St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-23
SENSIBLE SENTIMENTS
Uttered By the Nations Chief Magistrate
in Relation to the Labor
Question.
President Cleveland in a Message to Con
gress Urges the Appointment of
an Arbitration Board.
He Suggests That Three Good Men be
Selected to Whom Shall be Re-
ferred all Questions.
Commissioner Sparks Scheme to De-
feat Land Frauds--The Chi
nese Riots.
An Arbitration Board Suggested.

An Arbitration Board Suggested.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The. president
to-day sent the following message to con-
gress on the subject of the labor troubles:
To the Senate and the House of Represent
ativeS: The constitution imposes on the
president the duty of recommending to the
consideration of congress from time to time
such measures as ne shall judge necessary
and eXpedient- / am so deeply impressed
with the Importance OF Immediately and
thoughtfully meeting the problem which re-
cent events and present condition have
thrust upon us, involving the settlement of
disputes Arising between our laboring 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 dis
unctly recognized and the welfare of the Ia
boring man should be regarded as especially
entitled to legislative care. In q
country which offers to all its citi-
Zens the highest attainment c: social
and political distinctions, its working
men cannot justly or safely be considered as
irreyocably consigned to the limits of class
and entitled to no attention and allowed no
protest against neglect. The laboring man
bearing in his hand an Indispensable con-
ribution to our growth and progress, may
well insist with manly courage and as right,
make our laws as is accorded to any other
citizen having a valuable interest in charge,
and his reasonable demands should be met in
such a spirit of appreciation and fairness as
TO induce contended and patriotic cooper
alton in the achievement of grand national
destiny. While the real interests are not
promoted by a resort to threats and violent
manifestations and while those who under
the pretext of advocacy of the
CLAIMS OF LABOR
wantonly attack the rights of capital and for
selfish purposes, or the love of disorder, sow
seeds OF violence and discomfort should
neither be encouraged nor conciliated, all
legislation on the subject should be calmly
and deliberately undertaken, with no purpose
OF satisfying unreasonable demands or gain
ing partisan advantage. The present con-
dition of the relations between labor and cap
ital are far from satisfactory. The discon-
tent of the employed is due in q large degree
TO the grasping and needless exactions of en-
ployers and the alleged discrimination in
favor of capital as an object of government
attention. 1t must also be conceded that the
laboring men are not always careful TO avoid
cauSelesS and unjustihable disturbance.
Though the importance of a better accord
between these interests is apparent, it must
be borne in mind that any effort in
that direction by the Federal government
must be greatly limited by constitutions
restrictions. There are many grievances
which legislation by congress cannot redress
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 the en-
ployerS and the employed, and which at times
seriously threaten the business interests of
the country, and, in my opinion, the proper
theory upon which to proceed Is that of vol
untary arbitration as the means of settling
those difficulties. But ] suggest that instead
OF arDitrators 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-
yersies between labor and capital. A COM
mission thus organized would have the ad-
vantage of
BEING A STABLE BODY
and its members as they gained experience
would constantly improve in their ability to
deal intelligently and uSefully with the QueS-
tions which might be submitted 10 them. If
arbitrators are chosen for temporary service,
as each case arises experience and familiar
ity with that involved in the question will be
lacking. Extreme partisanship and bias will
be the qualifications sought on either side
and frequent complaints of unfairness and
partiality will be inevitable. The imposition
upon federal court of duty foreign to the
judicial function as the selection of an arbi-
traitor in such cases is at least of doubtful
propriety. The establishment by federal au-
thority OF such a bureau would be Just and
sensible recognition of the value of labor.
and or its right TO be represented in the de-
partments of the government So far as its
conciliatory office shall have relation to dis
turbances which interfered with transit and
commerce between the states, its existence
would be justified under the pro-
visions of the constitution which gives to
congress the power to regulate commerce
states And in the frequent disputes be-
tween the laboring men and their employers,
OF less extent, and the consequences of which
are confined within state limits and threaten
domestic violence, the interposition of such
a commission might be rendered upon the ap-
plication of the legislature or executive of q
state under the constitutional provision
which requires the general government to
protect" each of the states against do
mestic violence" If such a commission
were fairly organized the risk of loss of
popular support and sympathy resulting
from refusal to submit to so peaceful an in
strumentality would constrain 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 or SUCH AN AGENCY
would invite application TO it for advice and
counsel frequently resulting in the avoidance
of contention and misunderstanding. If the
usefulness of such a commission is doubtful.
decisions, much encouragement is derived
from the conceded good that has been accom-
plished by the railway commissions which
have been organized in many of the states,
which, having little more than advisory power,
have eXerted most salutary influence in the
settlement of disputes between conflicting in
terests. In July, 1854, by a law OF congress a
bureau of labor was established and placed in
charge OF a commissioner of labor, who is re-
quired TO "collect information upon the sub
ject of labor, its relation with capital, the
hours OF labor and the earnings of
laboring men and women, and the means of
promoting their materia. social, intelle ctual
and moral prosperity. The commission which
/ suggest could easily be engrafted upon the
bureau, thus already organized by the addi-
tion of two more commissioners, and by sup
plementing the duties now imposed upon 1t
by such other powers and functions as would
permit the commissioners to act as arbitre-
tors when necessary between labor and cap
ital, under such limitations and upon such
occasions as should be deemed proper and
useful. Power should also be distinctly con-
ferred upon this bureau to investigate the
causes of all disputes as they occur, whether
submitted for arbitration or not, so that in
formation may always be at hand to aid legis-
lation on the subject when necessary and de-
sirable. (Signed.) GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, April %, 1856.