The Washington herald., 1916-11-25
HOOK DECISION
To FACE TEST
Railroads Agree to Let Kansas
City Ruling Reach Su-
preme Court.

The railroads and the government have
come to an agreement in the matter OF
carrying the fight over the elght-hour
law to the Supreme Court. They have
decided to use the case decided by Judge
Hook in Kansas City last wednesday
as the vehicle for all their arguments
for and against the laws constitution
aIity.
The agreement 10 this effect was
reached at Kansas City yesterday by
representatives Of the advisory commits
tee OF the railroad systems and the as
sistants Of the attorney generals once.
Under the terms of this agreement both
sides will appear before the Supreme
Court when II reconvenes here on Decem-
Der and join in a plea 20 have the
case advanced so that there may be a
speedy decision.
In the meantime no more suits attack
ing the Law viii be begun by the rail-
ways, and the government will Institute
no prosecutions for failure to comply
with the law until the decision OF the
court is rendered.
Other Cases to Hang FITe.
1t is further agreed that the railways
will take no further action in any OF the
cases now pending in the courts and at
the same time they will prepare for a de-
cision upholdirT; the law by 50 arranging
their accounts that they may be able 10
meet the demands for increased payments
TO their employees provided for under the
law in the event that the Supreme Courts
decision is favorable to the government
The agreement reached yesterday Is in
accordance with the terms of the stipUla-
ton entered into Thursday between the
he
attorneys who have been here in confer
ence over the suits. This stipulation in
cluded nearly all the matters which are
in the agreement signed yesterday. Win
the exception that the selection OF TIE
case to be used as test was left TO the
railroad attorneys I'm Kansas City WITH
the understanding that II they found int
the Missouri. Oklahoma and Gulf Ea'.-
way case. decided b. JudEc HOOK CON
tanned all the elements Eecessar! % 4
thorough presentation of the case Il
should be selected for the appeal TO tire
Supreme Court.
The selection OF the Missouri case IS a
concession on the part OF the railways to
the governments desire for a speedy
the laws validity.
Prsfesred Larger Road.
The railways preferred some cthc- cass
involving larger interests, longer mileage
and a greater diversity OF contracts ana
had suggested that the Santa Fe or linton
Pacific cases now pending in Kansas CO.
before Judge Pollock would be broader in
scope and more suitable TO a general cl-
tack upon the law. 1t is und derstoOd. h, ~
ever, that the agreement reached ycstcr-
day will permit the railways TO file thCi-
arguments in such manner as 10 include
all the objections to the law and thev
will not be confined to the statement vt
fact IN the case heard by Judge Hook.
Attorney General Gregory was Intensely
pleased over the outcome Of the confer
ence between railway lawyers and the as
sistants of his ofiCe and reafhTmed his
belief that il will be possible to obtain
a decision from the Supreme Court before
the first or the year.
II is the purpose OF the Attorney Cen
erals Office to allow all the other cases
now rending in the Federal court IN
which the law is attacked TO remain "A
statu quo pending action by the Supreme
Court in the Missouri Oklahoma and GUit
case.