The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-29
The SILVER POOL.
Continuation Of the House Com
mittee'S Inquiry.
BOyltO1 TeStifeS to a Conversation Be-
tween DinSley and Payne.
Why II Vas Desired 10 Held Back Vests
TtStimOly-DOCkeFy Makes an
Explanation.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-General Boynton
testified in the silver pool investigation to-
day that he sent message to Dunnell of the
York Times, on which the dispatch was
based, stating that Diugley and Payne,
members of the committee. had said they
would not have gone into the investigation
if they had supposed such revelation re-
garding Senator Cameron would be made.
The gentleman who Informed him (Boynton)
had been in the room and heard the con-
versation between Dingley and Payne
Each was explaining, apparently. that he
had no knowledge or expectation that any
such testimony would come out, expressing
surprise at the testimony, and practically
apologizing to each other that it had come
cut in the investigation.
Dingley said it was entirely possible that
he might have said he regretted exceedingly
that any Congressman should have done any
act which made it necessary that such facts
should be brought out. but that was very
different from the statement that the COM
mittee would have kept the testimony out
or purpOsely delayed it. This was totally
untrue.
General BOynton said the day before the
investigation Stevens. the correspondent of
the Gobe-DemOcrat, received n message
that 1t was the desire Of the committee he
(Stevens) should either be late the next day
or prolong his testimony. The purpose of
the committee was TO adjourn Immediately
after the conclusion of his testimony until
the next Wednesday, as it was understood
that Vest would not give his testimony in
reference to Cameron until after the follow
ing Tuesday Witness had heard the same
thing before, and taking all this together
he thought the conclusions reached were
very reasonable. Boynton suggested that
a good deal Of information might be got out
of Mr.. Tanner aud Representative Taylor;
also from telesrams sent by Littler, Tanner
and others.
W. B. Sterans, the Globe-Democrat CORE
spondent, was recalled and said he was the
person who gave General Boynton the in-
formation in respect to the Dingley-Payne
conversation. Turning to Dingley, he said:
You began talking in a whisper, but be-
came more earnest and raised your voice
and were talking loudly before you got
through. l heard Dingley say something to
this effect: It was an entire surprise 10 me-
(Meaning Vests testimony l did not
know he was going to testify to any such
thing as that
You Gurning to Payne said: I had no
idea what he was going to say 1t struck
me-, said Stevens, g as if you were each
taken by surprise and trying TO explain it to
each other There seemed to be express
sions that the circumstances under which
the testimony was brought out were
peculiar, and that you regretted the time at
which il was brought out"
Dingley and Payne interrupted to say that
while they may have said something of that
sort, they had no pnrpose except to get all
the information as promptly as possible.
DOckery said, with regard to the alleged
desire to delay Vests testimony, that he
would make no cpncealment now, that he
did not want 10 bring out the testimony con-
cerning Senator Cameron until Wednesday
During the time the resolution was pending
before the committee he (Dockery) formed
the belief that there were parties who might
desire to use that testimony in respect to the
other bill. He was informed by a Senator
that another gentleman had suggested that
II would be well to let the resolution drop.
The Senator replied that he could not afford
TO do that. The gentleman responded that
he did not care about himself, but he
understood that some of the "boys''
had bought silver, and the impression
the Senator got was that they were nervous
and wanted things stopped. When asked
who the boys" were the gentleman named
two Representatives. The conversation
was given TO me-" said Dockery, land there
upon pushed the resolution. Now | will
state frankly why | wished the testimony
delayed. l believed influences were being
brought to bear on Senator who was said
TO be connected with the silver speculation,
to make him vote for the Force Bill, and 30
| wanted the investigation delayed in the
hope OF getting one more vote. 1t was Just
a straw, which proved very substantial, and
l want IL distinctly understood that i had
no assurance whatever. and merely went on
the rumor that his vote on the Force Bill
was doubtful. No. sir, did not think the
exposure at that time would enhance his
DrOspectS" "