The evening times., 1900-03-07

service than because OF the affection and
esteem in which he was held by the mem
bers." He said be did not intend to make
any extended remarks at this time. but
fe'l that he should be dciug far less than
his affection and duty demanded did Le
not say a few words in tribute to the mem
ory Of his deceased colleague
From his twenty-frst year" contin-
ued Mr. Bingham. he commenced ms
public service as a representative OF his
people and until the day OF his death.
with but few years OF iutCrmissiu-, be con-
tirusd their Representative either IN the
councils Cf the city. Ia Offices OF trust on
as Representative ID Congress. He died
in The same community in which he was
born and among he people who for more
than half s-ceByuFy loved and hunorel
him personally and held him in such high
esteem cnd confidence that only death
could sever their close relations.
He was one Of marked group Of four
men whom the city Of Philadelphia sent
60 the American Congrcss-men most eN-
ceptiunal iu their usefulness and years Of
service. / desire to group together the
names OF those four members whose rec
ord tldav belongs 10 the whole country,
aud for whose memory the people Of Phil
adelphia has especial affection Judge ".
ID. Kelly who was elected 20 fifteen Con-
crosses and served twenty-uine years,
Charles O'Neill. who was also elected TO
fifteen Congresses and served twenty-nine
years. SamuaI j. Randall, who was elected
10 fourteen Congresses and served twenty
seven wears and our colleague just
deceased. Alfred c. Hsrmer, who was like
wise elected 10 fourteen Congresses and
4fI e
Of service given by those four distinguish
ed dead-a record unparalleled in the his
tory Of the country"
The usual resolutions OF regret. contain
ing q reference to the deceased as the
member OF longest continuous service, were
presented and agreed TO.
Speaker Henderson announced the fol-
lowing members as the committee on tae
part OF the House 10 attend the fuCe-ai al
Philadelphia on Friday: Messrs. = usham
Adams. Young. McAleer. Dd'zeI B -0siIs
WaugeT. Butler. Kejcham. McC.elry. Bah
cock. Richardson. gatchiuss Terry. and
Fitzgerald.
AT 1920. as a further mark Of respect
TIE House adjourned until tomorrow.
Representative Alfred Crout Harmer
died last evening et his home in Germ3n-
town, Pa Mrs HGrmer. Dr. Raudle, bis
son-in-IaU ald his two sons were with
him when the end came. Hr. Harmer. who
had been suffering from Brights disease,
became unconscious about O'Clock in the
afternoon. and Dr. Raadle his physician
hoped he would rally. as he had done be-
fore when his condition was considered
critical bat be gradually grew weaker
and in less than four hours peacefully
passed away.
Ii was just previous to the Christmas
HOLIDAYS when Representative HGrEcr was
taken III. He regaiEod sufficient strength
however. TO be able TO 80 90 Washington
and accomplish his last official act, th,
swearing in, IS 'Fa-her OF the House" o
Spea,cr Henderson.
He was born in Germantown. August s
1926. Before he had s,tained his majority
he commenced business for himself and il
a few years was proprietor of a large sho,
factory. In 1856 he was elected a member
of CITY Councils, and served until 1860
when he was elected Recorder OF Deeds
which position he held for three years. II
1870 he was elected TO Congress in the Fift.
Congressional District. In 1874 he was de
feated through a split in the nominating
convention The Congressional district
had just been remOdeled. the Eighteenth
and Nineteenth wards and part OF tn
Seventeenth having been taken from tn
| Third district which was represented d
Congress by Leonard Myers, and attache'
to the Fifth. which was represented by MT
Harmer. aud which had formerly embrace
| the Twenty second Twenty y-third an,
| Twenty wards with Bucks county.
In the convention the delegates wer
| almost evenly divided between Harmer an
/ Myers and as they were utterly unable {
! agree they separated. and in the sam
/ hall both candidates were nominated. Tn
| city committee declined 10 interfere. an
/ as neither candidate was wiiliTg to resjS
| his claim 70 the regular nOni-aticn J J,h
| Robbins the Democratic candidate, wa
| elected.
| II 1875 ne was nominated for Congress
| and defeated Jacob s. Ddval. the De 20
] cratic candidate By a large majority l
| 1SS9. while Harmer was serving his niat
term. he was the senior memtc- Of tn
Comrttee on Naval Ara'rs. He va
I taken of that ccnmitt-e by Speaker Reed
( Mr. Watson. Of Warren coJn.y, havin
been appointed in MS place. Mr.. Harme
had served on the committee named 70
over twelve years. He was idsn;iiei vi:
| railroad enterprises an was largely en-
| gagged In mining and land operations
/ the West. Mr Harmer WAS married twic,
Ask your drugEist for NretOI.