February 13, 1999

Senate acquits Pres Clinton on House's two articles of impeachment, falling short of even a majority on either perjury or obstruction of justice stemming from his relationship with Monica Lewinsky; harrowing year of scandal and five-week Senate trial, second in American history, ends with Chief Justice William Rehnquist calling roll; photo; vote is 55-45 on perjury charge, with ten Republicans voting against conviction, and 50-50 on obstruction of justice, with five Republicans voting not guilty; two-thirds majority, 67 votes, were required for conviction; Clinton responds in Rose Garden appearance, saying he is 'profoundly sorry' for actions and words that caused nation's ordeal; turmoil is underscored as Capitol is cleared over bomb scare just after vote, as senators begin their news conferences; Senate also rebuffs, 56-43, Democrat Dianne Feinstein's call for vote on censure measure condemning Clinton's 'shameful, reckless and indefensible' behavior; senators who voted to acquit, such as Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Byron Dorgan, voice stinging judgments of Clinton; Republican leader Trent Lott makes clear his profound distrust; scandal and investigations reviewed (L)

No Reprieve at Airline American Airlines again scrapped half its flights because of a pilots' sickout, causing chaos for holiday weekend travelers. Page C1. Ruling on Steel Dumping The Government ruled that Japanese and Brazilian exporters sold steel at large discounts. It plans to impose big penalty tariffs. Page C1.

Landmark verdict in Federal District Court in Brooklyn holding gun makers liable for shootings because of negligent marketing practices is likely to encourage many more lawsuits using same legal approach; industry executives express confidence that verdict would be overturned, but, in indication of their concern, National Rifle Assn has used its influence to rush through law in Georgia barring cities in that state from suing gun industry; similar bills are pending in Louisiana, Alabama and Wyoming (M)

Asian long-horned beetle, voracious black bug that has already eaten its way across swath of Brooklyn and southern Queens, has been found in Bayside, Queens; Frank Grill, who lovingly planted and then cared for stretch of maple trees on his block in Bayside now finds that all but one of them will have to come down to prevent total infestation by beetle; photo (M)

Pres Clinton says he feels humbled and 'profoundly sorry' for what he said and did to trigger Lewinsky scandal and 'great burden' it imposed on Congress and the American people; appears in Rose Garden two hours after Senate acquits him on two articles of impeachment; photos; five-sentence statement, short and bittersweet, sees opportunity for reconciliation and renewal; Cliinton adds, in response to question, that 'any person who asks for forgiveness has to be prepared to give it'; Clinton, who has put his family through misery, taxed loyalty of his Cabinet and aides and admitted outright lies to nation about his relations with Monica Lewinsky, has neverthess prospered politically, remaining firmly in office while Republicans like Newt Gingrich and Repr Robert Livingston depart for private life; he also expresses remorse and gratitude to staff, none of whom resigned to protest his behavior; he later calls several Democratic Senators with thanks, as he begins to move on to legislative issues (M)