The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-23
Judge Hook In Kansas City
So Designed Judgment On
Suit of Missouri, Oklaho-
ma and Gulf Railroad
Company.
Conference Held With Greg
DRY to Determine How
Final Ruling May Be Hur-
ried = Text of Judge
Hooks Decision.

Kansas City, Nov. 33.-In deciding
the Adamson Eight-Hour Law is I'M
constitutional Judge William G. Hook
in the United States District Court
made it plain that the decision was
not based on mature consideration OF
the merits of the case, but on expedi-
ency desired by all parties at interest
because Of the necessity Of final
decision by the Supreme Court Of the
United States before January, when
the law goes into effect.
The legal moves in the process OF
sending the case direct to the high
est tribunal were bewildering to the
lay point of view, as the lawyers con-
cerned rushed the matter through
with a speed seldom witnessed in a
court.
Government Presses Action
What action Attorney General Gre
CORY would take remained a. secret un-
til yesterday, when Frank Hagerman,
retained as special counsel to repre-
sent the government, Unexpectedly
asked Judge Hook to instruct the re-
ceiver for the Missouri, Oklahoma and
Gulf railroad, complainant in an in
junction suit, to join with the defen-
dant in proceedings which would con-
sign the case on its merits to the Su-
preme court. Today these events took
place in court, by agreement:
J.. Counsel for the receivers asked
that their bill for an injunction be
granted, and the Adamson law be
declared void.
2. MI Hagerman, for the govern
ment, asked the court to dismiss the
bill and to declare the law constitu-
tional.
8. The court overruled Mr.. Hager-
man and declared the law invalid.
4. Preparation ! of a transcript OF
the evidence for presentation to the
Supreme Court was begun, and it is
expected that copies will be in Wash
ington by Saturday.
5. Counsel for the receivers was in
structed to notify counsel for all rail-
roads of the moves made here, and to
invite them to join in the case before
tile Supreme Court
Views of Lawyers Differ.
> The present case, in the view of Mr..
Hagerman, provides all Of the factors
necessary for test case, but it was
said by James Dunlap, of the legal
staff of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe, that among lawyers there
in some differences of opinion on this
point. He said THAT it was thought
that perhaps one or two additional
test cases should be brought to afford
a wider range Of inquiry and analysis.
The Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf
Railroad is in the hands of a receiver
and the receiver could do only as di-
rected by Judge Hook, who has the
final say in the direction of the roads
affairs. Mr.. Dunlap said that certain
additional fine phases of the law
might develop in a case where the
complainant was Independent.
The case Of the Santa Re is sched-
uled to come up before Judge Pollock
in the United States District Court in
Kansas City. Kan, tomorrow. There
was much interest as to what effect
Judge Hooks decision would have on
this case.
Mr.. Dunlap said that until the ar
rival, tomorrow, of his associates, he
could not predict what action would
be taken. Mr. Hagerman was SINH
larly at sea, although he said that he
saw no reason why every question in
volving the Santa Fe and other rail-
roads could not be settled by today's
test case.
One result Of the proceedings in
Judge Hooks court was the elimina-
ton of Brotherhood chairmen of Kan
sas as defendants to- the action. Unit
ed States District Attorney Francis M.
Wilson remained the only defendant.