The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-30
SPECIAL. MESSAGE.

SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The President Sends . Special Message %
Congress ON the Labor Question.
WASHINGTON, April s2.-The President
yesterday sent the following message to
Congress:
!, To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
The constitution imposes on the President
| the duty OF recommending to the considcra-
| ton of Congress from time to time such
measures as he shall judge to be necessary
! and expcdient. I am SO deeply impressed
with tho importance of Immediately and
thoughtfully meeting the problems which
recent events and present conditions have
thrust upon us, involving the settlement OF
disputes arising between our laborng men
and their employers. that ! am constrained
to recommend to Congress legislation 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
welfare Of the laborins man should
to legislative care. In a country which offers
to all its citizens the highest attainment OF
social and political distinction. its working
men can not justly or SAFELY be considered
as inevitably consigned to the limits of q
class and entitled to no atte ntiOn and allowed
no protest against neglect. The labOriDg
man. bearing in his hand an indispensable
contribution to our growth anc progress. NAV
we'll insist with manly courage and as right
upon the same recognition from those who
MAKE our laws as IL accoraea 20 any 9 otner
and his reasonable demands should be met in
such spirit Of appreciation and fairness as
to induce q contented and patriotic coopera.
ton IN the achievement OF grand National
destiny.
NEED FOR LABOR LEGISLATION.
While the real interests of labor are not
promoted by a resort to threats and violent
manifestations, and while those who. under
the preteXt of an advocacy of the claims of
labor. wantOnly attack the rights of capital.
der SOW seeds of violence and discomfort,
should neither be encouraged nor cOnciliated.
all legislation on the subject should be calmly
ana mnderfaken with no
ing part san advantage The present cOndi-
ton of the relations between labor and capi-
tai is far from satisfactory. The discomfort
of the employed is due in a large degree TO the
grasping and needless exactiOns Of employ
ers. and the alleged discrimination In favor
of capital is an object OF Governmental at
tentiOn. 1t must also be conceded that tho
1aboring men are not always careful to avoid
causeless and unjustifiable disturbance
Though the Importance OF better accord
between these interests Is apparent. It must
be borne in mind that any effort in that di-
rection by the Federal Government must be
greatly limited by constitutional restrictions.
lnerc are many grievances winch IcSlSldtlOu
by Congress can not redress and many condi.
tons which can not by such means br &C.
formed. / am satisfied. however. that some.
thing 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
DRY upon which to proceed is that of volun.
tary arbitration as the means Of settling
these difficulties. But suggest that instead
of arbitra,Ors chosen In the heat OF conflict.
ing claims and after each dispute shall arise.
there be created a commission of labor. con.
sisting of three members, who shall be regu.
lar officers Of the Government, charged
among other duties with the consideration
and settlement, when possible. of all cOntro-
versies between labor and capital. com.
mission thus organized would have the nd.
vantage OF being stable body and its mem.
bers as they gained experience would
constantly improve in their ability to deal
intelligently and usefully with the questions
which might be submitted to them.
THE PRESIDENTS SCHEMH.
IF arbtratOrs are chosen for temporary
service as each case of dispute arises eX.
pcricnce and familiarity with much that is
involved in the question will be lacking. ex-
trcme part sanship and bias will be the quail
ifications sought on either SIDE and frequent
complaints of unfairness and partially will
be inevitable. The imposition upon Federal
court of a duty foreign to the judicial func-
ton. as the selection of an arbitrator in such
cases. is at least of doubtful prOprety. Tho
bureau would be just and sensible recog.
milton of the value of labor and of its right
70 he represented in the departments of the
Government. So far as its cOnciliatorv
Offices had relation to disturbances which
interfered with transit and commerce he.
tween the States, its existence would he
justified under the provisions OF the constitu.
ton. which gives to Congress the power
to regulate commerce with foreign nations
and among the several States. In the fire.
aher then
consequences of which are confined within
State limits and threaten domestic violence.
the fnferposition OF such acommssion might
be rendered upon the application of the Leg.
islature or Executive OF State under the
constitutional provision which requires the
general Government to protect" each Of the
States against domestic violence" IL such
commission were fairly organized the SIX
or loss of popular support and sympathy
resulting from refusal to submit to so
fair an instrumentality would cOnStran
both parties to such disputes 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 appl cation to il for advice and cOun- |
sell, frequently resulting in the avoidance of !
contention and misunderstanding. If the |
usefulness of such commission is doubtful |
because it might lack power to enforce its |
decisions. much encouragement is derived |
from the conceded good that has been nc- |
which have been organized in many States |
which, having little more than advisory power, |
have cxerted most salutary influence in the |
settlement of disputes between conflicting |
interests.
An EXTENSION OF THE LABOR BUREAU.
In July. by a law of Congress. bureau Of |
labor was established and placed in charge |
of a commissioner of labor. who Is required |
to collect information upon the subject Of |
labor. its relations with capital. the hours Of |
labor, and the earnings OF iaboring men and |
women and the means of estimating their
material, social intellectual and moral pros
pcrity. The commission which I suggest
could easily be engraftcd upon the
bureau thus already organized by tho |
addition OF two more commissioners
and nv supplementing tho duties now
imposed upon it bv such other powers and
functions as would permit the commits
sfoners to act rs arbitrator when necessary
between laoOr and capital. under such lim-
tatiOns 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 ali disputes as
they occur, whether submitted for arbitr,s-
ton or not. so that information may always
be at hand to aid legislation on the subject
when necessary and desirable.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The venturesome Commissioner.
WASHINGTON April 03-General Sharks |