River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-04-29


priation to improve the Muskingum river
in Ohio ELECTED a long debate but the
movement did not succeed.
LABOR COMMISSION.
WASHINGTON, April 22-The President
to-day sent the following message TO con-
gress:
The constitution imposes ON the president
the duty of recommending TO the consider
alton Of congress, from time to time, such
measures as he shall judge necessary and
expedient. am deeply impressed with
the Importance of Immediately and
thougtfully meeting the problem which
recent events and IA present condition have
thrust upon US, involving the settlement
of disputes arising between our laboring
men and their employers, that / am con
strained to recommend to congress legisla-
I tion upon this serious and pressing sub
/ ject. Under our form of government the
/ value of labor as an element of material
/ prosperity should be distinctly recognized,
ami the welfare of thelaboring man should
I be regarded as especially entitled to legis-
lative care. In a country which offers 60
all its citizens the highest attachments of
/ social and political distinction, its work
ingmen can not justly or safely be consid-
cred as irrevOcably consigned To the limits
/ of class and entitled to no attention and
I allowed no protest against neglect. The
/ laboring man, bearing in his hand an ia
Z dispensable contribution TO our growth
I and progress may well insist with r.anly
] courage and as rlghJupoh the same recOg-
I milton from those who make OuI laws as is
( accorded to any other citizen having a
valuable interest in charge. and his reason
/ able demands should be met in such a
| spirit of appreciation and fairness as to
I induce a cOntented and patriotic co-opera-
tion in the achievement of a grand nation
al destiny. While the real interests of
1 labor are not promoted by a resort To
I threats and violent manifestations, and
{ while those who under the preJeXt of adj
vOcacy of the claims of labor wantonly
attack the rights of capital for selfish pur
poses, or the love of disorder, SOW seeds of
/ violence and discomfort, should neither be
! encouraged nor CORRELATED, all legislation
/ on the subject should be calmy and delib-
eratelY taken, with no purpose of satisfy
ing unreasonable demands or gaining
partisan advantage. The present condi-
Z tion of the relation between capital and
labor are far rom satisfactory. The dis
content of the employed is due in a large
degree to the
GRAsPTNG AND NEEDLESS EXACTIONs
of employers and the alleged discrimination
in favor of capital as an object of govern
ment attention. 1t must also be con
coded that the laboring men are not
[ always careful to avoid causeless and
unjustifiable disturbance. Though the
I Importance of better accord between
[ these interests is apparent, it must be
l borne in mind that any effort in that
direction by the federal government must
/ be greatly limited by constitutional
I restrictions. There are many grievances
which legislation by congress cannot re-
dress, and many conditions which cannot
I by such means be reformed | am satisfied,
I however, that something may be done
I under federal authority to prevent the
disturbances which so often arise from
I disputes between employers and the
I employed, and which at times seriously
threaten the business interests of the
country. And in my opinion the proper
. theory upon which to proceed is that O.
voluntary arbitration as the means or
settling these difficulties. But l suggest
that instead of arbitrators chosen in the
neat of conflicting claims, and after each
dispute shall arise, there be created a com
mission OF labor, consisting of three men,
bers, who shall be regular officers of the
government, charged, among other duties,
with the consideration and settlement,
I when possible. of all controversies between
labor and capital. A commission thus or
I ganized would have the advantage of being
a stable body, and its members, as they
gained experience, would constantly inn
prove in their ability to deal intelligenty
aud usefully with the questions which
/ might be submitted to them. If arbitrator
are chosen for temporary service, as each
I case of dispute arises, experience and
familiarity with all that is involved in the
question will be lacking, extreLle partisan
ship aud bias will be the qualifications
/ sought on either side and frequent COM
I plants of unfairnes- and partiality will be
I Inevitable. The imposition upon federal
court of duty foreign to the Judicial func-
tion the selection of an arbitrator in
such cases is at least of doubtful prOprlety.
The establishment of federal authority of
such a bureau would be a Just and sensible
Z recognition of the value of labor, and of
/ its right to be represented in the depart
Z ments of the government. So far as its
eonciiiatory offices shall have relation to
disturbances which interferred with transit
I ard commerce between the states, its eX-
istence would be justified under the pro-
visions of the constitution which gives to
congress the
POWER To REGULATE COMMERCE
with foreign nations and among he sever
al states; and in the frequent disputes be-
tween the laboring men and their employ
ers of less extent, and the consequences of
which are confined within state limits, and
threaten domestic violence, the interposi-
tiOn of such a commission might be ten
dered upon the application of the legisla-
ture or executive of a state, under the con-
stitutiOnal provision which requires the
general government TO prot Sctf each of
the states against domestic violence If
such a commission were fairly organized,
sympathy resulting from refusal to sub
init to so peaceful lnstrumentality
would constrain both parties TO such dis
putes to invoke its interference and abide
by its decisions. There would also be good
reason to hope that the very existence of
such an agency would invite application to
it for advice and counsel, frequently re
I sulting in the avoidance of contention and
misunderstanding. If the usefulness of
such a commission is doubtful because it
might lack power to enforce its decision,
much encouragement is derived from the
I conceded good that has been accomp-
plished by the railroad commissions
which have been organized IN many
of the states which, having little
more than advisory power, have eX-
/ erted most salutary influence in the set
Element of disputes between conflicting in
terests. In July, 1854, by a law of con-
gress a bureau of labor was established
and placed in charge of a commissioner of
labor who is required to scollect informa-
tiOn upon the subject of labor, its relations
with capital, the hours of labor and the
earnings of the laboring men and women,
? aud the means of promoting their mate
rial social, Intellectual and moral prosper
ity.n The commission which / suggest
could easily be engrafted into the bureau
thus already organized, by the addition of
two more commissioners, and by supple
menting the duties now imposed upon it by
such other powers and functions as would
permit the commissioners to act as arbi-
traitors, when necessary, between i2bcr
and capital under such limitations and
upon such occasions as should be deemed
proper and useful. Power should also be
distinctly conferred upon this bureau TO
investigate the causes of all disputes as
they occur, whether submitted or arbitra-
ton or not, so that information may al
WAYS be at hand 10 aid legislation on the
! subject, when necessary and desir BILE
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, April -, 1856.
NoRTHwESTERN NEWS.
Pierre, ID. I. is greatly excited over the
following order: