The National tribune., 1886-04-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOHal Capital.
TIE LABOR TROUBLES.

the following message on the labor question:
10 the Senate and House II Representatives:
The Consultation imposes upon The President the
duty of recommending 90 the consideration OF
Congress from time 10 time such measures as ne
shall judge necessary and expsdlent
| am SO deeply impressed with the importance
Of immediately and tEoughifully meeting Inc prop
lem which recent events and present contltlon
have thrust upon US, involving the settienlelit Ga
,snuies arising between our aboring men and their
EMPLOYERS. that am constrained 10 recommend 10
Congress legislation upon this serious anu pressing
Under our form of Government the value Of
I@bor element OF naiiona! prosperity should
be distinctly recognized. aud the welfare OF the
laboTing man should be regarded as especially en-
titled 10 legislative In country which ciieTs
TO all IFS citizens the highest attainment oil social
and political distinction ITS Ivorelngnei can ilo'
Justly or safely be considered as irrerocaby con-
signed TO the limits of class and entitled to no
attention and allowed no protest against negleci:
The laborirg man, bearing III his hand an lndi5-
pensable contribution to growth and progress,
may well insist, with manly courage and as r!Ent,
upcn the same recognition from those who make
our laws as is accorded TO any other citizen having
valuable interest in charge: and his reasonable
demands should be met in such spirit of spprecia-
ton and fairness GO induce a contenied ana
patriotic cooperation IN the achievement oil srana
national destiny.
W.,;i. The real interests OF labor not promoted
By a resort TO threats ard violent manifestations,
and while those who under the pretext OF an
advocacy Of the claims O. labor wantoniy attack
the rights of capital and for selfish purposes or the
love of disorder SOW seeds Of violence ana discon-
tent should neither be encouraged nor conciated,
ali legislation on the subject should be calmly ana
deliberately undertaken, with no purpose OF satisfy
ing unreasonable demands or gaining partisan
advantage.
The present condition of the relations between
labor aEd capital are far from satisfactory 1he
discomfort of Lie employed Is due in large degree
10 TIC gfzsping ard needless exactions OF employers
and the alleged Discrimination in favor Of capital
as an cbiact Of Governmental attention. IL must
also be conceded ti.at the laSoring men are not
always careful TO avoid causeiess and unjusiiiiabe
disturbance.
Though the importance of a better accord be-
tween these interests is apparent. Ii must be borne
in mind that sny effort in That direction by the
Federal Government must be greatly limited by
constitutional restrictions. There are many griev-
snces which legislation by Congress cannot re-
dress, and many conditions which cannot Dy sncn
means be reformed
am satisfied however that something may be
done unCer Federal authority 20 prevent the dis
turbances which often arise from disputes be-
tween employers and the employed, and which at
times seriously threaten the business Interests OF
the country; and. III my opinion. the proper theory
upon Mach 10 proceed Is that OF voluntary aIbi-
tratiof The of settling these difficulties
But ] suggest that instead of arbitration chosen
81 the heat OF conflicting claims, and after each dis
pue shall arise. there be created n commission OF
labor. consisting of three members. who shall be
regular officers OF the GoTernment charged among
other duties with the consideration and settlement,
when possible, of all controversies between labor
and capital.
commission thus organized would have The
advantage 81 being stable body, and lis members,
as they .a!,lcd experience, would constantly i'm
prove in ii.cir ability TO deal n.egently and use
fully with the questions which might be submitted
to them. II arI,itrators chosen for temporary
and FAM iiri;y with much that ii Involved in the
question viii sc lacking extreme partisInshp and
bias viii &c the Qualifications sought either side,
and frequent complaints OF uiiirness anu pariiailiy
vii! Se inevitable. The imposition upon Federal
court OF daily foreign TO the judicial function
the selection of arbitrator ID such cases Is a! least
OF doubtful propEiety.
The establishment by Federal authority of such
o bureau would be just and sensible recognition
of the yaiue Of labor and Of its right to be repre-
scented in the departments OF the Government 30
far ns M ecpe;liafory Offices shall have relation 10
,WaT with lraV faaffl-
MERGE between The States its existence would he
justified under the provisions of the Constitution
which gives 20 Congress tfe power : to regulate
the commerce with foreign nations and among The
several states" And In the frequent Disputes be-
tween the iaboring men aud their employers, OF
less extent ard the consequences of which are con-
fined within State limits and threaten domestic
violence. the intcrposition of such a commission
might he rendered upon TIC application oil The leg
is.ature or Executive of State, under tho coHsiitJ
iional provision which requires the General Gov
eminent 10 proiect" each OF The States against
domestic violence"
II snch commission were fairly organized the
risk Of less OF popular support and sympathy re-
quilting from refusal TO submit to peaceful an
instruIaeuiaity would consirsin both parties 20
such d, !tes TO invoke its interference and abide
by is decisions. There would also be good reason
10 hope ;ii the very existence OF such agency
would invite application 10 il Tor advice and
Sc. frequs:.tly resulting ia the avoidance OF con-
t.niioB as.d misunderstanding.
Ii iAe usefulness of such commission is doubted
because iig.s lack power 20 enforce its decisions
much encouragement Is derived from the conceded
good tlaaI has been accomplished by the railroad
commissions which base been organized in many
of the States. which, having little more than aG-
risory power, have exerted most salrtary infIu-
ence in ;he settlement Of disputes between conflict
ing interests.
IL Juiv 1854 by law of Congress a Bureau of
Labor WAS established and placed in charge of a
Commissioner Of Labor. who is required to
COLLECT information upon the subject of labor lis
relation capital, the hours of labor and the
i:igs OF !sboTs aud women, and the means OF
promoting their material social, intellectual and
moral prosperity"
The commission which suggest could easily be
ingrasiei upon the bureau thus already organized
by tie addition of two more commissioners and by
s;Ipplelsissstng the duties now imposed upon it by
such other powers and functions would permit
the commissioners TO ACT rs aTbitrators when
essary between labor and capital under such inli
tations AMI upon such occasions should be
deemed ErptJeT and useful
Power should also be distinctly conferred upen
this bO7eaH 10 investigate the causes of all disputes
az they occur. whether submitted for arbitration or
moi. tsiat Information may always be at hand to
aid lega!a.l oE on the subject when necessary and
desirable GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION April q. lss6
The special House committee of which
Hoa. a. G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, is chair
man-a?po:nted TO inquire into the labor
troubles. began IFS work in Washington last
week. The gentlemen examined were Messrs.
Powderly and Mcdowell, Of the Knights of
Labor 2Ed jay Gould and A. L. Hopkins rep
rese1tiBr the railroad companies Mr Pow
derry, the head Of the most powerful conbna-
tion Of w.:Tki3gmen that was ever formed is a
man of medium hight spareiy built, nervous,
ard bald. ISeye is keen and penetrating, and
his features betoken great frinness of charae-
ter. Much interest was shown in his testimony
and that OF DR.. Gould, the man of many mil
lions. Their evidence was chiefly of general
character. Mr.. Powderly gave an interesting
history Of tie knights of Labor-the purposes
of the organization and the principles by which
il is controlled. Mr. Gould had much TO say
concerning the management Of his railroads
and the relations that existed between the com
panies a..d the knights of Labor. On Monday
the committee left for ST. Louis where direct
testimony relative to the strike and its causes
will be taken
One evening last week large labor meeting
was held here, which was addressed by several
Congressman and others. Senator Logan sent
the following letter, giving his views on the
labor question:
GENTLEsES: Your esteemed favor inviting me
10 DC Present ct your meeting has been received
ia reply. permit TO thank you for the colnEii-
fsent extended. and 10 express my regret that g
press 81 duties imperative as not 10 permit al
pOsipoIelneri VIII deprive me OF the pleasure Oi
meeting sou upon tbs occasion indicated Every
thoughtful man nnust feel a deep interest ia the
question nOt- Gg!ts.iEg industrial classes en-
bEaciEg itli this designation DO; employers aud
employed. Every true Republican, every sincere
p-FlOi, cEtsg s-Eacious public will perceive
at once tiie importance Of question that undercs
our social r5d political fabric. Processing 20 be
government 81 the whole people, il is a prime ne.
cesSy 10 lie prosperity OF ours. well of IT.
very eE.s.cnce. that there shall be class antipa-
tbies 20 divide as; no portion of the people 10 com
pisi' tia.. IN their sphere they have not the full
frt-s al.fa .fffT.a Eaa<V a