Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-27
CONGRESSMAN O'NEILL's DEATH.
The Philadelphia Representative Had
Served for Twenty-Eight Years.


Served for Twenty-Efght Years.
Charles O'Nein, for twenty-eight years a.
member Of Congress from the second dis
trict Of Pennsylvania, and Father Of the
House." died Saturday afternoon at his res
idence, laos South Penn square. Philadel-
phia, after a protracted illness. Consump-
ton Of the lungs was the direct cause of
death, although the end was FASTENED by
complication of other diseases.
When Congress was summoned in extra
session Mr.. O'Neill, though not in good
health. attended and stayed some time
after the repeal bill had been passed. On
August 2S he had a sharp attack of Illness
and returned to his home in Philadelphia
consultation of physicians was held, and
1t was decided that there was no hope for
him.
His death was to be a matter of months
however, and by proper care 1t was thought
that his life might be prolonged year.
Mr.. ONeiil, while he appreciated the fact
that he was a very sick man, and that the
weight of his seventy-two years was
strongly against him. did not anticipate a
fatal termination of his illness, and ex-
pected to come back TO Washington in the
early part Of October to vote on the repeal
of the federal election law.
This he was unable to do. and the fact
worried him. 1t had been his boast that
during his twenty-eight years of service he
had never been absent day through sick
ness. Then, again, on November z, he was
extremely DESTROYS of voting.
The polling booth of his division was To-
Gated on the City Hall pavement directly
opposite his door, but the physicians per
emptorily forbade his leaving the house.
In consideration for him IL was proposed
that the election board adjourn to his home
long enough to receive his ballot, but the
fear that such action might invalidate the
return fa6 this haiDo fak
Saturday morning he arose and shaved
himself. He remained down stairs until 3
o'clock, when he went UP to his room to
take a nap. His niece. Miss Orne, noticed
that he breathed with more than usual
difficulty, and had DIR. ONeIll summoned.
p. B. O'Neill. the Congressman's brother.
now In his eightieth year, was called, and
with these three about his bedside the ven-
cradle statesman peacefully slept away the
few remaining minutes of his life. The end
was quiet and painless.
Congressman O'NeiIPs Career.
Congressman oNein was born at Attn and
Spruce streets on March 81. 1921. He was
graduated at Dickinson College in 1870 and
studied law. being admitted to the bar three
years later.
His first political office was that Of mem
Der Of the house of representatives of Penn
sylvania in 1850. He served until 1853, when
he was made a state senator.
He went back to the house in 1850, leav-
ing to take his seat as a member of the
national House of Representatives in the
Thirty-eighth Congress. He was uniformly
reelected until the Forty-second Congress-
when he was defeated, as the Independent
candidate, by John V. Greedy. When the
Forty-third Congress convened, however
Mr.. O'Neill was again a member, and has
served continuously since that time.
Through the deaths of Judge William ID
Kelley and Samuel j. Randall Mr. O'Neiil
succeeded to the honorable title of father
of the House" 1t is a peculiar coincidence
that all three men were members from the
same state.
Judge Kelley took his seat in the Thirty
seventh Congress, while Mr.. Randall and
Mr.. ONeill entered their national political
career in the succeeding House. Mr. RAN
dali served without interruption, however,
while his colleagues record had the one
break.
The dead Congressman was a bachelor
and lived with his elder brother and a niece
at the house on South Penn Square He re-
sided there for over half a century.