The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-01-26
WASHINGTON.

\ lctOr l.. Berger, Jue SOCIALIST congress
man, waged strong but unsuccessful
fight ON the floor of the house against
a scale Of sweatshop wages proposed by
the democratic party for laborers en-
ployed by the government of the District
of Columbia.
Il am glad that | finally got the posi-
ton of the democratic party on the wage
question" declared Berger after Con.
gresham Burleson Cdem. Texas had
made a speech in defense of clause in
the appropriation bill providing for an
nual wages for certain laborers as low
as S240 a year "In other words con
tinued Berger you democrats want the
government to do as badly or even
worse. if possible, than the private EN-
plover does You know wages are fixed
nowadays in the open market and not
by the best employer, but by the one
who is paying the lowest wages"
The fact that some of these labOrers
are eolored is no excuse for the low
wages proposed, said Berger. "A col
ored man has red blood in his veins, and
if you employ a eolored man, you ought
to pay him wages as you pay to white
man." declared the socialist congressman.
81 believe it is a disgrace for this great
government to pay any man a wage OF
$24O a year. OF course you can get men
to work for that wage. | suppose there
are some poor negroes out of work who
would work for fifty cents a day"
Pointing out that private employers
must make profits of their workers and
that the government is not In such a
position, Berger urged the members OF
the house to vote for his amendment
establishing a minimum wage of SOU a
wear. 81 believe 5000 is about the mini
mum wage on which a man with family
can live half dec6n1ly in the city OF
Washington.
81 will say" Berger said, chat if the
two old parties continue as they do, the
gentlemen on this side as well as the
gentlemen on the other side, then we
shall soon have a powerful section OF
about 100 socialists in the house. 4snd
then both old parties will fall over each
other to not only accept propositions OF
this kind, but infinitely more radical
measures. That is what the capitalist
PARTIES did in Germany. But their good
will came too late. The socialists con
tinue to grow and last week they polled
four million votes.
"And in our country the socialists Will
have about two million votes at the next
election-maybe two million and half
Bergers amendment to give workers
living wages was, of course, ruled out of
order. A few minutes after the house
went on record against ordinary Justice
for ordinary laborers, republicans and
democrats took the floor to speak for
an increase of pay to the corporation
counsel of the District of Columbia from
$4,000 to $4,000 year.
As soon as this proposition came up
Berger rose and said:
"Tf the gentleman from Texas Mr..
Burleson) should not make a point OF
order in this instance, I shall do so, for
the reason that I will never stand by
idlv when men who get $40 do not get
their poor wages raised, while a man
who gets $4,000 a year would get a
salary raise of $500 That is just for
the information of the gentleman"
Burleson, who had charge of the APP
propriation bill, could not easily escape
His bit of information from the social
ist member Of the house. He made a
Doint of order. And it was sustained
loo