Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-16
EXTRA!
GREAT SENATE SENSATION
MESSRS. CONKLING AND
PLATT RESIGN.
NEW YORK WlTHOUTASENATOR.

NEW YORK WITHOUT SENATOR.
EFFECTOF THE BOMB SHELL
The Vice President laid before the Senate the
following communication:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 16, 1881.
ST:-Win you please announce to the Senate
from tie state Of New York Of has beea
forwarded to the governor of the state.
have the honor to be. with great respect,
your obedient servant,
lsigned) ROSCOE CoNKL1Ss.
TO Hon. c. A. Arthur, Tice President.
This communication was received with great
sensation, which was heightened when the
Vice President laid the following before the
Senate:
SENATE CHAMBER, May 1s, 1881.
TO me Hon. c. A. Arthur, Vics President Of TIE
Sir:-I have forwarded to the governor of the
state OF New York my resignation as Senator
OF tne united states for the state OF New York.
WIN you please announce the fact to the Sen
ate. With great respect your op't servt,
hum OF astonishment followed the reading
OF the communication, and Mr.. Hill (Ga sug.
gested soto rOce that this would be gooa time
to elect officers OF the Senate.
Mr. Burnside, chairman of committee on for
egn relations, reported back favorably from
that committee resolution declaring the con-
sent OF the United States government to be
condition preced to the construction OF ship
canals. or other ways for the transportation OF
sea gong vessels across the isthmus connect
rules and regulations under which other ma
tions shall participate In the use OF such canals
or other ways. Mr.. Burnside gave notice tnat
ne would call 1t up tomorrow.
MT. Dawes moved tn into ayao,tfva
sion.
Mr.. CockIelL-I thought you wanted to con.
slider the other resolution.
Mr. dawes had no idea but that the Sem
ator would IKE to go on with it, It is In &C.
cordance with the disposition which he has
shown from the beginning.
republic would be subverted IL the resolutIon
was not acted upon.
Mr.. Dawes-But the Senator would never be
convinced until he happened to have a ma
Mr.: Hln:-oh! we won't insist upon having
MI: Dawes.-An accident is an eye opener to
the Senator.
MI. Hill turned around and suggested to MIR.
Davis (lll) that there was nothing to prevent
the Senate from adjourning this week SINE die,
:, The Senate then, at 1890, went into execu-
When the doors were reopened at 1:4O the
Senate adjourned until Tomorrow.
The COnkllng BOmbShell.
A GENUINE SURPRISE AT THE CAPITOL.
About ten minutes before the Senate met to-
day prominent republican said to STAR re.
porter: "YOu'N get sensation for the STaR co.
day." "What is it," inquired the reporter
eagerly, "Tho designations of Conkling and
as soon as the Senate meets, - was the whisp.
cred reply. Immediately after the reading OF
the journal the Vice President handed
me clerk communication to be read; but 1t
OF
muCdle In the western district OF Virginia. Il
was eVloehI tnat the coming event was sill q
secret, known to but few present. Senators
were taking with each other and general mat
tention was manifested. Vice President Arthur
directed the clerk to read another communlca-
t1on, at the same time handing him an en-.
from the envelope small sheet of note paper.
apparently not being aware himself OF the
startling nature Of the contents. He read a let
inform the Senate that the resignation of Ros-
coe Conkling, as Senator from New York, had
peen forwarded to the governor Of that State,
10 take e1ect Immediately. WHATS that ~
ously. AS quick as lightning the hum OF voices
ceased, silence reigned, and several Senators.
not ooupt1ng but that they had misunderstood
the document, called for another reading of il,
The News 1t the White House.
The news Of the designations of Senator's
Conkling and Platt was received at the White
House about twenty five minutes OF one O'Clock
and 1t created naturally quite breeze. Mr.
JUDD, the telegraph operator, heard q dispatch
announcing the fact going over the wire and
communicated 1t to the Presidents private
secretary. OF course he was to an extent
dazed. Soon thereafter representative of the
Associated Press brought to Mr.. Brown CODY
OF the notification OF The resignation In mani
10ld paper, which was at onc5 taken to the
President.
Street Talk.
On the streets or in the departments the
fact OF the resignation was not known until
about one O'Clock. once started, however the
news spread like wildf1re, and was the engross-
Ing topic OF discussion. AS In everytnln there
were two views Of the case. On the one side IL
was urged that Senator Conkltng could do
nothing less and maintain his sell. respect, His
admirers say that both himself and Senator
Platt VIII be triumphantly reelected by the
New YORK legislature and como back to
washington with the endorsement that both
connrmation OF Judge Robertson.
Tne rum0r was also af10at about O'Clock
that Vice President Arthur also contemplated
res1gn1ng. as well as Postmaster General
James These stories were, however, promptly
denied.
Since the controversy between the Pre,ldent
and the New York Senator began there has
Deen no such excitement as Is In the city to-
day:
The democrats. OF course are disconnected.
The designations came to them as shock. and
Tor that matter to the republicans as well.