New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-18
Bryanites Likely to OPP
pose Depriving States
of Control
NEW S-HOUR LAW
AMONG POSSIBILITIES
Peace Between Lines and
Men Will Not Affect
Programme
From The 1rihun. Bureau ]

Washington. Dec. l7.-Ilaving passed
the Adamson bill-th measure which
granted the eight-hour day to the rail-
road brotherhoods or increased their
wages, according to ones point OF view
at the behest of the President, the
Congress of the United States does
not now intend to repeal the law un-
less Mr.. Wilson openly executes
right-about-face and accepts full re-
sponsibility for the governments fur
Their course in .he controversy between
the railroads and their employees.
The full programme of railroad legls-
lation which Mr.. Wilson laid out IN
his recent message to Congress, IN
Guiding the enlargement Of the inter-
state Commerce Commission and writ
inc into American statutes the Cana
dian idea of arbitration when rail
road strike is threatened, as IT was last
Au0ust will not be readily or easily
absndoned by the President. If men
close to him are correctly informed.
Wilson IdTpt Iob ia""N
This Administration has large ideas
concerninc the American railroad prob
Iom Tho new Adamson eight-hour law
and the statutes now proposed TO make
that act take On the appearance OF
fairness toward the public arc only
mart of those ideas. Federal incor
poration of all railroads and Federal
control of rates. wages and capltaliza-
ton. as well as the programme direct,
~ affecting the settlement OF wage ana
hour disputes, will be accomplished De
fore Mr.. Wilson's second term Is over
unless Mr.. Bryan's friends IN Doth
houses OF Congress summon up enough
courage openly 10 oppose him. ~,
There should be no confusion IN the
public mind, however. between the pro,
posal TO repeal the Adamson law and
the possibly distant effort 10 taEe IN
corporation and control Of railroads
ewav from the state governments.
leaders on both sides Of Congress ana
representatives Of big business inter
csts and union labor who are care
fullv watching things here find no DIM
cuItv in assuming that Mr.. wilson VIII
fen over 20 position advocating the
1epeal Of the Adamson law and drop
ming the idea Of government inter
ference between the brOtherhoods ana
the operators.
Washington hears with interest that
the brothcrhoOds, as well as the ran
roads. are striving 20 settle their ar
tcrences without further government
There is some mirth in certain Con-
oressional quarters at the present
course of events. Looking back at the
hot AUGUST DAYS when Mr. Wilson was
demanding that Congress help hlm
save the country even if the distin-
ouished Senate and House had to ap-
near as submitting to force. and now
contemplating the possibility of hav-
inc TO ado a Wilson" Westinghouse
for Aoppinr). it is small wonder that
eome of the leading Democrats here
exhibit tenderness under the prods OF
those who love not Wilson less but
party principle more.
Law May BE Unsound
There is another reason why the
Administration may be glad to see the
repeal Of the Adamson law. The con-
stitutionaity of the measure is about
to be passed upon by the Supreme
Court II the law were repealed be
fore that decision then there would be
no decision. IOt the case auLOlidblCdllN
would cease 10 exist. 1t is said here
that the Wilson Administration has
received some opinions from distln-
guished legal authorities. all pointing
TO the probability that the court Will
find the law is unsound.
However. unless the President de-
mands it. Congress will not repeal the
law. The Adamson law was a chief
issue of the recent campaign. Mr.
Hughes filed it full of holes, but Mr.
Wilson and his aids in the campaig n
were forced to defend II. II would be
rather ridiculous, the country Tlght
laugh too hard, if a repeal message
followed so quickly.
On the larger end OF the railroad
problem, Federal incorporation and
control, of which the Newlands in
vestigating committee is the first step,
there may be a sharp lineup in Con-
gress this week. The Newlands com
mittee cannot finish its work before
adjournment Of the Gath Congress. 1t
is proposed therefore to extend the
life of the commission for year.
Those who are opposed to continuing