The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-04-30
The EXECUTIVE FINGER.


difficulties Between Employers and
Employes-Jay Could Gives His Version
of the Strike, and Defends His Position.
WAsnNGr5s, April 23.-,rhe President
yesterday sent me ssage to Congress on
the subject of the labor troubles. The fol-
lowing is the full text of the message:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTATIvEs The constitution imposes on
the President the duty of recommending TO
Congress from time to time such measures
as he shall judge necessary and eXpedlent
| am SO deeply impressed with the I'M
portance of Immediately and thoughtfuliy
meeting the problem which recent 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 distinctly recognized, and the
welfare of the laboring man should be re-
garded as especially entitled to legislative
care. In a country which offers TO all It's
citizens the highest attainment OF social
and political distinction its working
men can not justly or safely be con-
sidefed as irreyocably consigned to tie
limits of class, and entitled to no at
tcntion and allowed no protest against
neglect. The laboring man, bearing III his
hand an indispensable contribution to our
growth and progress, may well insist with
manly courage and as a right, upon the
same recognition from those who make our
Jaws as is accorded to any other citizen
having d valuable interest in charge, and
his reasonable demand should be met in
such spirit of appreciation and fairness
as to induce a contented and pa
triot1c cooperation in the achievement
of a grand National duty While the real
interests of labor are not promoted by a
resort to threats and violent manifesto
tions, those .wha, under the protest of ali
advocacy OF th6 claims ST 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 concili-
should be calihly ahd deliberately hhder-
taken, with no purpose of Satisfying
unreasonable demands or gaining partisan
advantage. The present condition of the
relations between capital and labor are
far from satisfactory The discomfort of
the employed is due il a large extent TO
the grasping and needless exactions of en-
ployers, and the alleged discrimination in
favor of capital as an object of
Governmental attention ft titst al
So be conceded that the laboring
men are not always careful to avoid
causeless and unjustiiable disturbance.
Though the Importance of 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 constitutional restric-
lions, There are many grievances which
legislation by Congress can not redress,
and many conditions which can not by
such means be reformed. / am satisfied,
however, that something may be done, un.
der, Federal authority, TO prevent the dis
turbances which SO often arise from dis
ployed, 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 voluntary arbitration as the means
Of settling these difficulties. Bit { suggest
that, instead OF arbitration chosen in
the heat of conflicting claims, and after
each dispute shall arise, there shall be Gre
ated Commission of Labor, consisting OF
three members, who shall be regular off.
GERS of the Government charged, among
other duties, with the consideration and
settlement when feasible, Of all U0ftro.
yerSies between labor and capital.
A commission thus organized would
have the advantage Of being a stable body
and its members, as they gained ex-
perience, would constantly improve in
their ability to deal inteiligently and
usefully with the questions which
might be submitted to them If arbi-
traitors are chosen for temporary sefy
ice as each case Of dispute arises, eS:
perience and familiarity with much that is
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 par
TALLY will be inevitable. The imposition
upon a Federal court of duty foreign tC
the Judicial function, as the selection of il
as an arbitrator in such cases, is at least oil
doubtful proprietys !.
The establishment By Fedefai authority
of such a bureau would be Just and sen
sible recognition of the value of labor. anG
OF It's right to be represented in the depart
ments of the Government.
So far as its concilatory offices shall
have relation to disturbances which inter
fered with transit and commerce between
the States its existence would be justified
under the provisions OF the constitution
| which gives to Congress the power 'to reg
| ulate commerce with foreign nations anc
| among the several States"
| And i'll the frequent disputes betwee,
| the labOring men and their employers, o1
less extent aud the consequences Of which
| are confined within State limits and
| threaten domestic violence, the interposi
| ton OF such commission might BE
| rendered upon the application OF the
| Legislature or Executive of State under
/ the constitutional provision which re
/ qulTes the General Governments to protect
/ each of the States against domestic VIC
lence." Ii such a commission we're fdii1y
organized the risk of q loss of popular sup
| port and sympathy, resulting from re
/ tdsal to submit to so peaceful an inStru
mentality, would constrain both parties Il
| such disputes to seek its interference anC
| abide by its decisions There would alst
be good reason TO hope that the very
existence of such an agency would in
vite application to it for advice and
| counsel, frequently resulting iii th,
avoidance of contention and ffiisunder
| standing. If the usefulness of such a com
mission is doubted because it might lacl
power to enforce its decisions, much en-
/ couragement is derived from the conceded
| good that has been accomplished by tn
railroad commissions which have been or
! ganiZed in many of the States which, hav
| ing little more than advisory power, hav,
| exerted a most salutary influence in TIL
| settlement of disputes between conflicting
/ interests.
IN July, 1884, by law of Congress, /;
! Bureau of Labor was blished and place.
| IN charge OF q commissioner OF labor, whC
! is required to cossact information upon tn
| subject of labor. its relations with capital
| the hnurs of labor, and the earnings of la
| boring men and women, and the means o
promoting their material, social, intellect
ual and moral prosperity" The commits
| sion which | suggest could easily be in
| grated upon that already organized bl
the addition of two or more commissioners
| and by supplementing the duties now ina
/ posed upon it by such other powers AM
/ functions as would permit the commission
ers to act as arbitrator when necessar,
between labor and capital under sucl
limitations and upon such occasions a
! should be deemed proper and useful
| Power should also be distinctly conferred
/ upon this bureau to investigate the cause
| OF ali disputes as they occur, whether sub
mltted for arbitration or not, so that infoI
nation may always be at hand to al.
| legislation on the subject when necessar-
| and desirable. GROVER CLEVELAND.
| Executive Mansion, April y, 1886.
| MR.. GoULD'S TESTIMONY
WASHINGTON, April 23-At eleven o'clocl
| yesterday morning the special committe.
! Investigating the labor troubles resume,
| its work. Jay Gould, of New York, the rail
| road magnate, was the witness examined
| A large crowd of spectators wa
! present TO see the distinguished per
| sonage. He asked for the readin;
| of the resolution under which tn
| committee was acting, and when it wa
read he stated that he was president of tn
| Missouri Pacific railway, and that Their
vera M fy,a4llolpS