St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-04-29
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S MES
SAGE.
He Treats of the Labor Problem 4
Special Message.

He Treats of the Labor Problem In n
Special Message.
Last Thursday President Cleveland
sent special message to congress in
regard to the labor troubles. After
referring to the relations of labor and
capital he makes these suggestions:
am satisfied, however, that some
thing may be done under federal au-
thority to prevent the disturbances
which so often arise from disputes be-
tween employers 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 these difficulties. But | sug
gest that instead of arbitrator chosen
in the heat of conflicting claims, and
after each dispute shall arise, there be
created a commission of labor, con-
sisting of three members, who shall be
regular 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 advantage
of being a stable body and its mem
bers as they gained experience would
constantly improve in their ability to
deal intelligently and usefully with
the questions which might be sub
mitted to them. If arbitrators are
chosen for temporary service as each
case of dispute arises, experience and
familiarity with much that is involved
in the question will be lacking, ex-
IRENE 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 a
duty, foreign to the judicial function,
as the selection of an arbitrator in such
cases, is at least of doubtful propriety.
The establishment by federal authOri-
ty of such a bureau, would be just
and sensible recognition of the value
of labor, and of its right to be repre-
scented in the departments of the gov
eminent. So far as its cOnciliatOry
offices had relation to disturbances
which interfered with transit and COM
merce between the states, its existence
would be justified, under the prOvi-
sions 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 the labor
ing men and their employers, of less
extent and the consequences of which
are confined within state limits and
threaten domestic violence, the inter-
position of such commission might
be rendered, upon the application of
the legislature or executive of state,
under the constitutional provision
which requires the general govern
ment to "prOtect" each of the states
"against domestic 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 instrument
tally, would cOnstrain both parties to
such disputes to invoke its interfer-
ence and abide by it's decisions. There
would also be good reason to hope
that the very existence of such an
agency would invite application to it
for advice and counsel, frequently re-
sulting in the avoidance of contention
and misunderstanding. If the useful
ness of such commission is doubted
because it might lack power to enforce
it's decisions, much encouragement is
derived from the conceded good that
has been accomplished by the railroad
commissions which have been organ
lied in many of the states, which hav-
ing little or more than advisory power,
have eXerted a most satisfactory in
fluence in the settlement of disputes
between conflicting interests.