Evening journal., 1916-09-23
EXECUTIVES OUTLINE
ADAMSON BILL FIGHT
Duty TO the Public and the
Shareholders TO be
Considered
LEGAL STATUS YET
TO BE DETERM MINED

NEW YORK. Sept 2S.-Franl
Trumbull, chairman of the railway ex
ecutives' advisory committee, says the
committee has not reached decision
to surrender to the application of the
provisions of the Adamson eight-hOul
wage law as affecting the railroads
and that pending investigation Of The
practical problems and the lega
questions involved. it cannot yet b'
determined what the final attitude o.
the roads will be toward the bill.
In statement issued by Mr.. Trum
bull he summarizes the situation II
this way:
An entirely erroneous impress
sion concerning the attitude OF
the railway executives toward the
eight-hour law has been given cir
cuIation through inaccurate re-
ports Of the proceedings Of the
meeting Of the railway executives
advisory committee on Wednes-
day. There has been no change Of
attitude on the part Of the execu-
tives as a whole on this matter,
and in whatever deliberations
they have pursued concerning It
they have proceeded in an orderly
way to ascertain. IL possible, first,
the effect of the law as a practical
operating problem, and, second
its legal status.
Investigation OF the practical
problem involved is being pursued
by the managers Of the roads
through the national conference
committee OF the railways. Elisha
Lee. chairman, and a study of the
legal questions has been referred
to the counsel Of the various rail-
ways for investigation and future
consideration. The railway execu-
tives have throughout this whole
controversy, taken position
sluarely IN favor of investigation
before action. In harmony with
that policy, they are seeking by
a study Of every phase of the sub
iect and a careful investigation into
all of its bearings, to prepare the
way for the proper course to be
pursued
There are today or there were
on the day of its passage real con-
Germ and great dissatisfaction with
the sO-called eight hour act, both
in principle and the manner of its
enactment. There has been no
change of feeling on these points,
nor. indeed, could there be, in the
light Of the facts.
The committee of executives who
conducted the investigation of rail-
ways at Washington, OF which Hale
Holden is chairman, is continued in
its activities for the railroads in
this matter snd has under considera-
tion the problem to be met.
There are various questions Of
policy aside from those OF an
operating or legal nature which
must be decided. If the railway
executives, on advice Of counsel,
should conclude that the law is in
valid. or even unfair, they must
then consider what is 10 be their
attitude TO their shareholders in the
matter Of its enforcement.
They must also consider their
duty TO the public in asking for in
crease in railroad rates, as suggest
ed by the Administration. They
must meet the question whether or
not. under the so-called eight hour
law. they must require men who
now work less than eight hours TO
give a full eight hours of service.
These and other questions of policy
are all to be considered before de-
cision or action.
There was nothing in the deli
berations of the executives on the
day in question to warrant the re-
ports which have been circulated.
The national conference committee o
the railways will hold frequent meeting
between now and January I, when III
eight-hour law goes into effect. to con
slider the effect Of the measure in al
the details Of operation.