The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-04-29
THE LABOR QUESTION.
President Cleveland Proposes . Cover
ment COmm1oeaOn.

The constitution imposes on the president
the duty Of recommending 70 the consider
ation Of congress, from time to time, such
measures - he shall Judge necessary and
expedient. am deeply impressed with
the Importance Of Immediately and
thougtfully meeting the problem which
recent events and : present condition have
thrust upon us, involving the settlement
Of disputes arising between our laboring
mon and their employers, that | am con-
strained to recommend to congress legisla-
tion upon this serious and pressing sub
ject- Under our form Of government the
value of labor 40 nm element Of material
prosperity should be distinctly recognised,
and the welfare OF the labOring man should
be regarded . especially entitled to legis-
oil its citizens the highest attainments Of
social and political distinction, its work
ingmen can not justly or safely be consid-
cred - irrevOcably consigned 10 tho limits
Of class and entitled to no attention and
allowed no protest against neglect. The
laboring man, bearing In his hand an In
and progress may we'll insist with manly
courage and a. . right upon the same recog-
milton from those who make our laws - 10
accorded to any other citizen having .
valuable interest In charge. and his reason
able demands should be met In such
induce . contented and patriotic c0-operar
tion in the achievement of grand nation
al destiny. While the real interests Of
labor are not promoted by Q resort to
threats and violent manifestations, and
while those who under the pretext Of ad-
attack the rights Of capital for selfish pur-
poses, or the love Of disorder, SOW seeds OF
violence and discomfort, should neither be
encouraged nor couciliated, oil legislation
on the subject should be calmy and delib-
erately taken, with no purpose Of satisfy
ing unreasonable demands or gaining
partisAn advantage. The present condi-
tion Of the relation between capital and
labor are far from satisfactory. The dis
content Of the employed is due In large
degree to the
GRAsPING AND NEEDLESS ExAcTIoNs
Of employers and the alleged discrimination
In favor OF capital as an object Of govern
ment attention. Il must also b. con-
ceded that the laboring men are mot
always careful to avoid causeless and
untustifiable disturbance. Though the
importance Of . better accord between
these interests is apparent, It must b
borne in mind that any effort in that
direction by the federal government must
be greatly limited by constitutional
restrictions. There are many grievances
which legislation by congress cannot re-
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
theory upon which to proceed 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, there be created Q COM
mission of labor, consisting of three MEM
bers. who shall be regular officers Of the
government, charged, among other duties,
with the confederation and settlement
when possible. Of al controversies between
labor and capital. A commission thus or
ganixed would have the advantage OF being
. stable body, and its members, as they
gained experience, would constantly IN.
prove in their ability TO deal intslligently
and usefully with the questions which
might be submitted to them. II arbitrator
are chosen for temporary service, as each
case Of dispute arises, experience and
familiarity with all that is involved IN the
question will be lacking, extretle partisan
ship and bias will be the qualifications
sought on either side and frequent com
plants of unfairnes- and partiallty will bt
Inevitable. The imposition upon fedora
court of duty foreign to the judicial func
tion as the selection OF an arbitrator II
such cases is 1T least ofdOubtful prOpriety
The establishment Of federal authority ol
recognition Of tho value Of labor, and o.
its right to bs represented In the depart
ments Of the government. 30 far rs IL
conciliatory Offices shall have relation tC
disturbances which interferred with transit
and commerce between the states, its ex
visions cf the constitution which gives t<
congress the
POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE.
with foreign nations and among thu sever
Il states; and in the frequent disputes be
tween the laboring men and their employ
ers Of less extent, and the consequences o
which are confined within state limits, ant
threaten domestic violence, the interposi
tion Of such . commission might be ten
dered upon the application Of the legisla
ture or executive Of state, under the con
stitutional provision which requires thu
general government to sspr;c sct" each o.
tho states against domestic violence" /
such ! commission were fairly organized
tho risk of . loss OF Q popular support ane
sympathy resulting from refusal to sub
NIT to SO peaceful an instrumentality
putes to invoke its interference and abid,
by its decisions. There would also be goot
reason to hope that the very existence o
such an agency would invite application TX
Il for advice and counsel, frequently re
sulting in the avoidance Of contention AMI
Misunderstanding. Il the usefslness Q
such commission is doubtful because i
might lack power to enforce its decision
much encouragement il derived from th,
conceded good that has been accomp
plished by the railroad commission.
which have been organized III man,
Of the states which, having isti
more than advisory power, have e. E.
element Of disputes between conflicting in
terests. In July, 1854, by . law OF con
gross bureau Of labor was establishe,
and placed in charge Of . commissioner .
labor, who 10 required TO '.collect informa
tion upon the subject Of labor, its relation
earnings of the laboring men aud women
aud the means of promoting their mate
rial, social, intellectual and moral prosper
ity." The commission which l sugges
could easily be engrafted into the burea
thus already organized, by the addition 9
menting the duties now imposed upon 1t b
such other powers and functions rs woul'
permit the commissioners to act as arb
traitors, when necessary, between labo
and capital, under such limitations an
upon such occasions as should be deeme
proper and useful. Power should also b
distinctly conferred upon this bureau t
investigate the causes Of all disputes q
they occur, whether submitted for arbitra
tion or not, 90 that information may q
ways be at hand to aid legislation on tn
subject, when necessary and desirable.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Hansion, April y, 1888.
The Only Chinese Empress.
At the age of Il the strong-wille'