The Osceola times., 1886-09-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

For the fDrfuattth VI "
Commission to Take Cognirance OF Di'.
,.r.nc.s Arising Between Employer and
Empioye,
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The President
to. dsy sent the following message 10
Congress upon the subject OF the iaoof
troubles;
ro ,l. Senate and House Of Representatives.:
The constitution imposes on the fresiuent
the duty of recommending 10 the cohsiucin
tion OF Congress from time 10 Hiio SUI
measures as lie shall Judge necessary anu
expedit it. -. - -.
lam so deeply impressed with the import
ance of Immediately and thoroughly meet.
ing the problem which recent events anu
nrespnt condition have thrust upon us, in-
yolving the settlement OF disputes rising pc
tween the laborng men and ther employ
ers, that am constrained 20 recotnineha S 70
Congress legislation upon this serious anu
pressing subject. Under our form ot govern.
mont, the value OF labor as an eiemen. OF
National prosperity should oe III u,sano n,ahor.
Inv man should be regarded a. espe-
cIaIly entitled to legislative care In eoun'
try which offers to all Its citizens the hlSh'
est attainment OF social ana pohtlchi us
tlnction, Its workngmen can not justly or
safely be considered as irrevocably con
signed to the limits Of class and entitled 70
no attention and allowed no protest against
neglect. The laboring man. bearing In MS
hand an Indispensable contribution 10 our
growth and progress, may well insist, win
manly courage ana as II ~, uppn ,,p omp
laws as is accorded to any other citizen nay
ing valuable interest IN chaige anu his
reasonable demand should be met IN suen
spirt OF appreciation and fairness as 20 IN
duce "A contented and patriotic cooperation
in the achievement OF grand National des'
tiny. $50.
promoted by n resort to threats and violent
manifestations, and while those VINO, unueI
the pretext of an advocacy OF the clans OF
iaoor, wantonly attack the rights OF capltai;
and Tor that selfish purpose or the love OF
disorder SOW seeds OF violence anu ulscOn-
tent should neither be encouraged nor con,
ciliated, all legislation on the subject shonIn
be calmly and deliberately undertaken, with
no purpose of satisfying unreasonable ue-
mands or gaining partisan advantage
TIE present condition of the relations be-
,ween labor and capital are far from satis
'actory The discomfort OF the employed Is
iue In large degree to the grasping and
needless exactlons of employers. ana the
slleged discrimination In favor OF capltai j.
must also be conceded that the laDoring
men are not always careful to AVOID cause
less and unjustliable disturbances Though
the importance of a better accord between
t1eee interests is apparent, II must be borne
IN mind that any effort In that direction ~
The Federal Government must be greatly
limited by constitutional restrictions There
IRE many grievances which legislation by
Congress can not redress, and many condi'
tions which can not by such means be re-
formed.
II am satisfied however, that some things
NAV be done under Federal authorityto to pre-
vent the disturbances which so often arise
from disputes between employers and the
employed and which at times seriously
threaten tire business interests OF the coun-
try; and in my opinion the proper theory
upon which to proceed Is that of voluntary
Arbitration as the means OF settling these
difficulties But suggest that in-teal OF ar.
bitrators chosen In the heat conflicting
claims, and after each dispute shah arise,
there be created commission OF labor, con
| sistlng 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 contro-
versies between labor and capital.
! 4 commission thus organized would have
/ the advantage of being n stable body, and
Its members, as they gained experience,
would constantly Improve in their ability to
deal intellgently aud uscfully with the
! questions which might be submitted to them.
/ II arbitrators are chosen for temporary
service as each cnse OF dispute arises, eN-
| perience and familiarity with much that Is
| involved In the question VIII be lacking,
extreme partsanship and bias Will be the
! qualifications sought on either side, and
! tteqhent complaints OF unfarness and par
! tiality will be inev table. The imposition
upon a Federal Court Of n duty foreign to
/ the judicial function, as the selection OF an
/ arbitrator in such cases, Is at least of doubt
/ ml propriety. The establishment by Federal
/ authority OF such a bureau would be a Just
/ ana seuslDle recognition OF tue Nulue Oh
| labor, and OF Its right to be represented In
| the departments OF the Government
So far As its concilatory offices shal have
relation to disturbances which Interfere
! with transit and commerce between the
States Its existence would be justified under
the provisions OF the eConstitutlon which gives
10 Congress the power to regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the several
] states. And In the frequent disputes he
tween the laboring men and their employ
! ers, Of less extent and the consequences oi
! which ARE confined within state limits, and
threaten domestic violence, the interposi
ton OF such n comm ssion might be ten
dered, upon the application of the Legisla-
| ture or Executive OF State, under the con.
stitutlonal provision which requires the Gen
ernl Government to protect" each state
"against domestic violence"
| II such II commission were fairly organ.
zed, the risk of loss OF popular support
and sympathy resulting from refusal to
submit to so peaceful an instrumentality
would constrain both parties to such dis
! putes to invoke its Interference and abide
! by Its decisions There would also be good
reason to hope that the very existence of
such an agency would Invite application to
II for advice and counsel, frequently result
ing In the avoidance OF contention and mis-
| understanding
II the usefulness of such commission IL
| doubtful, because II might lack power to en-
force Its decisions, much encouragement Is
! derived from the conceded good that has
been accomplished by the railroad com
missions which have been organized in
! tie more than advisory power, have ex-
erted "A most salutary influence In the settle
ment OF disputes between conflicting inter.
! ests.
In July. lsSl, by law OF Congress, Bu.
! reau OF Labor was established and placed in
charge o. commissioner of labor, who is
required to "collcct Information upon the
subject OF labor. its relations with capital,
the hours OF labor, and the earnings OF
laboring men and women, and the means of
promoting their material, social, Intellectual
and moral pro Aperity."
The commission which ! suggest could eas.
! lily be cngrafted upon the bureau thus al.
ready organized by the addition OF twomore
commissioners, and by supplementing the
! duties now imposed upon II by such other
! powers and functions as would permit the
! commissioners to act as nrbtratOrs when
necessary between labor and capital under
such limitations and upon sucn occ asions a.
should be deemed proper aud useful.
! Power should also be distinctly conferred
! upon this bureau to investigate the eau ses
! OF all disputes as they occur whether sub.
| mtted for arbitration or not, so that Infor-
! nation may always be at hand to aid legi-
latlon on the subject when necessary and
! desirable.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 81 l0sG
A High-HRnded Measure.