24 APRIL 1886, Page 1

President Cleveland has sent a Ismarkable Message to Con- gress.

He says the present unsatisfactory condition of the relations between labour and capital is largely due to the

" grasping and heedless exactions of the employers," as well as occasionally to causeless and unjustifiable disturbances on the part of the men. He recommends, therefore, that as the direct powers of Congress are limited, it should create a Labour Com- mission of three first-class Government officers, regularly paid and recognised as such, who should act as arbitrators in all such disputes. Submission to such arbitration would be voluntary, but the President thinks the Commission would be a just recognition of the claim of labour to a place in the departments of Government, and would receive more deference than local arbitrators. The scheme would not seem promising in Europe, but in the United States opinion would, we believe, force masters and men, if they once referred a case to the Commission, to abide by its award. A " reference to men " is ingrained in American habits.