Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-16
SENATE SENSATION
MESSRS. CONKLING AND
PLATT RESIGN.
EFFECTOF THE BOMB SHE'LL
WHAT SENATORS SAY ABOUT IT,
VIEWS OF REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS.
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

The Vice President laid before the Senate the
following communications:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 16. 1851.
Sr:-W1u Sou please announce to the Senate
t Saao my resignation as Senator Of the United
forwarded to the governor OF the state.
l have the honor to be, with great respect.
your obedient servant,
{Stgned) ROSCOE CoNKLING,
10 Hon. c. A. arthur, Ftce President.
This communication was received with great
sensation, which was heightened when the
Vice President laid the following before the
Senate:
SENATE CHAMBER, May 16, 1881.
TO me Hon, C. A. arthur, Vice President Of the
Sir:-I have forwarded to the governor OF the
state OF New York my resignation as Senator
OF the United States for the state Of New York
VIII you please announce the fact to the Sen
ATE. With great respect your obt serv't,
T. c. PLATr.
A hum OF astonishment followed the reading
OF the communication, and Mr.. Hill (Ga) sug-
gested soto uoce that this would be good time
to elect officers OF the Senate.
Mr.. Burnside, chairman OF committee on for
eign relations, reported back favoraoly from
tnaI cOmmlttee resolution declaring the con-
sent OF the United States government to be
COZ d1tfon precedent to the construction OF shin
canals, or other ways for the transportation OF
sea going vessels across the isJhmuS connect
Ing Ncrtn and South America, and also to the
rules and regulations under which other ma
tlons shau participate In the use OF such canals
or other ways. Mr.. Burnside gave notice rnat
he would call it up tomorrow.
sion. WV
Mr.: CockrelL-I thought Won wanted IN con.
slider the other resolution.
MI DaWes:-1 had 40 idea but that the SEN
adoI would IKE to go on with 1t. 1t is in &C
coraance with the disposition which he has
shown from the beginning.
Mr.: Hill. {Ga)-The Senator said that the
republic would be subverled II the resolution
was not acted upon.
Mr.. Dawes.-But the Senator would never be
convinced until he happened to have ma
jor1ty.
Nj: Hlll-oh! we won't insist upon having
1t considered.
Mr.: Daxes.-An accident is an eye opener to
the Senator.
Mr.. Hill turned around and suggested to Mr.
Davis 1lL) that there was nothing to prevent
the Senate from adjourning Unis week sine die.
=, the Senate then, at 1890, Went into execu-
When the doors were reopened at 1:t0 the
Senate adjourned until Tomorrow.
The COnkllng BOmbshcII.
A GENUINE SURPRISE AT THE CAPITOL
About ten minutes before the Senate met to-
day prominent republican said to q STAR re
porter: ''Youll get sensation for the STAR to.
day." "What is tt?" inquired the reporter
eagerly, 1.-THE designations of Conkling and
Platt as Senator's from New York will be read
as soon as the Senate meets" was the Whi5p-
eIed reply. Immediately after the reading OF
the journal the Vice President handed
the clerk communication to be read: but &c
was only IN regard to the district attorney
muddle IN the western district Of Virginia. It
was evident that the coming event was still
secret, known to but few present. Senators
were talking with each other and general mat.
tent1on was manifested. Vice President Arthur
ton, at the same time handing him an en-
yelope: The chief clerk, Col. Shober, drew
from me envelope small sheet of note paper,
startling nature of the contents. He read q let.
ter to The Vice President, requesting him to
MORN the Senate that the resignation OF Ros-
been forwarded to the governor of that State.
10 take eject Immediately. whats tha5?''
inquired dozen or more Senators fnSCantane-
ously AS quick as lightning the Aum Of voices
ceased, silence reigned, and several Senators.
not doupttng but that they had misunderstood
the document, called for another reading Of it.
SENATOR'S ASToUNDBD.
Once more the brief nolice of Senator Conk.
ling's resignation was read. Senators were
surprised; astounded. Each looked from one
TO another, a3 II TO sileEtly inquire whether or
Lot his ears had deceived him. More than one
republican Senator's couItenance assumed,
instantaneously, grave expression. Another
envelope was given to the clerk by MT Arthur,
end amid silence the brief note it contained
was read. 1t stated that the resignation OF
Thcs. c. Platt, as Senator from New York,
had been sent to the governor OF that state.
and requested the Vice President to 30
announce to the Senate. The silence which
had so suddenly overcome the Senate continued
Tor few seconds, all present looking toward
the Vice President as II to see whether he had
another surprise In store. When it became
evident that all the resigns lions had been read
confusion succeeded order and silence. Sen
atoIs moved about, expressing their surprise
and 1nqu1Ting what this meant A STAR re-
porter made inquiries on both sides OF the
chamber as to the designations and the proba-
BILE consequences OF the movement as well az
its purpose.
WHAT SENATORS SAY.
One republican Senator said: They'll both
be reelected by the New York legislature"
Another said that while he had not been in
formed OF this step his opinion was that It was
simply an appeal to the New York legislature
now in session. by Messrs. Conkling and Platt
for an endorsement OF the position they had
taken On the Robertson nomination. A warm
friend OF Senator Conkltng said: "It means
that Conkling and Platr will not be
ipsulted and outraged by this ad-
ninistration. They have known from
the FIRST that the nomination of Mr.. Robertson
was Blaine's declaration OF war against the
ruling element Of the republican party In New
York. They have known that Robertson was
selected TO crush Conkling and destroy his In.
nuence,. II possible. They had done every
thing they could to prevent this bitter war In
the republican party They showed that they