Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-01

he had been very successful. and occasion
! ally he had met with reverses. OF late
| things had been going against him pretty
regularly.
A prominent member of the House said
| today that the San Francisco disaster was
| responsible for the death OF Mr.. Adsms-
| The latter. ii was explained. had lost heay-
| lily the market in the slump in stock
values that resulted from the great Pa
| count Mr.. Adams makeup, his sensitiyeness
and sterling integrity, his colleagues ex-
! plain that If he had been heavily involved
| in debt he would undoubtedly consider the
! act of taking his life the most honorable
| means OF vindication.
| And today, after the members OF the
| House had learned of the tragic end of
| their colleague. many of them recalled that
| of late he had appeared distracted and
worried. Several times during the con-
, sideration of the diplomatic and consular
| appropriation BILL which he was managing
! In It's passage, Mr.. Adams expressed the
greatest anxiety to get the bill through
| that he might intend to important personal
business, which, he said required his pres
| ence in Philadelphia.
Engagement to Keep Today.
Only yesterday. when Speaker Cannon
contemplated temporarily sidetracking the
diplomatic bill to make way for the con-
terence report on the post office appropria-
ton bill, Mr.. Adams went to him and made
an earnest appeal that the bill In his
charge be first permitted to pass. He told
the Speaker that he had most urgent
ana important engagement to keep today.
As the members of the House reached
the Capitol today they learned, one by one,
OF the suicide of their colleague. All were
astounded beyond measure as well as grev-
ed at the news. Although the Pennsylvania
representative had appeared worried and
distracted of late, not q man could be
found today who for a moment had the
slightest idea that Mr.. Adams was in seri-
| GUS diffculty or that he was in a frame of
! mind that harbored thoughts of self-de-
| structiou.
The sergeant-at-arms office was notified
OF the death OF Mr.. Adams at the hospital
| several hours after the shooting and the
| customary black pail was draped around
| his desk. Immediately in front of the Speak
| er's rostrum, and the top covered with flow
| erS.
Discussed in flushed Tones.
Up to a few moments before the House
convened the fact that Speaker Cannon had
| received a letter from Representative
Adams explaining his reason for self-de-
structlon was not generally known, and his
colleagues stood in groups around the floor
of the House discussing In hushed tones,
the meager details of the tragedy that had
reached the Capitol.
draped desk told the story to late arrivals
and the spectators in the galleries
Not in years has there come to the mem
bership of the House such sudden gloom
as arrived with the going out of Mr..
Adams. The seat which today is covered
with black was selected by Mr.. Adams
for his late colleague, George A. Castor or
the third Pennsylvania district who dying
before he could occupy 1t, Mr. Adams Sc
lected the seat for himself. it being one OF
those unexplainable condolences that come
without warning.
Mr.. Morrell Announces Death.
Immediately after the approval of the
journal Mr.. Morrell of Pennsylvania rose
and amid profound hush. said:
Mr.. Speaker. 1t is with the deepest feel
ings of pain and sorrow that have to an
nounce to the House the sudden death this
morning of an old friend. the death of one
of our members. one of my colleagues from
Philadelphia, gentleman whose PERSONAL
ity was with us yesterday, and whose con-
duct of the bill of which he had charge
brought it TO a successful passage in the
late hours of the afternoon; gentleman
whose characteristics were such as to be
admired and emulated.
My Speaker, it is my sad duty to an
nounce TO the House the sudden death in
the early hours of the morning of Robert
Adams, jr.. representative from the state
OF Pennsylvania.
Then came scene that has never had
its parallel in the historic chamber of the
nations law-making body The Speaker
rose and asked that the House indulge
| him while he read a letter from the dead.
| letter received while the life OF Robert
| Adams was passing away. A silence fell
/ on the House that but yesterday was sur
| changed with animation. The Speaker then
read the letter quoted in the foregoing.
| Following the reading of the letter Mr.
| Morrell presented a resolution directing the
sergeant-at-arms to make the necessary
arrangements for the funeral the expenses
to be paid out of the contingent fund of the
House and then a further mark or
respect the House adjourned.
An Informal Escort.
In view of the request contained in the
letter written the Speaker by Mr. Adams,
no congressional committee will accompany
! his body to Philadelphia. An officer of the
| House will go, however ana II IS unoer,
| stood that informally several members VIII
! also act as an escort Representative Cap
| ron of Rhode Island has expressed ms
/ intention of going as also have Representa-
/ elves Cousins of Iowa and Lafean OF feiih-
| sylvania.
The body was placed in the hands OF the
undertaken under orders from the once Oh
| the sergeant-at-arms of the House, ana pre-
pared for burial. 1t will not be taken TO
| Philadelphia until tomorrow. 49,
| In the absence of Chairman Hit or Hi
| nois Mr. Adams had been acting as cnair
| man of the House committee on foreign al
|
\ session He took this position by reason OF
| being the ranking republican member OF
| the committee. His removal places Repre-
| sentative Cousins of Iowa in the position
| occupied by Mr. Adams, and he Will I'M
| doubtedly assume charge OF the committee
| during the remainder OF the Congress.
! Robert Adams was one of the best known
| representatives In Congress, and mas peen
| identiaed with many matters of worldwide
! Importance. His position as ranking mem
! Der of the majority, after the chairman, on
| the House committee on foreign affairs had,
| owing to the i'll health OF Mr. HIT naue IL
| necessary for him to largely direct the bust
| ness of that important committee, and he
was thus brought into close contact with
| President Roosevelt and Secretaries Hay,
| Root and Taft
| Society and Club Man.
Mr. Adams was a society and club man
| and was at all prominent social functions
| In this city. It was only yesterday that