multiplicity Of your duties and the added
tax upon your time and attention caused
BY the investigation which the House is
prosecuting into your own acts, it is
charitable to suppose that your attention
has not been attracted TO this Published
card. therefore take the liberty Of en-
closing it to you, with the remark that l
cannot conceive it possible for al honor
able man to make such charges ss you
have thus circulated and maintain the
same when asked for proofs On which
they were based. In renewing 10y pro-
position 70 test your charges before the
open committee to send for persons and
papers, and administer csths, desire t.
give you the widest possible field for
your inquiries, by now serting l
have never had either direct or
personal interest in shy
claim or other legislation pending
before either House of Congress.
Since I am smensble to the rules of
the House and hold seat in the pre-
gallery subject to its will, proof Of your
charge or any similar charge would te.
cure my expulsion from the gallery and
effect my disgrace, but on the other hand
II you assume the courage OF your
words it ought OF to overtsx your pow
ars Of perceptiOn TO see your political
associates will have abundant reasons to |
be mortified on account of their late par,
lismentary vote for you: that the coun.
Try will have the right to conclude you
are without msnliness or sentiments of
honor, and move on go low base or
plane of political morals that you regard
false charges against honorable men az
proper weapons to WELD when you
are yourself srrsiRned before 81
committee OF your fellow memb ers
On charges ef most questionable conduct
and find these likely to be proved aesinst
Vou. Unless you withdraw these charges
Or take action before the close Of Mon
days session looking to submit them to
IN investigation, I shall consider myself
1t liberty to make this public as evidence
hat you confess your inability to sustain
your charges.
Respectfully yours,
b. V. BoYNToN.
The second letter was from Keifer in
.eply to the letter of January 18th to
General Boynton, which was in part as
'olloWs:
WASHINGTON, January 18th.
Hon. j. Warren Keller.
Sir-Your charges I have twice pub.
icly declared utterly without foundation
n truth. In the face Of your repetitions |
# them and your additions of pretended |
letails still declare your whole charge,
% far as 1t reflects upon me, to be un-
Iualifedly false and assert further that I |
lever had any conversation whatever
With you concerning the provisions of the
bill, which by the wsy was
exported favorshly By q committee of
'our own appointment, that never saw
copy Of the bill till your charges
gainst nae appeared; never until after
he reception Of your letter of this cate,
Vhen the public became aware of the
be committee charged with Investigation
1 your shameful abuse ofpower, entrus.
ed as Speaker Of the last house. No one
Fili U6 eQI pIle6Q d. ZIG nhuueI III WHICH |
ou seek to avoid the responsibility OF
our false charges. Repeating my earn
at desire to meet you whenever your
iffering statements can be tested with
worn testimony, subscribe myself,
d. V. BeYNToN.
Gen. Boynton, In an interview at the
lose of Gen. Keifer's speech to-day,
aid he had simply to say in response
hat he Twas coon to assume under ostb
sfore the COMMITTEES of investigation that
70 had not had one word of conversation
nth Gen. Keifer On the merits of the
bill, at any time or any,
7here, except az stated in his pu blished
stters, and thst the pretended details Of
conversation, as given by Gen. Keifer
J. day formed colossal fslsehood, and
g desired that his denial be considered
0 broad ss to cover every point of the
peech, and his letter which suggested
orrupt action.