Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/337

 GROVER CLEVELAND 285 which are clearly within the province of federal authority, the presence of federal troops in the city of Chicago was deemed not only proper, but neces sary, and there has been no intention of thereby in terfering with the plain duty of the local authori ties to preserve the peace of the city.&quot; To a further protest and argument of the gov ernor the president replied: &quot;While I am still per suaded that I have transcended neither my author ity nor duty in the emergency that confronts us, it seems to me that in this hour of danger and pub lic distress discussion may well give way to active effort on the part of the authorities to restore obedience to the law and to protect life and prop erty.&quot; The decisive action of the president restored order, ended the strike, and received the commen dation of both houses of congress and of the people generally. The president then appointed a com mission to investigate the cause of the strike. It is interesting to note in this connection that by special message to congress of April 22, 1886, President Cleveland had strongly recommended legislation which should provide for the settlement by arbitra tion of controversies of this character. Early in May, 1896, Mr. Cleveland issued an order by which 30,000 additional posts in the civil service were placed on the list of those requiring a certificate from the civil-service commissioners,