Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-11-16
Kansas City Attorney Will Aid Assistant Attorney
 General.
U. s. PREPARES TO
 DEFEND ALL SUITS
Ntorney.GeneraI Gregory Has Made No Proposition to Settle All Suits by One Test Case-Farly Decision
 Is Expected.

Washington, Nov. l5.-Suits by railroads attacking the constitution. ality of the Adamson eight-hour law were filed today in many parts or thn country, and the department of ins. tlc is making arrangements to defand all oi them. No offer has vet been made by the railroads to settle the suitS by one test case. It is stated oHlclally that the attolney-general nag made no such proposition to the railroads, and the department is plan ninE to contest each suit as if comas up for hearing.
 Assistant Attorney General Uner- wood will have personal charge of the cases, and Frank Hagerman of Kan bas C'ty, Mo, has been retained to assist him. Mir. Underwood plans to appear personally in most of the cases put thelr number may make it nec. essary to employ other counsel. At torney- General Gregory and Solicitor DaVis have been in conference with MT. Underwood since the suits were liled, and general lines of the defense agreed upon. Information so far reaching the department show that the railroads base their prayers for temporary restraining orders to pre- vent enforcement of the law on the ground that 1t is unconstitutional and | incapable of enforcement The gov elnment will resist these contentious ana assert that congress had ample power to enact such Legislation Tho department tonight issued this state ment: ''"'o
 "A large number of suits attacking the constitutionality of the Adamson law have been instituted in varione parts of the United States. The de. partment of justice will take direct charge of these cases, and MT. Frank Hagerman of Kansas City. Mo-. has been retained 10 assist in their pre. paration for trial'
 Early Decision Expected.
 Prompt and final decision by the supreme court on the constitutional lty of the law is possible under feG- eral court practice, it was stated by IaWyers familiar with the procedure Under accepted practices, the judge in any Of the districts where test cases nave been filed may call in one or TWO other judges to sit with him. After decision, 1t was stated that as the .constitutiOnality of any act of congress is drawn in question, an ap- peal could be taken directly to the supreme court without delay for it's consideration by a circuit court of ap peals.
 Should the test case or cases be ap- pealed to the supreme court it was believed here that despite the conges ton Of important cases on it's docket. the court would advance the Adamson act cases for early decision.
 Some of the railroad brotherhood leaders are expected in Washington in a few days to prepare for their ap- pearance before the congressional committee making broad investiga- tion into the transportation problem, and it is probable they will see Presi- dent Wilson.
 A statement by Samuel Gompers, president of the A. F. of l.. that the law would "gO into effect, injunction or no injunction" and statement b. w. s. Corter, head of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engine men, denying that strike had been threatened if the law was not en- Sorced. have attracted attention among federal officials.
 Carter Denies Making Threat.
 Peoria. H., Nov 15.-W. s. Carter, president of the Brotherhood of Loco motive Bremen and Enginemen, in statement here today danied that the four brotherhoods interested in the Adamson law had threatened the rail- road managers committee with strike if the stipulation of the Adam son eight-hour law were not complied with by the railroads.