Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-14
A National Labor Commission of
 Arbitration
SUGGESTED TO CONGRESSMEN
The Workingmen Entitled to Demand Such Recognition
 From the Government.

VI hAoalNGION3 July S.-OOuSlueEdOlo iu' terest Is attached at this time to the posi- ton which President Cleveland occupies in the question of labor strikes and the rem- edies he has suggested to settle controver- sies between the employer and employed. In this connection attention was called to- day to a special message which President Cleveland sent to Congress in 1886 upon the very subject which now congresses the public mind. The message in part is as follows:
 ''I am so deeply impressed with the im- portance of immediately and thoughtfully meeting the problem which recent events and present condition have thrust upon us, involving the settlement by arbitration of disputes arising between our laboring men and their employees, that I am con' ] strained to recommend to congress legis- lation upon this serious and pressing sub- ject.
 :Uuder 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 regarded as especially entitled to legis- lative care. In a country which offers to all it's citizens the highest attainment of social and political distinction, it's work ingmen cannot justly or safely be consld- cred as irrevocably consigned to the limits LII ClaSS dnu euJlJlSu IO nO aLCeHLlOu duu allowed no protest against neglect.
 RIGHT TO RECOGNITION.
 ''The laboring man bearing in his hand an indispensable contribution to our growth and progress may well insist, with manly courage and as right, upon the same recognition from those who make our laws as is accorded to any other citi- zen having valuable interest in charge, and his reasonable demands should be met in such spirit of appreciation and fairness as to induce contended and patriotic CO., operation in the achievement of grand national destiny.
 nWhile the real interests of labor are not promoted by resort to threats and violent manifestations, and while those who, un- der the pretexts 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 dis content, should neither be encouraged nor conciliated, all legislation on the subject should be calmly and deliberately under taken, with no purpose of satisfying un- reasonable demands or gainin. partisan advantage.
 "The present condition of relations be- tween labor and capital is far from satis- factory. The discontent of the employed is due in large degree to the grasping and needless exactions of employers aud the alleged discrimination in favor of capital as an object of governmental attention. It must also be conceded that the laboring men are not always careful to avoid cause- less and unjustifiable disturbance.
 Though the importance of better &C., cord between these interests is apparent, 1t must be borne in mind that any effort in that direction by the federal government must be greatly limited by constitutional which Legislation by congress cannot re- dress and many conditions which can by such means be reformed.
 A COMMISSION OF LABOR.
 ''I am satisfied, however, that something may be done under federal authority to pre- vent the disturbances which 80 often arise from disputes between employers and em. ployed and 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 suggest that instead of arbitra- tors chosen iu the heat of conflicting claims, and after each dispute shall arise, for thelpurpose of determining the same, there be created a commission of labor, consisting of three members, who shall be regular officers of the government, charged among other duties with the consideration and settlement, when possible, of all con- troversies between labor aud capital.
 "A commission thus organized would have the advantage of being a stable body, and it's members, as they gained experi- ence, would constantly improve in their ability to deal inteligently and usefully with the questions wnich might be sub- mitted to them. If arbitrators are chosen for temporary service as each case of dis pute arises, experience 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 un- fairness and partiality will be inevitable. The imposition upon a federal court of a duty so foreign to the judicial function as the selection of an arbitrator in such cases is at least of doubtful proprety.
 BENEFICIAL EFFECIS.
 "The establishment by federal authority of such bureau would be a just and sensi- ble recognition of the value of labor and of it's right to be represented in the depart ments of the government.
 :And in the frequent disputes between tEe laboring men and their employers of less extent, and the consequences of which are confined within state lllni ts and threaten domestic violence, the interpretation of such commission might be rendered upon the application of the legislature or the execu- tive of the state, under the constitutional provision which requires the general gov- ernment to 'protect' each of the states against domestic violence.
 ''If such commission were fairly or ganized the risk of loss of popular sup port and sympathy resulting from a refusal to submit to 50 peaceful au instrumeDtality would constrain both parties to such dis putes to invoke it's interference 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- suting in the evidence of contention and Misunderstanding.
 eff the usefulness of such commission is doubted be cause it might lack power 10 enforce its decisions, much encouragement been accomplished by the railroad com missions which have been organized in many of the states, which, having little more than advisory power. nave exerted