New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-21
rvoect Him to Make
Adamson Law Meet
All Expectations
GREGORY PLEDGES
LEGAL AID OF U. S.
Newlands COMMISSION
Meets-Railway Execu-
tiyes To Be Heard
,. s,,r oor,.psndsnt O, N. TdOunsl

rr,on s,t1 coresPondsni O. N. Tribune
washington, Nov. 2o.-The four
A.,,hsrbood chiefs devoted to-day TO
r.pding their fences. Apparently wor-
,,.s about what might happen to <he
Ia,mson law in the Federal courts,
,b,v made three moves to strengthen
,h.ir hand. They saw the President
,bsv saw the Attorney General and
,h,v mapped out campaign for the
coming session Of Congress.
The object Of their visit TO the At
,,rnsv Generals Office was to get as
sursnees that the Department Of JUS
.iee intended 10 devote all its energies
70 uphold the Adamson law. They re-
eeived such assurances.
Immediately after they left the de-
rsrtment Thomas H. Todd, assistant to
the Attorney General, and E. Marvin
Underwood, Assistant Attorney Gen.
.rsl left Washington to join the gov
,rnment's special counsel, Frank Hager-
man. in defending the first of the rail
road Injunction suits at Kansas City
on Thursday.
Depend on Wilson
No statement was obtainable from the
Brotherhood chiefs or from the White
House as TO just what happened at
their meeting with the President. 1t is
understood. however, that besides pay
ing their respects to Mr.. Wilson, the
icur leaders outlined concisely just the
situation they will face if the Adamson
law is declared unconstitutional, or ii
Il is declared constitutional, but no
opinion is rendered as to how the Law
shall be applied to the existing rail
road pay schedules. 1t is also under
stood that they told him they wouih
look to him for relief in either case.
Il is an open secret in Washington,
TOO. that the trsinmen did not hesi-
tate 10 remind Mr.. Wilson what effec-
tive campaigning they did in his be-
half in Ohio, California and several /
other states.
The Newlands Railroad Investigat-
ing Commission began its work to-
day, but the brotherhood men did not
seem to give the legislators q second
thought They did not ask for an
allotment Of time, and were not rep
resented at the session. Instead, they
were busy with their legislative agents
planning fight. particularly on .hst
part Of the Presidents legislative pro
grsmme which provides for oompul
sOry stgation before railroad
strike or lockout. They completed that
task before they visited either MIR.
Or CORY Of the President.
President to Push Bills
The prospect of bitter controversy
in Congress over this proposal was
still more clearly indicated later his
evening. Representative Adamson,
father Of lie so-called eight-hour law,
announced after a conference with the
President, hat the latter intended to
gregs the passage of this and the
other features of his railroad Tro-
srsmme without delay.
Judge Adamson himself has pre-
pared bll,s cmbodying substantially all
the suggestions the President made 10
The joint session of Congress last
Aagus., when he urged the pass sage Of
the Adamson law. This would provide
fer governmental operation of The
roads IN case OF military necessity; for
compulsory investigation of railroad
labor conti OVERSEES; for enlargement
Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. and direct the commission TO
consider wages paid by railroads IL
fixing the freight rates that railroads
shall be permitted 70 charge.
Il Is understood that the union lead
ers IN their private conference dis
eusscd possible amendments 10 the
Adamson law which would obviate the
difficulties raised by the railroads in
their injunction suits. IL was reported
ths, they discussed these with Presi-
dent Wilson, but they denied this.
Gave Help on Suits
Attorney General Gregory, Solicitor
General Davis and the Messrs. Under
wood and Todd Joined in the confer
ence with the labor chiefs. Mr.. Gregory
said aftcrvard that they had come sim
piy 10 talk over the government oe-
fence Of the law. as each Of the inJunc-
'ioa suits includes the heads Of the fous
train service organizations as CO.
defendants with the Federal district al
torneys IN the various districts.
We assured the brotherhood presi-
dents" said Mr.. Gregory, that the gov
eminent would use all the forces at us
command 70 uphold the law"
The brotherhoods have put the entire
strength OF the four organizations at
the disposal Of the Attorney General IN
this fight. IL is believed that m the
conference this afternoon they fur
nlshed technical information regarding
the Two bases of railroad pay nov IA
force the ten-hour basis and the 100
lile basis.
With Wilson Twenty Minutes
The brotherhood chiefs had asked Tor
I've minutes OF the Presidents unls'
but they took about twenty.
Nothing 10 say" was the announce
ment when they came out OF the White
House. IL is understood, however, that
they said 10 President Wilson approx
uately this:
II the Adamson law Is declared un-
constitutional, they are IN worse pre-
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