Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-04-30
THE EXECUTIVE FINGER.

manent Commission to Arbitrate AL
Difficulties Between Employers and
Ernployes-Jay Gould Gives His Version
of the Strike, and Defends His Position.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The President
yesterday sent Il 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 RETIRE.
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 expeedle.nt.
am so deeply impressed with the i'm
p%ortance of Immediately and t~houghtfully
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 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 its
citizens the highest attainment OF social
and political distinction its working
men can not justly or safely be con
sidered as i~rrevocably consigned to the
limits of a class, and entitled to no at
tention and allowed no protest against
neglect. The laboring man, bearing in his
hand an indispensable contribution to our
growth and progress, may we'll insist, with
manly courage and as q right. upon the
same recognition from those who make our
laws as is accorded to any other citizen
having a valuable interest in charge, and
his reasonable demand should be met in
such a spirit of appreciation and fairness
as to induce a contented and pa
triotlc, cooperation in the achievement
OF a grand National duty. While the real
interests of labor are not promoted by a
tions, those who, under the protest of an
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 coneili-
should be calmly and deliberately under
taken, with no purpose of satisfying
unreasonable demands or gaining partisan
advantage. The present condition of the
far from satisfactory. The discomfort Of
the employed is due in a large extent to
the grasping and needless exactions of en-
plovers, and the alleged discrimination in
favor of capital as an object of
So bn cnnceds si'en tbaR tb It m 7a56r; al +
men are not. always careful to avoid
causeless and unjustifable 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 constitutional ~restric-
tions. There are many grievances which
J legislation by Congress can not redress,
and many conditions which can not by
such means be reformed. l 4 am satisfied,
however, that something may be done, un-
der Federal authority. to prevent the dis
%turbances which SO often arise from dis
putes between employers n the en-
ployed, and which at times seriously
threaten the business interests of the
country; and in my opinion the proper
of voluntary arbitration as the means
of settling these difficulties. But [ suggest
that, instead of arbitration chosen in
the heat of conflicting claims, and after
ated a 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.
A commission thus organized would
have the advantage of being a stable body,
II 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 are chosen for temporary serv-
ice as each case of dispute arises, ex-
p%erience and familiarity with much that is
involved in the question will be lacking,
extreme p~artisanship and bias will be the
qualifications sought on either side, and
frequent complaints of unfairness and par.
tiality will be inevitable. The imposition
upon Il Federal court of a duty foreign to
the judicial function. as the selection of it
as an arbitrator in such cases, is at least of
doubtful propriety.
The establishment by Federal authority
Of such a bureau would be a just and sen
STOLE recognition of the value of labor, and
of its right to be represented in the depart.
ments of the Government.
So far as it's conciliatory offices shall
nave 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 with foreign nations and
among the several States"
And in the frequent disputes between
the laboring men and their employers, of
less extent and the consequences of which
are confined within State limits and
ton of such a commission might be
rendered upon the application Of the
Legislature OF Executive of a State under
the constitutional provision which re.
quires the General Governmental ''protect'
each of the States against domestic VIC.
%lence." If such a commission were fairly
organized the risk OF 81 loss of popular SUP
port and sympathy, resulting from a re.
fusal to submit to SO peaceful an instru.
mentality, would constrain both parties te
abide by its decisions. Their would also
be good reason to hope that the very
existence Of such an agency would in
vito application to it for advice and
counsel, frequently resulting in the
avoidance of contention and misunder.
| standing. If tho I1Spfn1oocc Of c,,nI, N .>,n,