Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-24
special Message of the President to
Congress on the All Absorbing
Labor Topic.
he Advocates the Establishment Of a
Permanent Bureau of Ar.
bftratiOn.
His Reasons For the Suggestion The
Rights and Wrongs of the Labor.
ing Element.


labor troubles:
+ To the Senate and House of Represents
. Gves::
The constitution imposes on the Pres
,, dent the duty of recommending to the cor
: sideratiOn of Congress from time to tim
| such measures as he shall Judge necessar,
and expedient. am so deeply impressed
with the Importance of Immediately ant
truthiully meeting the problems which tn,
recent ev nts and the present condition O
affairs have thrust upon us involving a
settlement OF the disputes arising between
our Iaboring men and their employers, that
am constrained to recommend to Con-
gress legislation on this serious and pressing
subject. Under our form of government
the value OF labor as an element of National
prosperity should be distinctly recognized
and the welfare of the laboring men should
| be regarded as especially entitled to leeis-
| iative C re. In q country which offers to
all it's citizens the highest attainment of
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DISTINCTION
it's workingmen cannot justly or safely be
considered as irrevocably consigned to the
limits OF class and entitled to no atten-
tlon and allowed no protest against neg
le;t. The laboring man bearing in his hand
an indispensable contribution to our
growth and progress may wen insist with
manly courage and right upon the same
recognition from those who make our laws
as is accorded to any other citizen having
valuable interests in charge and his reason
able demand should be met in such a spirit
OF appreciation and fairness as to induce
contented and patriotic cooperation in |
the achievement of a grand national des-
tiny. While the
REAL INTERESTS OF LABOR
are not promoted by a resort to threats
ana violent manifestations, and while those |
VINO under the pretext OF an advocacy of |
the claims OF labor want only to attack
the rights OF capital and for selfish pur-
poses or IL .ove OF disorder SOW the seeds
OF violence and discomfort should neither
be encouraged or conciliated, all lep1sla.
ton on the subject should be calmly and
deliberately undertaken with no PURPOSE
OF satisfying unreasonable demands or
gaining partisan advantage. The present
condition OF the relations between labor
and capital are lar from satisfactory. Dis.
content among the employed is due in
large degree to the grasping and needless
exactlons OF employers and the alleged dis
examinations in favor OF capital. As an
object OF Governmental attention it must {
be conced d that laboring men are not al
ways careful to avoid causeless and It
UNJUsTIFIABLE DISTURBANCES.
Though the Importance of better ac. .
cord between the interests is apparent, it ;
must be borne mind that any effort in .
that direction by the Federal Government
must be 6, eatly limited by constitutional ,
There are many grievances a
which. legislation by Congress cannot re- 9
1ress and many conditions which cannot ]
oy such means he reformed. am satisfied, q
however, that something may be done
lnder Federal authority to prevent the dis. !
urbances which 80 often arise by disputes a
between employer and employed and which s
It time~ threaten the business interests of 4
he country, and in my opinion the proper 7
heory on which to proceed is that of vol o.
ntary arbitration as means of settling %
hese difficulties; but suggest that instead
Il arbitrators bel g chosen in the heat of
o fiicting claims and after each dispute
hall arise, there be created
- COMMISSION OF LABOR n
onsisting of three members who shall be
eguar officers OF the Government charged
mong other duties with the consideration
nd settlement when possible of all contro-
ersies between labor and capital. The 10
ommission thus organized would have the ],
dvantage OF being stable body, and it's .
lembers as they gained experience would "
improve their ability to deall
ltelligently and successfully with all ques- J
ons which might be submitted to them If j.
rbitrators are chosen for temporary SER nj
ice, as each case of dispute arises, the ex- Ia
erience and familiarity with much that is F
volved in the question will be lacking. y
EXTREME PARTIsANsHIP n
nd bias will be the qualifications sought R
n either side and frequent complaints of &C
lfairness and partiality will be newt ch
'le. The imposition upon Federal
ourts OF a duty as foreign to the judicial M
notion as the decision of an arbitration NJ
such cases leads to the doubtful pro. ca
'iety of the establishment by the Federal be
lthority of such bureau. 1t would be J..
st and sensible recognition OF the value A.
labor and OF it's right to be represented he
the departments of the Government. st
, far as it's cOnciliatory Offices has rela- SO
On to the disturbances which interfere Nj
th the transit and commerce between the Pl
ates it's existence would be justified un- St
r the provisions OF tie Constitution W
hich gives to Congress power to regulat te w
mmerce with foreign nations and anon, Nj
e several States. In frequent isputes Ls
tween the laboriug men and their
lployer OF less extent and consequence
ost OF which are confined within State
nits and threaten domestic violence the
of such a commission might ra
rendered upon Applicant OF the Legis- ab
ture or executive of the State under the
provision which requires de-
e general government to protect each of bu
e states un
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. 80 80
Ii such commission were falrly organ his
ID the risk Of the loss OF popular support mi
ID sympathy resulting from by
usal to submit to 8" peaceful cal
th partis to such disputes ole
invoke it's interference and abide by its ple
cisons. There would also be good rea- dr.,
u to nope that the very existence OF such alb
agency would invite applicati. in to It is
r advice and council frequently resulting Bu
this avoidance OF contention and misun- Ca
If the usefuln' SIS OF such a T
mmission is doubtful because it might an
TX the power to enforce it's decision much bu
is derived from the conceded vii
cd that has been accomplished by the
ilroad commissions which have been or
nized IN many States, and which, having
tie more than advisory powers, have ex-
led a most salutory influence in 20 20
THE sErrLEENT OF DISPUTES. ON
Under an act of Congress Bureau of La thu
+ was established July, 1884, and placed an
charge OF commissioner. 1Cs Outles are leo
collect information upon the subject of fiv
oor; it's relations with capital, and the ov
cans of promoting the material. social, in
,ral and intellectual advantages OF the pia
,rkingmen and workingwomen of the poi
untry. The commission which l suggf st me
Md be easily engrafted upon the bur'au, VII
us already organized by the addition OF pie
o more commissioners, and by supple ou'
.nting the duties now imposed upon it by goo
ch other powers and function as are
The law could also permit the
to act as arbitrators when S
cessary between labor and capital under Pa
n T., 70 4;ons ~ shall he deemed nrOner the