New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-24


was aphointed member of the Commission.
4 fter long consideration the Commissioners
have prepared reporter rather reports, for
Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Harrison differ on some
important points from the views OF their more
conservative colleagues. The general basis OF
agreement is a recognition OF the rlght Oh
Trade Unions TO exist, and to be protected by
law. At present the law which protects De-
neyolent and "benefit" societies among work
ingmen, which enables them to recover money
due and to punish peculating ofncers,
does not extend to the Trade Unions.
The report of the Commissioner seems
to agree that this anomaly should cease to ex-
ist. But the majority of the Commissioners
recommend that the removal of the distinction
between Trade Unions and Benefit Societies
should be conditional-that the law should
recognize and protect the Unions only when
the rules of these Unions do not tend TO
restrict the number of apprentices, limit the
use of machinery, prevent piece-work, OF sup
port strikes by other Unions. Thomas Hughes
and Frederic Harrison contend that q society
has 4 right to legal protection, even though its
regulations should be anti-ecOnomic and fool
isb. so long as it does nothing in violation OF
public peace and individual liberty. IL body
of men choose to say, ave agree among our
" selves that we will not work for any employer
" who takes more than n certain number OF APP
prentices,n that may be very narrow-mlnded
and selfish and foolish; but so long as the men
do not attempt to coerce anybody else, Messrs'
Harrison and Hughes think their league is en-
titled to recognized existence, and ought not,
on grounds of expediency as well as of justice,
TO be outlawed and driven into secrecy and
darkness. The majority of the Commissioners
likewise recommend the maintenance OF certain
parts of the existing law, which make comDlna-
ton under particular circumstances conspiracy,
and which give magistrates power to punish
summarily for molestation, obstruction, on
even threats used by workmen against OBJ
noxious persons All this sort of exceptional
legislation Hughes and Harrison would abolish.
They would leave the workingman to stand,
like tho master, merely amenable to the laws
which regulate the conduct OF all citizens
These laws. they say, are sufficient to deal with
all cases in which it is just or prudent t0f
authority to interfere.
We are much disposed to agree with Messrs'
Hughes and Harrison The truth is that where
ever tACPUllOHuDlO ltSlSliIlou 'ohSo IN N"''@'~O
with the Trade Unions themselves the unwel-
come offspring Of exceptional legislation made
in the interest of capital,) the Trade Unions
will have their way. That the great majority
of English workingmen have their iearts
in these organizations, and regard them as their
best defense and security, can hardly be denied
any longer. Equally certain is 1t that there is
much in the Unions which their members are
justified in admiring and upholding. Years ago
Mr.. Stuart Mil showed how blindly unjust the
public in general were in their way OF deciding
oifhand upon all questions between the en-
ployer and the Union. We must not form our
! estimate of the English Trade Unions generally
from the atrocities of the Sheffield saw grinders
and the startling pictures now being painted
by Charles Reade. Doubtless the English
Parliament will be as conservative as possible,
and will go with the majority OF the Commits
sioners. But the wisest thing that could be
| done would be, by full legal recognition, to
| bring the Unions into the broad light of day,
and to sweep away absolutely all remnants OF
exceptional legislation.