Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-07
THE EXECUTIVE FINGER.

Suggested the Appointment of ii Per-
manent Commission to Arbttratc All
Difficulties Between Employers ana
Employes-Jay Gould Gives His Version
of the Strike, and Defends His Position.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The President
Yesterday sent u m ssagc to Congress on
the subject of the labor troubles. The fol
lowing is the full text OF the messages:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE-
~sENTATlvEs: The constitution imposes on
the President the duty of recommending to
Congress from time to time such measures
as he shall judge necessary and eNpealent.
am SO deeply impressed with the I'M
portancc of Immediately and thoughttully
meeting the problem which recent events
and a present condition have thrust upon
us, involving the settlement of disputes
arising between our laboring men and their
employers, that l. am constrained 10
| recommend to Congress legislation upon
this serious and pressing subject. Under
our form of government the value or
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 its
citizens the highest attainment of social
and political distinction it's working
men can not justly or safely be con-
sidered as irrevocably consigned to the
" L Il lSiS tllNl ShOiOlSu y LIN tO"
tcntion and allowed no protest against
neglect. The lahoring man, bearing in his
hand an Indispensable contribution to our
growth and progress, may we'll insist, with
manly courage and as u right, upon the
same recognition from those who make our
law as is accorded to any other citizen
having Il valuable interest in charge, and
his reasonable demand should be met in
such q spirit of appreciation and fairness
as to induce u contented and pa
t11nt1o :, ~ finn in tho nPhJnvn11pnf
of a grand National duty. While the real
interests of labor are not promoted by a
resort to threats and violent manifesto
tions, those who, under the protest of an
attack the rights of capital, and for selfish
purposes or the love of disorder SOW seeds
of violence and discomfort, hould
neither be encouraged nor concili-
atcd. Legislation on the subject
| should be calmly and deliberately UNDER
unreasonable demands OF gaining partisan
advantage. The present condition of the
relations between capital and labor arc
far from satisfactory. The discomfort of
the grasping and needless exactions of en-
/ ployers. and the alleged discrimination in
favor of capital as an object of
Governmental attention. It must al
so be conceded that the laboring
men are not always careful to avoid
eiIA NioNtAl IN
Though the Importance of a better accord
between these interests is apparent, it must
be borne in mine that any effort in that
direction by the Federal Government must
be greatly limited by constitutional %restric-
tions. There are many grievances which
legislation by Congress can not redress,
4 and many conditions which can not by
such means be reformed. I am satisfied,
however, that something may be done, I'M
der Federal authority, to prevent the dis
| f1rIDnoac which so nftpn aJiSa FROM, die
putes between employers and the en-
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. But 1 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 contro-
versies between labor and capital.
x 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 intelligently and
might be submitted to them. If arbi-
traitors ure chosen for temporary serv-
ice as each case Of dispute arises. ex-
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 unfailness and par
TALLY will be inevitable. The imposition
upon 4 Federal court of a duty foreign to
the judicial function, as the selection of it
as an arbitrator III such cases, is at least of
doubtful propriety.
Tho establishment by Federal authority
OF such Il bureau would be a just and sen
snole recognition of the value of labor, and
OF its right to be represented in the depart
ments of the Government.
So far as its conciliatory offices shall
have relation to disturbances which inter.
fered with transit and ommerc between
the States its existence would be justified
under the provisions of the constitution,
which gives to Congress the power "to reg.
ulate with foreign nations and
among the several States"
And in the frequent disputes between
the laborins men and their employers, of
are confined within State limits and
threaten domestic violence, the interposi-
ton of such a commission might be
rendered upon the application Of the
Legislature or Executive of d State under
the constitutional provision which lie,
each of the States against domestic VIC
lence." Ii such Il commission We're fairly
organized the risk OF u loss of popular SUP
port and sympathy, resulting from a re-
fusal to submit to SO peaceful an instru-
mentality, would constrain both parties tn
such disputes to seek its Interference aud
abide by its decisions. There would also
be good reason to hope that the very
existence of such an agency would in.
vie application to it for advice and
counsel, frequently resulting in the
avoidance of contention and misunder-
standing. If the usefulness of such a com.
mission is doubted because it might lacl;
power to enforce its decisions, much en-.
coulagement is derived from the conceded
good that has been accomplished by the
railroad commissions which have been or.
ganized in many Of the States, which, hay
ing little moro than advisory power, have
exerted a most salutary influence in tho
settlement of disputes between conflicting
interests.
III July, 1884, by a law of Congress, q
bureau of Labor was established and placed
III charge of d commissioner of labor, who
is required to collect information upon the
subject of labor, its relations with capital
the hours of labor, and the earnings of la.
boring men and women, and the means Of
promoting their material, social, intellect
ual and moral prosperity" The commits.
sion which l suggest could easily be in
grated upon that already organized, b,
the addition oil two or more commissioners
and by supplementing the duties now i'm
posed uDOn it nv SDrh otho,. Dou,o,. ~,