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

a work-day of eight (8) hours and tc
pay a fair rate of wages, such as
agreeable to the working people EN-
ployed therein and based upon the
highest rate of wages prevailing at
the time of requirement in the parti
cular branch of employment In the
industry of which such property is a
party; and be it further
Resolved, that the secretary OF
commerce and labor be and he is
hereby directed to furnish to the con.
gress of the United States an estimate
of the actual physical valuation OF
these railroads, their connections and
all of their property said estimate to
furnish the basis for the compensa-
ton to the owners of these railroads
by the United States; and be it
further
Resolved, that the secretary of the
treasury be and he is hereby instruct
ed to prepare and submit to the con-
gress of the United States compre-
hensive plan for financing this entire
transaction by the process of issuing
bonds of the United States at the low
est practicable rate of interest in pay
ment of the purchase price of these
properties.
Speech by Berger.
Representative Berger also made
the following statement:
"This strike would prove a mighty
serious matter. If it should tie up
these fifty-four railroad systems, even
if only for one month, cities like Pitts
burg and Indianapolis would be in
danger of starving. And cities like
New York. Chicago, Philadelphia,
Cleveland and Milwaukee that could
get food by boat would also be seri-
ously menaced-not to mention the
tremendous effect the strike would
have upon business of all kinds every
where.
Moreover, it is pretty generally
understood now that railroads should
be operated for the public interest
alone, because in their economic and
legal relation railroads are public
highways.
LAS long as the railroads remain
under private ownership, however
they will be managed for private pro
fit and for dividends.
"This is shown not only by rate dis
elimination and high charges for pas
senger traffic, but even more so by
stingy equipment, poor service and
the absolute disregard for human life
Safety costs money. The number Of
accidents on our railroads is one Of
the most tragic chapters of capitalism
our railroads kill and MAIN more
people every year than a war with g
good-sized power would cost us.
~ shall say nothing about the rail
roads as a source of corruption in po
litics, Nothing about their reckless
waste of national resources. Nothing
about the building of parallel lines
about running parallel trains at the
same tim6@Bbout the unnecessary
and costly competition.
However, it is pretty generally con
ceded that so-called government con
troll is ineffective-and that only ma
tional ownership and government
management will serve the interest Of
the public.
National ownership will undoubted
ly result in better service and greater
safety. Moreover, Uncle Sam with al
his faults is yet the best employer
National ownership, therefore, will dc
away with labor troubles, especially
if we safeguard the rights of the EN-
ployes by law, as my bill does.
Government ownership is a success
everywhere. No country that has
ever tried it wants to go back to pri
vate ownership. Switzerland has ac
quired its railroad system because oi
a strike in 1897 and since then they
have had no troubles with the rail
road employees"
The Garment Workers
Although the democratic party made
a successful campaign last fall large
ly on the pretense of being the friend
OF the working class, the rules com
mittee of the house, dominated by the
democratic leaders of congress, has
stifled Representative Victor L. Berg
er's resolution calling upon congress
TO investigate the garment workers
strike in New York.
The resolution was referred to the
committee on rules, Of which Repre-
sentative Robert L. Henry, OF Texas