The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-05-01
ARBITRATION.
President Cleveland Says II is the One
Thing Needful.

tons between labor and capital are
far from satisfactory The discon-
tent Of the employed is duein large
degree to the grasping and hecsllcss
exactions of employers, and the al
legged discrimination in favor of CAPT.
tai as an object of governmental at
tention. 1t must also be conceded
that the laboring men are not always
careful to avoid causeless and I'M
justifiable disturbance. Though the
Importance of better accord be-
tween these interests is apparent, it
must be borne in mind that any eff
fort in that direction by the Federal
Government must be greatly limited
by constitutional restrictions.
There are many grievances which
Legislation by Congress cannot re-
dress, and many conditions which
cannot by such means be reformed.
am satisfied, however, that some
thing may be done, under Federal
authority, to prevent the disturban-
ces which so often arise from dis
putes between employers, and the
employed, and which at times serious
" 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 Difficult
ties. But / suggest that instead of
arbitrator chosen in the heat of con
flicting claims, and after each dis
pute shall arise, there be created
commission of labor, consisting 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 controversies between
labor and capital. A commission
thus organized would have the adj
vantage of being a staple body, and
its members, as they gained exper-
fence, would constantly improve in
their ability to deal intelligently and
usefully with the questions which
might be submitted to them. If
arbitrator are chosen for temporary
service, as each case of dispute arises
experience and familiarity with much
that is involved in the question, will
be wanting. Extreme partisanship
and bias will be the qualifications
sought on either side, and frequent
complaints of unfairness and partial
ity will be inevitable.
The imposition upon Federal
court of duty foreign to the judicial
function as the selection of an arbi-
traitor in each case is at least
doubtful proceeding The establish
ment 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
departments of the Government.
So far as its conciliatory office had
relation to disturbances which inter
fered with transit and commerce
between the states, its existance
would be justified under the provis-
ions of the Constitution, which gives
to Congress the power to regulate
commerce with foreign nations and
among the several States.
And in the frequent disputes
between laboring men and their en-
ployers, of less extent and conse-
quences of which are confined within
State limites, and threatened domes-
tic violence, the interposition of such
commission might be rendered, up
on the application of the Legislature
or Executive of Il State, under the
Constitutional provision which re-
quired the general Government to
protect each of the States against
domestic violence
If such a commission were fairly
organised the risk of loss of popu-
lar support and sympathy resulting
from a refusal to submit to so peace
full an instrumentality would con-
strain both parties to such disputes,
to invok' its Interference and abide
by its decisions. There would also
be good reason to hope that the exis-
tence of such a commission would
invite application to it for advice
and counsel, frequently resulting in
the avoidance of contention and mis-
understanding If the usefulness of
such commission is doubtful be-
cause it might lack power to enforce
its decisions, much encouragement
is derived from the conceded good
that has been accomplished by the
railroad commissions which have
been organized in many of the States,
which having little more than advis-
DRY power, have exerted most salu-
tary influence in the settlement of
disputes between conflicting inter
ests.
In July, 1881, by law of Con
gress Bureau of Labor was estab-
lished and placed in charge of a
Commissioner of Labor, who is re-
quired to collect information upon
the subject of labor, it's relations
with capital, the hours of labor,
and the earnings of laboring
men and women, and the means Of
promoting their material, social in
tellectual and moral prosperity
The commission which is suggested |
could easily be engrafted upon the
bureau thus created, and already or
ganized by the addition of two or
more commissioners, and by supple
menting the duties now imposed up
on it by such other powers and
functions as would permit the COM
missioners to act as arbitrators when
necessary between labor and capital,
under such limitations, and upon
such occasions as should be deemed
useful
Power should also be distinctly
conferred upon this bureau to inves-
tigate the causes of all disputes as
they occur whether submitted for
arbitration or not, so that informa-
ton may always be at hand to aid
legislation on the subject when nee
essary and desirable.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April, %, $50.