The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-03-07

service, ana INDICATES WnhJ Cdu Dt
done by representative whose point
of view sees the interests of the indi.
vidual rather than the petty regula'
tions acting as protection to the
plundering activities of big business
interests.
Railroads Warned
With a ringing warning to the capi-
talist owners of the eastern railroads
not to permit the fireman's strike to
continue longer than a week, Repre-
sentative Victor l.. Berger introduced
in the house a resolution calling up
on the government to seize the rail-
road properties on the ground of great
public emergency, If the owners should
fail to heed the warning.
The resolution created a profound
sensation in congress. AS an example
of broad statesmanship, it is one of
the most notable documents ever pro-
duced in Washington. The resolu-
ton completely outlined the plan of
procedure for the president to follow
in confiscating the railroad proper
ties, provided for physical valua-
ton, bond issue to finance the trans
action, a basis for a wage scale for
future government railway employees,
and the creation of a department of
railways.
In the emergency the railroads are
placed by the resolution in the con-
troll of the post office department
1t was the hardest blow the socia-
list congressman has struck for the
working class during his two years
service in the house.
Text of Resolution
The following is the text of the reso-
luton:
Whereas, the firemen on fifty-four
railroads $4,000 miles of
track, employing about 10000 firemen
and having on their pay rolls more
than 100000 persons in all capacities,
and serving approximately the daily
needs of 5O,0O0,000 people-have de-
clared their decision to go on strike
on Monday, February II, 1913, and tie
up the operation of these properties !;
and
Whereas, this is merely one new
demonstration of the failure of pri-
vate ownership and private manage
ment of the railroads, which private
ownership has over and over again
proved it's utter inefficiency and is
now on the point of total collapse;
and
Whereas, our railroads are now the
poorest equipped and most unsafe OF
any civilized country-they killed TO-,
1856 and injured 77175 through acci
dents during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1912-these casualties being
about ten times as many in proper
tion to the number of people travelling
than the casualties of England, Ger
many or France; and
Whereas, these conditions are bound
to become worse because according to
the best railroad authorities it will
require about nine billion dollars tc
make the various railroad systems OF
our country comparatively safe, and
so much private capital is not to be
had for that purpose; and
Whereas, government regulation
and supervision as based upon the in
terstate commerce law have not prov
ed to be satisfactory or efficient in
dealing with the railroads because
railroads being a public utility are
necessarily monopolistic by nature
and thus we have only to choose be
tween private monopoly where the in
terests of the public are subseryient
to profit and dividends, or a public
monopoly where the interests of the
public are paramount. Therefore be il
Resolved, by the senate and house
of representative of the United States
that in case of a strike and a tie-uE
of the railway systems for more thar
a week, the president of the United
States is hereby empowered TO seize
the railway systems, with all their ter
minals, belt lines, lands, coal mines
workshops and other properties on the
ground of great public emergency and
by the right of eminent domain, and
to manage and operate the same
through the department of the post
master general until congress creates
by appropriate legislation a depart
ment Of railways; and be it further
Resolved that it shall be the duty
Of the government of the United
States 10 operate these properties on