Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-05-01
THE LABOR TROUBLES.
PRECEDENT CLEVELAND'S SPEC,
1AL MESSAGE TOCON,
GRESS.
Suggcs; ing the Creation of Com
mission to Settle Disputes.

HISSIOn 10 SeIIte disputes.
The President has sent the following mes
troubles.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
The Constitution imposes on the President
the duty of recommending to the oonsidera-
ton of Congress from time to time such
measures as he shall judge necessary and ex-
pedient,
am 80 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,
involving the settlement of disputes
arising between our lax oring men and
their employers, that l am con-
strained to recommend to Congress leg
islation upon this serious and pre- sing sub
ject. Under our form of government the
value of labor as an element of national
/, prosperity should he distinctly Tecog
nized and the welfare of the laboring man
should be regard. as especially entitled to
legislative care. In country which offers
to all its citizens the highest attainment
of social and political distinction its working
men cannot justly or safely be considered as
lrrevocably consigned to the limits of n class
and entitled to no attention and allowed no
protest against neglect. The laboring man.
bearing in his hand an in,ii p,nseble contr-
{,
insist, with manly courage and as a right,
uron the came recognition from those
who make our laws as is accorded to any
other citii en- having valuable interest in
charge, and his rea sonab Q demand should be
met in such Ifrit of appreciation and fair
ness as to lndu. contentel and patriotic
} cooperation in the ACHE cement of a grand
national destiny.
While the real intere is of labor are not
promoted by resort to threats and violent
the preteNt OF an advocacy of the claims of
labor, wanton attack the RI hts of capi-
tai, and for selfish purposes or the love
of disorder SOW seeds of violence and discon-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor con-
ciliated, all legislation on the subject should
no purpose of satisfying unreasonable de-
mands or gaining partisan advantage.
The present condition of the relations be-
tween labor and capital are far from salts
factory. The discomfort OF the employed is
due in large degree to the grasping and
alleged discrimination in favor of capital as
an object of governmental attention.
1t must alo be conceded that
the laboring men are not always
careful to avoid cause,ess and unjustifiable
disturbance. Though the importance of a
better accord between these interests is ap-
PARENT it must be borne in mind that any
etfolt in that direction by tie Federal gov
ernmeLt must be greatly limited by constitu-
tional restrictions. There are many griev-
ances which legislation by Congress cannot
redress and many conditi ms which cannot
by such mt ans be reformed
l am satisfied, however, that something
may be done under Federal authority to pre-
vent the disturbances which so often arise
from disputes between employers and the en-
ployed and " hioh at times seriously threaten
the business interests of the country,
and, in my opinion, tie proper the.
ory upon which to proceed is that Of
voluntary arb t:ation as the means of
settling these difficulties. But suggtss that,
instead of arbitrators che sen in the heat OF
conflicting claims AMI after each dispute
shall arise there be created a Commission of
Labor, consisting of three members who shall
be regular officers of the Government
charged among otEer duties with the consid-
GRAFTON and settlement, when possible, of all
controve! sizes tetween labor and capital. A
commission this organized would have the
advantage CT being an able body and its
members as they gained experience would
constantly improve in their ability to deal
inteliigently and usefu!ly with the questions
whi' might be submitted to them. If arbi.
traitors a, Q chosen for temporary service as
familiarity with mu h that is involved in
the question will be lacking, ex-
IRENE partisanship and bias will be
the qualifications sought on either side,
and frequent complaints of unfairness and
partiality will be inevitable. The impcsi-
ticn upon Federal court of q duty foreign
to the judicial function, as the selection of
an arbitrator in such cases, is at least OF
doubtful propriety. The establishment by
Federal authority of such bureau would be
Just and sensible recognition of the value
of labor and of its right to be represented in
the departEen of the Government
80 far as its conciliatory offices had re,a-
ton to distul bances which interfered with
Il ansit and commerce between the States its
existence would be justified under the provi.
slons of the Const Triton, which gives to
Congress the power ito regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the several
States"
u And in the frequent disputes between che
laboring men and their employers of less ex-
tent, and the consequences of which are con-
fined within State limits ard threaten do.
nestle violence, the interposition of such a
commission might lie rendered, upon the ap.
pllcatIon of the Legislature or executive of q
State, under the constitutional provision,
which requires the general government to
protect each of the States against domes-
tic violence"
If such commission were fairly organized
the risk of loss of popular support and SYM
pathy, resulting from refusal to submit to
so peaceful all instrumentality, would con-
strain both Parties to such disputes to invoke
its interference and abide by its decisions.
1hcio "ouiu anu SDOu IcdsOu GlaI
the very existence of such an agency would
invite apple alton to it for advice and coun-
Sci, frequently resulting in the avoidance OF
contention and misunderstanding.
Ii the usefulness of such a commission is
doubted because it might lack power to en-
force its decisions much en- engagement is
derived from the con ede good that has cen
accomplished by the railroad commissions
which have been organized in many of the
States, which, having little more than advi-
so.y power, have exertod a most satisfactory
influence in the settlements of disputes be.
tween conflicting Interests.
In July, 1884, by law Ct Congress, q
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, it, relations to capital, the
hours of labor and the earnings of laborine
men and women, and the means of promot.
ing their material, social, intellectual and
moral prosperity"
The commission which / suggest could
easily be engrafted upon the bureau thus
already organized by The add ton of two
more commissioners and by supplementing
the duties now opposed upon it by such
other powers and funt tons as would per-
NIT tie commissioners to act as arbitrators
when necessary between labor and capital
under such limtat ons and upon such ocCa
sions as should he deemed proper and useful
Power should also be distint thy conferred
upon this bureau to investigate the causes OF
all disputes as they occur, whether submitted
| for arbitration Or not, so that information
may always be at hand to aid legislation or
the subject when necessary and desirable
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. April % 1856.