The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-06
CONCER RESIGNS.
Senator FOreStalIS Action
For His Expulsion.
EXPLAINS ACTION IN SPEECH.
Judiciary Committee at Albany
Was to Have Given Him
Hearing Today on Charges
In Aids Case.

Albany, y. Y, April 5.-Senator BenI
.Conger has forestalled hostile actor
In the senate by filing his resignation
with the secretary of state. as fol
lows:
Hon. Horace White, Lieutenant Governor
of the State of New York and Presi
dent of the Senate:
Sir-I, Benn Conger. do hereby reSigr
the office of senator representing the For.
ty-first senatorial district OF the state OF
New York, which / now hold
This resignation to take effect immedi'
ately. BENIN CONGER.
Had Senator Conger resigned before
April l Governor Hughes would have
had the power under the law to issue
a call for a special election in his dis.
trict. The senate judiciary committee
was to have met today to hear Sena.
tor Conger on the charge that he gave
bribe of $1,000 to Senator Aids.
Shortly after the senate session
opened Senator COnger entered the
senate chamber for the first time since
voluntarily retired from the senate ses.
Sions pending the ending of the Aids
trial. He announced his resignation in
a speech in which he first narrated the
circumstances of his charge against
Aids. Then he continued:
This statement became known to
Mr.. Aids on the following morning
On Jan. 10 on this floor he denied the
truth of those statements and demand.
ed an investigation thereof. There.
upon this body ordered an investiga
ton and called upon mRresn pre'ent
proof.
Il determined that the only thing
could do and retain my own self re
spect was to speak the truth whateve,
the cost. That l have done, and forty
of your number by your votes have
certified thereto.
''The one great and sOrrowful re.
gret OF my brother was that he had
submitted TO the demand OF that, the
worst gang Of plunderers that ever in.
Tested this or any other capital, and
my wrong. and for 1t / have always
been ashamed and sincerely sorry, was
in standini by and permitting the
thing to be done instead of then and
there denouncing 1t.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
transaction occurred nearly nine years
ago, since which time | have been
elected 10 my present position in this
body and so under the precedents can.
not be removed therefrom, and not.
withstanding the fact that 1t is con.
trary to sound public policy and is in
the interests Of wrongdoers that any
one who makes known or assists I'm
bringing to punishment official wrong.
doing shall be punished, / am Informed
that II Is now proposed by some OF
your members TO appoint a committee
which shall prepare and present to
this body charges against me ostensi
bly, because of my connection with the
transaction in the year 1901, but in
truth and in fact because of what I
have done this year at your request
and at the instigation of one who at
the time was a member of this body.
and that trial Of such charges is now
proposed to be had and an attempt
made to eXpel me as member of this
body.
Il am also informed that some of
your number profess to feel that they
cannot remain in the senate II am to
be here, and yet some OF these same
senators have been members of the
legislature for years and as such had
come to know the reputation and the
true character OF the senator who has
but so lately left US and TO know the
workings of the regime OF which he
was part and, knowing of the charge
against him, which has now by youu
and their votes been declared true,
nevertheless took pleasure on Jan.
last in voting TO elevate him to the
high and honorable office OF senate
leader, the second In succession to the
governorship OF this great state.
Il have no desire to remain a mem
ber of this great legislative body II
my presence is to give offense to any
OF its members. | realize and from the
beginning have fully realized that with
the feeling here as It is my usefulness
TO my district as a member OF this
legislature is at an end"