JOINT RESOLUTIONS. 1667

of persons who have been in certain branches of the public
service for long periods of time or have by injuries sustained
in the performance of duty become incapacitated; and

WHEREAS, Various forms of insurance have been devised to
provide an income in the advanced years of the insured; and

WHEREAS, The methods now in vogue do not guard against
the improvidence of the average man or woman, create dis-
crimination where none should exist, and by the method, of
insurance a large part of the money paid in premium is received
by the stockholders of the companies which money might be
returned to those who contribute; and

WHEREAS, In foreign lands systems of old age pensions under
governmental regulation and control are reported to be giving
satisfactory results. Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland:

1. That the Senators and Representatives of Maryland in
the Congress of the United States be requested to urge upon
the Federal Senate and House of Representatives the appoint-
ment of a commission empowered and directed to investigate
the subject of old age pensions and to report to Congress the
result of its labors with such recommendations as to legislation
as it may see fit to make.

2. That a copy of this Joint Resolution be sent by the Chief
Clerk of the House of Delegates to each of the two Senators
and to each of the six Representatives from Maryland in the
Congress of the United States.

No. 14

WHEREAS, The construction of a ship canal between the Ches-
apeake and Delaware Bays has long been recognized as a pro-
ject which should be undertaken and completed by the National
Government, and

WHEREAS, Such canal as that proposed would shorten the
trade route between Baltimore and European ports by several
hundred miles, thus enabling the shipment of grain and other
products of the west to Europe at lower rates than at present.
and

WHEREAS, By the proposed canal Baltimore will be brought
several hundred miles nearer Philadelphia, New York, Boston
and other New England coast cities—thus facilitating the ship-
ment of coal and of other commodities from Baltimore to these
points in less time and at cheaper cost than at present, and