The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-11-25


The event which is now engrossing the at
tention of the American public more than any
other is the gigantic struggle, already begun,
between capital and labor in the railroad
world, regarding the workings of the Adam
son eight-hour law This measure passed by
congress in it's closing hours at the urgent
solicitation of President Wilson, served temp
orarily as stop-gap; but the fight between
railway managers and employees now has
been resumed with increased bitterness.
The National Council of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States met in Wash
ington on November II, with hundreds of
representatives of commercial organizations
in attendance, to discuss the Adamson law
from the standpoint of the nations business
interests
The Newlands congressional joint commit
tee began it's sessions on Thursday, Novem-
ber %, at which, it is expected, the greatest
economic problems of recent years will be
brought to the fore, not the least of which
will be government control of railway and
public utilities. The committee is required to
report to congress on January s.
President Wilson has proposed supple
mentary legislation, particularly the bill pro-
viding for the compulsory investigation of
wage disputes, pending which strike would
be unlawful. 1t is believed by him that the
compulsory investigation law should be
passed as soon as possible, without reference
to the results of the inquiry by the Newlands
committee.
The railway brotherhoods are vigorously
opposing this proposed supplementary mea-
sure and in this they are joined by the
American Federation of Labor
Legal skirmishing in the fight of the rail-
roads of the United States against the Adam
son law was brought to sudden issue, it is de-
clared on November Fl, by motion filed by
the government in the United States District
Court at Kansas City, which, it is hoped,
will result in a decision on the constitution
ality of the law by the Supreme Court of the
United States before January 1, when the
law is to go into effect.
The governments motion, which was di-
rected against the receivers for the Missouri,
Oklahoma, and Gulf railroad, asks an imme-
diate decision on the injunction petition filed
by them, in which the Adamson law was at
tackled as unconstitutional and an order re-
Quested forbidding it's enforcement. The
government contends that the injunction pc
tition should be dismissed, because the law is
constitutional
Should the law be held unconstitutional,
the government asks that the court direct the
receivers for the railroad to join the govern
ment in getting the case advanced immedi-
ately to the Supreme Court of the United
States for final decision.
Should the law be held constitutional it is
expected that the railroads will appeal from
the decision in favor of the government, in
an effort to stop the laws decree before JAN
uary 1.
In either case, the government plans to
have the constitutionality of the law placed
before the Supreme Court when that tribu-
nal reconvenes December a, and to urge that
it be advanced for immediate hearing.
Action in the case was begun on the in
junction petition of the Missouri, Oklahoma,
and Gulf railway, rather than on similar
petitions of scores of other roads, because of
the fact that this company is in receiver
ship and under the direction of the federal
court
rror,1