The Osceola times., 1886-06-26
Iue PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

ro Congress RecOm.neh"i"s -.
For the Formation OF Nat'"""i -,
comml-sion to Take Cognisance OF
ference. Arising Between Employer """
kmploye, -,
w.sursaroS, April 2S.-The President
to. dat sent the following message 10
Congress upon the subject Of the hoo'
troubles: ..
To N, Senate and House Of Repressntoimnt,
The constitution imposes on tue rsnar
the duty Of recommending 70 ,ne ~, time such
lion of Congress from time 70 uine and
ron measures m as he shall Judge necessary anu
lam 80 deeply impressed with the ,rnpor,, @
ance OF Immediately ana thotous, and
Inc the problem which recent events an"
nresrnt condition have thrust upon us, M
yolying the settlement of disputes rlsIne ~
tween the iaboring men ana sheir curry,
ers, that | am constrained 70 re.oi in,s and
Congress legislation upon this serious nnu
nressinp subject. Under our form OF govern,
ment. the value OF labor as an eie,heu. VI
National prosperity should De u's.'hes
iy recognized, and the welfare oi 'ne ns aooe.
cialIv entitled to legislative cafe. IN coun'
tyy which offers TO all Its citizens lne hiSn
est attainment of social and portlca, us
tInction, It's workngmen can nov 1usS on. W
safeiy bt considered as irreyocably CON
signed 10 the limits OF a class and enttieuto to
No attention. and allowed no protest against
neglect The laboring man, bearing III nis
hand an Indispensable contrlputlon 10 ,s,, Ds,
growth and progress. may wei insist, whs ,ha
manly courage and 10 RI nj, upon .ne
same recognition from those VINO MAKE our
Iavs as is accorded to any other ctizen nay
ing a valuable interest ~ cha' &c anu n's
reasonable demand should be mst IN sucn
spIrit OF appreciation and fairness as 70 IN
duce contented and patriotic co,operation
in the achievement Of grand National ues'
tiny. .. =, ,.hor.re M.
nromoted by "A resort to threats ana vioient
manifestations, and while those VINO, unuer
the pretext of an advocacy OF the cialns o.
Iaoor, wantonly attack the rights OF capita,
and for that selfish purpose or the love oi
disorder SOW seeds OF violence and disooa-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor COP
ciliated. all legislation on the subject should
be calmly and deliberately undertaken, Win
no purpose OF satisfying unreasonapie ue'
mands or gaining partisan advantage.
Tine present condition OF the relations be-
tween labor and capital are lar from sa.s
actory The discomfort OF the employed y
iue in large degree to the grasping anu
needless exactions OF employers. and tine
Alleged di-crim nation In favor OF capita Is
On object of Governmental attention. II
must also be conceded that the !hDorins
men are not always careful TO avoid cause
less and unjustifable Disturbance. Though
the Importance of better accord between
these interests Is apparent, u must pe oorne
IN mind that any effort In that direction Dy
the Federal Government must ne Rrehtiy
limited by constitutional restrictions. tn ere
nre many grievances which legislation Dy
Congress can not redress. and many conui'
tions which can not by such means be re-
formed
am satisfied, however, that some things
NAV be done under Federal authorityto pre-
vent the Disturbances which. so often arise
from disputes between employers ana tne
employed, and which Mt times seriously
threaten tire business interests OF the coun-
try: and In my opinion the proper theory
upon which to proceed Is that OF voluntary
arbitration as the means OF settling these
difficulties. But suggest that insteaI OF ar
bItrators chosen In the heat conflicting
claims, and after each dispute shall arise
there be created commission OF labor, con
sistng Of three members. ~h" shall be regu'
lar officers OF the Government, cherged
among other duties, with the consideration
and settlement, when possible OF all contro
versies between labor and capital
A commission thus organized would have
the advantage Of being a stable body, and
Its members, as they gained experience
would constantly improve in their ability "a
deal intelligentiy and usefully with the
questions which might be submitted to them
II arbitrators are chosen for temporary
service az each case OF dispute arises, ex
perehce and familiarity with much that 4.
involved In the question Will be lacking
extreme partisanship and bias will be TIL,
qualifications sought on either side and
ffequent complaints OF unfairness and par
tiaiN will be inevitable. The imposition
upon Federal Court of duty foreign Il
the judicial function, as the selection OF al
arbitrator in such cases, Is at least of doubt
full propriety. The establishment by Fedora
authority OF such bureau would be Jus
and sensible recognition OF the value o
labor, and OF Its right TO be represented II
the departments OF the Government.
So far IS Its conciliatory Offices shal hav
relation to disturbances which inteifer
with transit and commerce between tn
States Its existence would be justified unde
the provisions of the Constitution which give
TO Congress the power to regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the severa
States. And In the frequent disputes be
tween the laborlng men and their employ
ers, of less extent and the consequences o
which are confined within state limits. ant
threaten domestic violence, the interposi
ton OF such comm ssion might be ten
dered, upon the application of the Legisla
ture or Executive OF State, under the con
stitutional provision which requires the Gen
eral Government to "proteot each state
"against domestic violence"
IL such n commission were fairly organ
ized. the'risk of a loss of popular suppor
and sympathy resulting from refusal t6
submit to so peaceful an instrumentality
would constrain both parties to such dis
putes to invoke its interference and abide
by Its decisions There would also be goot
reason to hope that the very existence o
such an agency would invite application &c
1t for advice and counsel, frequently result
understanding.
II the usefulness OF such commission I,
doubtful, because II might lack power to en-.
force its decisions. much encouragement 4.
derived from the conceded good that ha,
been accomplished by the railroad com
missions which have been organized in
many OF the States, which, having but lit.
tie more than advisory power, have ex-
erted a most salutary influence In the settle
ment OF disputes between conflicting inter
ests.
In July, 1885,, by a law OF Congress, n Bu
reau OF Labor was established and placed In
charge OF a commissioner of labor who 1,
required to "collect information upon the
subject OF labor, Its relations with capital
the houis OF labor, and the earnings o
laboring men and women, and the means oi
promoting their material, social. intellectual
and moral prosperity"
The commission which suggest could cas-
iy be enRrnfted upon the bureau thus nj
ready organized by the addition OF two NOR,
duties now imposed upon II by such Other
powers and functions as would permit the
commissioners to act as arbitrators wher
necessary between labor and capital, under
such limitations and upon sucn occasions ~
should be deemed proper and useful
Power should also be distinctly conferred
upon this bureau to investigate the causes
VI all disputes as they occur, whether sub
mttted for arbitration or not, so that Infor.
nation may always be at hand to aid leRi.
lation on the subject when necessary and
desirable.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April %, 1885.