The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-15
GOVERNMENT TO
DEFEND S-HOUR
LAW FOR union
Pennsylvania and N. Y. Central
Join Attack on Law.
Total Legal Contests Probably
Will Reach 500.
UNIONS DEMAND new LAW
AdamsOn Measure Not What
Was Promised Them.
Dozen Suits Already Seek In
junction and Annulment.
UNIONS DEMAND new Law

New York, Nov. 15.-The New York
Central railroad today filed suit in the
federal district court to test the con-
stitutionality of the Adamson eight
hour law.
Announcement that the New York,
New Haven & Hartford railroad
would also file suits to test the consti-
tutionality of the Adamson law was
made today by Howard Elliott the
roads president.
Many Suits Flied in Midwest.
Chicago, Nov, 15.-The Chicago &
Alton railroad filed a petition in fed
eral court today asking an injunction
restraining United States district at
torneys from enforcing the provisions
of the Adamson law.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Nov. 15.-The
Northern Pacific. Great Northern and
MINNEAPOLIS and st. Louis lines today
filed in the federal district court here
applications for injunctions against
the operation of the Adamson law.
Washington, Nov. 15.-Attorney
General Gregory has decided that
suits by railroads against enforcement
of the Adamson eight-hour law will
be defended by the department of JUS
tice The defense to be presented in
each case will be worked out between
Solicitor General Davis and other Off
cials with United States attorneys in
various jurisdictions,
The department today was unable to
determine whether it would be neces-
sary to defend each of the many suits
announced to begin, or whether they
would be contented to make a test
case of one suit. No word has reached
the attorney general from the rail-
rd
such d proposal is not made each suit
will be defended.
Reports that railroad brotherhood
officials had considered a suggestion
that Mr.. Gregory be asked to suspend
operation of the Adamson law for
thirty days were met with the state
ment that the attorney general has
no such authority and that his only
course is to defend the suits or let
them go by default.
Declares Law Unconstitutional.
Philadelphia, Nov. 15.-The Penn
sylvania Railroad company today filed
in the federal district court here bill
in equity asking for an injunction
against the three United States district
attorneys in Pennsylvania forbidding
Them from bringing prosecutions
against the railroad company under
the Adamson eight hour law.
The court is asked to declare that
the eight hour law is unconstitutional
and void
New York Central Next.
New York, Nov. 1.-THE New
York Central railroad will file in the
federal court here the first injunction
suit to be brought by an eastern road
in this state to test the constitutional
ity of the Adamso1 eight hour law, it
was announced by Albert H. Harris.
general counsel for the New York
Central. The action will be directed
against H. Snowden Marshall, United
States district attorney here, and sew
eral local officers of the four train
men brotherhoods. A temporary stay
will be sought which would enjoin the
defendants from instituting prosecu-
tions against the road to compel it to
carry out the law.
Two developments stood out promi-
nently today in the new situation aris-
ing from the forthcoming application
of the Adamson law. First, the an
nouncement that the managers of the
roads would probably apply for in
functions against the law in every fed
eral district in the United States with
a separate suit in behalf of every one
! of the 200 railroads in every district
which they enter. Should this step be
taken and the litigation involved run
the ordinary course of legal procedure,
the eight-hour law would be from six
months to two years behind time in
Continued on Page Two.)