The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-10-17
What Mr.. McComas Did.


asking, "What did Mr.. McCOma,
do?" The question is not difficult
to answer but it will require time
and more space than we can give t.
one article. Consequently, we viii
answer it in part only to-day.
First. we will mention one thing
he didn't do. He didn't occupy the
seat in Congress to which he was
elected in 1876, when his present COM
petitor, Mr.. McKaig, was chairman
of Mr.. Walsh's committee. And we
don't want Republicans to forget that
fact against Mr.. McKaig in this cam
paign.
In his first Congressional term, the
48th Congress - before members
usefulness begins--he worked active
ly for the bill establishing labor
bureau and he had it amended with
a provision enquiring into the condi-
ton and rental of tenement houses
occupied by the operatives of corpo-
rations.
An amendment of his to the law
prohibiting foreign contract labor
made the bill effective, and his
amendment is law on the statute
books to-day.
He made a speech on the bill to
prevent the adulterati0n of food,
medicine and meats, in which he
outlined the very legislation that was
matured in the session just concluded.
The passage of the present law is due
largely to his labors, for in each Con-
gress since 1882 he introduced bill
containing substantially, its provIs-
ions.
Hard, persistent labor with the
Postofice Department. with menu
bers of Congress, in. and out of COM
mittee, and speeches on the floor of
the house. secured for Washington,
Frederick and other counties, the
Virginias and the Southwest a spec.
ial fast mail train, that has been in
constant operation for over six years.
His resolution In the House and
the aid, through his interposition, of
the State and Navy departments
saved the life Of Santos, an American
citizen who was about to be shot in
Ecuador.
Although opposed on the floor by
Hon Samuel J. Randall, he secured
an appropriation of S2S7 200 for the
completion of the splendid public
building at...Baltimore occupied by
the Postoffice, the United States
Courts and the Internal Revenue Of
fees.
1t was a notable victory that he
won for the miners of Western
Maryland when bituminous coal was
placed on the free list in the Morrison
bill. Mr.. McComas got hearing be-
fore the committee and carried the
day for his constituents. All this
was accomplished by sheer pluck,
ability and perseverance before he
had been in Congress long enough
to acquire inf1uence-before men,
ber's usefulness begins.
One important matter of leg islation
begun in the 49th Congress was car
ried through the 5Oth to completion
in the 51st, Mr.. McComas In the
49th Congress introduced a resolution
of inquiry relative to the drawback
in the tariff on bituminous coal and
also bill for its repeal. This draw
back had enabled coast.wise and for.
eign vessels since 1883 to supply
themselves with Canadian coal at our
ports. thus lessening the consump-
ton of American coal. In the 50th
Congress Mr.. McComas prevailed
upon the Republican Senate to omit
that feature from the tariff bill, and
in the 51st Congress it is repealed by
the Mckinley bill.
His speeches on pension legislation
and his appeal to the House that
caused the Romissr pension bill to be
passed over Cleveland's veto - the
only case of the kind - has
become historic in the annals of
recent legislation and made Mr.. Nc.
Comas's name familiar and popular
one among the veterans of the war
for the Union.
Other notable speeches made by
Mr.. McComas in this Congress and
that had wide circulation were those
on the bill providing for National ar
bitration in labor disputes, that on
administrative reforms and the sys-
tenn of government appropriations
and that on silver coinage. The latter
speech caused him to be selected as
Que of the six additional members to
the House committee on coinage to
draft, in conjunction with a similar
Senate committee. the silver bill that.