Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-18

resignation OF Thomas @. Platt was as fol-
lows:
Depew w...--......... SO Crowley ...
herman n............. as Laphanl.
6latt. % Wheeler. .... 9
NoIheA. .-...---..-...l .lOl
The Chair declared that no choice had
been made, and, On motion, the convention
adjourned.
The bribery investigation to day was
mainly confined to the examination of va
rious bank officers with regard to large
sums OF money drawn by members of the
Legislature, In currency, since the begin
ming OF the Senatorial contest. Nothing of
a decisive character was elected.
In the joint convention to-day. during the
call Oh the roll for the vote on the Platt
vacancy, when Assemblyman n. H. Tuthill's
name was called he arose and said: "Mr.
President, | desire, sir, to be excused from
voting, and to briefly state my reasons.
From the beginning of this contest my vote
has been cast in one direction. l have en-
deavored to be consistent not only
with my convictions but with my record.
For two years l have consistently
given my voice and nv votes for
all measures tending to relieve the people
from unjust discrimination and from une-
quail and inequitable taxation. In this
course | have reason to know that am fully
sustained by my constituents. In all these
efforts | have been baffled by this same cor
rupt power which confronts us to day. To
continue to oppose this overshadoW i1g power
Is still duty which is clear to me. and
for the performance OF which my constitu-
encY will, as is right, hold me to a strict
accountability when they come to the facts
now being uncovered by the investigation
now being bad. | have advocated caucus,
In accordance with all former usage
to nominate candidates for whom the
Republicans could unite IN voting, but
all attempts in this direction have been
defeated.
"What Influences ask. have been brought
to bear to prevent Republicans from con-
ferring together? Who have prevented us
from having a caucuse Two men, who
have undertaken to represent and to speak
for the national administration. Over
whelming corporations have been present
everywhere. Whom have they attempted
to put into the Senate of the United Statese
Why have they feared and refused to attend
Republican caucus to pass upon
their candidate Can 1t be possible that
the Republicans were to be kept thus dis
organized In order that corruption might do
its perfect work? That men were to be
forced into position of individual liberty
In order that national influences might be
attempted before party pledge should
bind thems The tax payers, who are
robbed by unjust taxation, and farmers and
business men, who. are robbed by dishonest
rates and charges, will answer why all
these bold and high-handed proceedings
have been taken. They are only part OF
the general and constant raid upon public
right. 1t is an open secret that the candi
date of the corporation is, and has been for
years, their head lobbyist. A. D. Bar
Der has been his confederate and
associate, aud Edwards and the rest
Of the gang are the lieuten ants In their
work of infamy and corruption. The room
of A. d. Barber has long been the head
quar- ers and den where legislation is
Bought and sold and where certain legisla-
tors gamble with lobbyists and claim agents,
and where q game OF cards is made
TO cover naked bribery. / know
enough, sir, of what 1 am saying
to take the responsibility OF
saying it. If those who frequent Barber's
room for such purposes complain of this
statement let them put me to nv proof.
Let committee of this joint convention be
raised and | will furnish witness who will
uncover this foul nest of legislative job
berry.
q go further, and say that in this corrupt
canvass which has been made here, and
which is not yet ended, Barber and his cor
rupt agents have been the controlling and
leading managers, managing to put into the
OCndbO VI A0C OutbCU 0IdlCo buGH Cuk61
man, who supplies them with their money
to corrupt and debauch the representatives
sent here by the people. No sdministra-
tion, sir, can afford to be represented
by such candidate, pushed by
such men resorting to such means
to break up the Republican party, and to
betrsy and disgrace the State. From the
day the first ballot was taken every hour
has made clearer the wickedness and dis
honesty of the opposition, set up osteBsibly
in the name of the administration. Dis
closures day by day fill the public ear and
the public heart with shame, and present
the issue whether monopolies' corruption
funds and plunder are to rule and decide
the question now pending before US.
"For my part, confirmed and for flied by
all that has happened, | take my stand
more firmly In favor of the men whose
hands have not been stained by corruption,
aud whose canvass does not proceed by
bribery, lobbyists, patronage or corporation
direction" Mr.. Tuthlll continued his ar
raignment OF the administration Republi-
cans, and at the close withdrew his request
to be excused from voting, and announced
bis vote for Thos. c. Platt.
The committee reassembled at $40 D. m.
John A. Goodall, the cashier of the Utica
Bank, was examined with regard to the
bank account of A. d. Barber. Senator
Strahan, a Republican and a Conkling man
from the Eighth district, was then called
and sworn and testified as follows:
On May 18th l found a telegram in my
room as follows:
sWAsHINGToN, D. c., May 1S-To John
II. StrdhdR: (ConidentiaD. It is very i'm.
portant to you personally that you meet me
at the club tonight at eleven O'Clock. /
leave here at once. Say nothing to any one
of this dispatch, but meet me without fail.
"TSignedl JOHN j. DAVENPORT"
l went down to New York and went to
the Union Club, and met him there. He
asked me II wanted the Marshalship here.
asked him why. and he said he was sin
with" Garfield 10 this fight, and could get
1t for me. / said IL | accept the Office
would / be expected to act against
Senator ConklingS He said Eyes"
then said I didn't think | could
accept the place, that l wanted to be inde-
pendent told him | did not know whether
Conkling would be candidate or not, and
II he was l should support him. He said /
had better think it over and meet him at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel at 9 o'clock
or half past 8. He said would
have to accept it on the jump,
II at all. The Cabinet. he said, would meet
tomorrow before II o'clock, and you will
be at once confirmed. / told him / would !
meet him, though there was no probability |
the appointment. / haven'tseen him since. |
The witness then said that he told an |
intimate friend of his named Blackie about |
this interview with Davenport, and be pre-
sumed that It was through Blackie that he |
had been subpenaed. He had since seen |
Blackie, and demonstrated against the |
lstter's course In making the matter public |
and having him subpeuaed.
Witness then went to General Arthur and |
Mr.. Conkling and told them the circum-
stances. They told him that they did not |
want to advise nim 10 the matter. | told them |
that was very much averse to going before |
the committee on this subject. don't |
know that have been very active In this |
Senatorial canvass. have voted for Conk-
ling and Platt every time. Beyond that
have done nothing. | have asked no one 10 |
vote for them.
Thomas Way, Superintendent of the |
Brotherhood Of Brooklyn, was
then called and testified to q number OF |
with Bradley, In which the |
latter gave him the impression that he was
about to change his vote from Conkling to 1
somebody who would be more acceptable /
to his constituents.
Phe committee then adjourned.
WASHINGTON, June ia special from |
Albany, N. Y, to the Star says: "It is
singular circumstance that several large |
checks were cashed by Albany banks, drawn
bV lobbyists, aud Senators who were work
ing for Depew for Senator about the time
that Mr.. Bradley alleges that be was bribed
by Sessions On the day of the alleged
occurrence, and within two or three
DAYS previous, 1t has been shown
that checks to the amount OF ABOUT
s24. 600 were cashed, some of them through
unusual channels, which were drawn by
Barber, Edwards, Senators Wagner, Woodin
and Sessions Thus far the amount drawn 4