The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-08-31
BERGER,S RECORD
TN CONGRESS.

the first and MY Socialist Represen-
tative, during the extra session OF
Congress, just closed.
He introduced bills and RESOLUTIONS
TO:
Recall the Federal troops from the
Mexican border.
Provide for the Calling of a Ma
tional Constitutional Convention.
Investigate the Mcnamara kidnap-
ing outrage.
abolish the Senate, the Presidents
veto and the Supreme Courts power
TO invalidate laws.
Erect a Postofice at Waukesha,
Wisconsin, which would
house the workers employed therein.
Limit the employment of women in
the District of Columbia 10 eight
hours a day and prohibit night work.
Amend EXtradition laws to prevent
kidnapping.
provided automobile for official use
OF District Committee SO that it may
properly do its work.
Prohibit h employment of children
under the age of sixteen years by the
Federal Government.
Provide old age Pensions for the
veterans of industry.
Provide for appointment of Il COM
mission TO investigate the matter of
old-age pensions.
Congress 4 not acted on any of
the foregoing bills. They are all in
the committee rooms, excepting the
resolution to investigate the Nc
anna case. This resolution was
given Il hearing by the Committee on
Rules at which considerable testimony
was heard. The, stenographic roport
OF these hearings has been printed
by Congress and Berger has distribute
ed about three thousand copies of
these reports.
As a result of these Mcnamara
hearings the Senate Committee on the
Ihlrd Degree has also taken up the
kidnapping case. 1t also admits that
McNamara's eXtraditicl was "irregu-
lar
All bills received 4 great deal of
publicity in the public press. Especial
ly is this true of Berger's bill against
the Senate n for old-age pensions.
BERGER'S VOTING RECORD.
Berger voted for the direct election
OF Senators by the people and for
federal control of these elections.
Voted for campaign publicity bill.
Voted for the Canadian reciprocity
agreement.
Voted for the Farmers Free List
bill.
Voted to admit Arizona-with is
recall of HI judiciary" clause. and
New Mexico.
Voted for the reduction of tariff
duties on wool and cotton.
He made a speech in favor of the
wool bill and pointed out for the first
time in Congress ithe Socialist posi-
ton on the tariff. The speech created
a sensation. over 300. 900 copies of
that speech have already been distri-
buted.
Berger also made a short talk on
old-aSe pensions. This speech lasted
ten minutes and is preliminary
10 q speech he expects to deliver at
the next Session.
OTHER ACTIVITIES.
The Socialist Representative called
President Taft's attention to the case
of Engineer Tough who was ~uniustly
imprisoned in Panama. The Presi-
dent p%ardoned this workingman.
Berger appealed TO Secretary Nagel.
OF the Department of Commerce and
Labor to admit into this country
Theodore Malkoff. n Russian political
refugee. who had been detained at
Ellis Island. Nagel granted Berger's
request.
Letter carriers of several cities COM
planned to Berger that they were COM
PEELED to wear uniforms in hot wealth
er. Berger secured an Executive or
der permitting these workers to de-
eide what clothing they shall wear in
summer.
Berger's office is continually sup
plying w~orkingmcn and their organ
iZation regarding Governmental af-
fairs. various official publications., and
careful answers TO all sorts of re-
quests. A secretary and two steno-
sraphers are thus kept busy all the
time.
The greatest scrvice.Berger has-ren-
dcred to the cause of the working
class is that through his prominent
position here he was able to give a
great deal of publicity TO its grievan-
ces and to its demand for industrial
emancipation.
The Socialist movement has re-
ceived more publicity in the last four
months than in any other period in
in its history in this country. The
workers have learned even from the
capitalist press that Victor l.. Ber-
ger is their only Representative in
Congress.
his successful efforts in their behalf.