The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
EULOGlES IN THE House
Tribute to the Memory of the Late
Alfred c. Harmer.
The Day Given Over to = Review Of
the Life and Work of the Veteran
Who Died During the Last Session
of COngrcss-Praisc for His Service

The House of Representatives devoted
the greater part Of yesterday to paying
tribute to the memory of Alfred c. Har-
mer late Representative from Pennsyl-
vania. ard who, at the time of his death,
during the early days of the last session
Of Congress, was the father of the House.
When the House met at noon the cleo
ton of Mr. Foss as Chairman Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, vice Boutelle OF
Maine, was announced. Mr.. Payne gained
unanimous consent for the immediate con-
sideration Of the bill introduced by Mr..
Loud. amending section 3255 Of the Re-
sised Statutes so that cherry brandy might
be added to the list Of fruit brandies pro-
yided for in that section. The bill was
passed without division.
Mr. Payne then moved that the House
take a recess till j o'clock.
At that hour Mr.. Bingham Of Pennsyi-
rania. at present the father of the House,
called up the resolution adopted at the
last session, setting aside the day for the
delivery of eulogies upon the life, char
acter, and public service OF Mr.. Harmer.
Mr.. Harmer was born August S, 1925. In
Germantown. Pa, a township in the coun-
~ of Philadelphia. which in later years be-
came part of the city OF Philadelphia
Before he was twenty years old he began
his active business career in independent
enterprise, which deyelopd In short time
into a large wholesale establishment.
AT the age of twenty-one he was elected
q director of the public schools Of Ger
maniown. and Few years later member
OF the city council Of Philadelphia In 1868,
as q candidate OF the Peoples Party. sue
cessor to the old Whig party, he was
elected recorder of deeds for the city OF
Philadelphia.
In the summer OF 1870 he received the
nomination OF the Republican party for
Congress for the Fifth Pennsylvania dis
trict. and was elected a member OF the
Forty-third Congress This was the be-
ginning o. his long and useful Congress
eional career. exceeded In the history OF
this body by but few men, and identified
with legislation as important as any quar-
ter OF q century's work in the history OF
.he nation. From 1871 until the date OF
his death, twenty -seven years OF service,
there was but one Congress for which he
met defeat, and that occurred by reason Of
two Republicans antagonizing each other
in the district the Democratic candidate
polling a larger vote than either in die
trio. the normal Republican majority Of
which was 1910.
The member of the House first to ad
dress the Speaker upon the pending reso-
luton was Mr. Bingham. He said in part:
I'm this great hall, where our late col
league and associate. Alfred c. Harmer.
with rare fidelity to his public trusts, did
good work. We have assembled today to
extend a loving and affectionate farewell
and to pay tribute to a distinguished cfti-
zen of Pennsylvania, late a member OF
this body, who for more than quarter
OF a century held the confidence OF his
immediate constituency, the high esteem
OF associate Representatives in fourteen
Congresses. and who on the 9Th day OF
Merch, 1900. after long and painful Ill
ness, passed away to join the unreturning
caravan. to where, beyond these voices,
there is rest.
While Mr. Harmer was recognized as
Representative Of positive force and ac-
cepted ability in the House, he rarely en-
tered upon general debate or word con-
tests upon the floor. He was. one-and
there are many Of like character in every
Coneress--whose work and results aimed
for were reached in the committee room.
q contribution as valuable to good legis-
lstion as oratory or prepared argument.
His committee associates regarded him as
q colleague always punctual, full OF in
dustry, wa.chful of the interests Of his
great State and industrial city, sound In
judgment, clear In the expression Of his
convictions, fearless and aggressive,
though most patient, and distinguished
for his integrity. good purposes. zeal, and
fidelity
The records OF the many Congresses in
which he served as Representative will
show. by his vote, that at all times he ex-
hibited good judgment. that he was true
10 his party convictions and that he was
always patriot. To no division or part
of his constituency did he show more
faithful solicitude and devote more per-
sonal labor than to the soldiers and Wild
ows of our wars since 1861. He made
their claims and privileges immediate and
special. In every case he wrote an auto
graph letter to the claimant. with words
of interest. sympathy. and hope. He
pressed these cases personally. and never
rested until fair and just judgment was
rendered. Every soldier and soldiers
widow among his people mourned for hin
when he died. They felt that they had
lost their best friend. trust his honor
able successor will feel that in the obli-
cations that will press upon him. his
richest legacy will be to take up and con-
tinue Alfred c. Harmers work for the old
soldiers. their widows, and orphans
Following Mr.. Bingham. Mr.. Cummings
called attention to the fact that Penn