The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-29

On Thursday last the President sent to both
houses of Congress the following message:
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
the duty of recommending to the considera-
ton of Congress from time to time such meas
ures as he shall judge necessary and expedi-
ent.
l am so deeply impressed with the impor-
lance OF Immediately and thoughtfully meet
ing the problem which recent events and a
present condition have thrust upon us, involy-
ing the settlement of disputes arising between
our laboring men and their employers that |
am constrained to recommend to Congress leg
islatton upon 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 wei
fare of the laboring man should be regarded as
especially entitled to legislative care In O
country which offers to all it's citizens the high
est attainment of social and political dstinc-
ton, it's working men cannot Justly or safely
be considered as irrevOcably consigned to the
limits of q class and entitled to no attention
and allowed no protest against neglect. The
laboring man, bearing in his hand an indispen-
sable contribution to our growth and progress,
may well insist with manly courage and as a
right, upon the same recognition from those
who make our laws, as is accorded to any
other citizen having q valuable interest in
charge. and his reasonable demand should be
met in such spirit of appreciation and fair
ness as to induce contented and patriotic CO.
operation in the achievement of a grand
national destiny
While the real interests of labor are not pro-
NOTED by q resort to threats and violent mani
festations, and while those who, under the
preteXt of advocacy of the claims of labor an
tonly attack the rights of capital, and for selfish
purposes, or the love of disorder, sow seeds
of violence and discontent, should neither be
encouraged nor conciliated, all legislation on
the subject should be calmly and deliberately
undertaken, with no purpose of satisfying I'M
reasonable demands or gaining partisa II ad
vantageS.
The present condition CT the relations be-
tween labor and capital is far from satisfae-
tory. The discomfort of the employed is due
in large degree to the grasping and needless
exactions Of the employers and the alleged
discrimination in favor of capital as an object
of governmental attention. 1t must also be
conceded that the laboring men are not always
careful to avoid causeless ard sunjustifiable
disturbance. Though the impo1 lance of a
better accord between these interests is appar-
emit, it must be borne in mind that any effort
in that direction by the federal government
must be greatly limited by constitutional
restrictions. There are many grievances
and many conditions which cannot by such
means be reformed.
am satisfied, however, that something may
be done, under federal authority, to prevent
the disturbances which so often arise from
disputes between employers and the employed
and which at times seriously threaten the
business interests of the country; and in nv
opinion the proper theory upon which to pro-
coed is that, of voluntary arbitration as the
means of settling these difficulties.
But suggest that instead of arbitrators
chosen in the heat of conflicting claims, and
after each dispute shall arise for the purpose
of determining the same, there be created
commission of labor, consisting OF three
members who shall be regular officers of the
government charged, among other duties, with
the consideration and settlement, when pos
sible, of all controversies between labor and
capital
the advantage of being stable body, and it's
members, as they gained experience, would
constantly improve in their ability to deal in
diligently and usefully with the questions
which might be submitted to them. If arbi-
traitors are chosen for temporary service as
each case of dispute arises, experience and
familiarity with much that is involved il. the
question will be lacking, extreme partisanship
and bias will be the qualifications sought on
either side, and frequent complaints Of I'M
fairness and Partially will be inevitable. The
imposition upon a federal court of duty SO
foreign to the judicial function as the selection
of an arbitrator in such cases is at least of
doubtful propriety.
such a bur eau would be a just and sensible
recognition of the value of labor and Of its
rights to be represented in the departments of
the government. SO far as it's conciliatory
offices should nave relation to disturbances
which interfefred with transit and commerce
between the states, its existence would be
justified under the provisions of the Constitu-
ton, which gives to Congress the power s'tO
regulate commerce with foreign NATIONS and
among the several StateS.' And Ia the fire.
quent disputes between the laboring men and
their employers, of less extent and the con-
sequences of which are confined within state
limits and threaten domestic violence, the in
terpostion of such a commission might be ten
dered, upon the application of the legislature
or executive of q state, under the constita-
tional provision which requires the general
government to protect each of the states
against domestic Violence
If such commission were fairly organized,
the risk of a loss of popular support and sym
pathy resulting from a refusal to submit to so
peaceful an instrumeftality would constrain
both parties to such disputes to invoke it's in
terference 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, fire.
ouenty resulting in the avoidance of conten-
ton and misunderstanding.
If the usefulness of such commission is
doubted because it might lack power to enforce
its decisions, much encouragement is derived
from the conceded good that has been accom-
plished by the railroad commissions which
have been organized in many of the States,
which, having little more than advisory power,
have exerted a most salutary influence in the
settlement of disputes between conflicting in
tereStS.
of labor was established and placed in charge
of q commissioner of labor, who is required to
"collect information upon the subject of labor,
it's relations with capital, the houis of lalor
and the earnings of laboring men and women.
social, intellectual and moral prosperity
The commission which suggest could easily
he engrafted upon the bureau thus already
organized by. the addition of two more Commits
imposed upon it by such other powers and
functions as would permit the Commissioners
to act as arbitrator when necessary between
labor and capital under such limitations and
er and useful. Power should also be distinctly
conferred upon this bureau to Investigate the
causes of ali disputes they occur whether
submitted for arbitration or not, so that lnfor-
ton on the subject when necessary and de-
GROVER CLEyELAND,
Executive Mansion, April %, 1886.