Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-11-03
LABOR LAWYER SAYS 5
HOUR LAW IS GOLD BRICK
M. L. Clawson, the Leading Attorney for Organ
lied Labor in Indiana, Gives the Railroad
Men Something to Think About.
Indianapolis, indiana. Oct. %.

Indianapolis, Indiana, Oct. %. -
The Adamson law, purporting TO
raise the wages Of interstate train
operating employees and to establish
a standard eight hour workday,
is q gold brick" according to an
Interpretation OF its provisions In an
opinion rendered by Milton L. Claw
son, the leading attorney for organic
ed labor In Indiana. Attorney Claw
sons opinion holds:
That the Adamson law assures the
railway employees ten hours pay for
eight hours work and pro rata pay
for overtime only from Jan. 1, 1917,
until thirty days after the investi-
eating commission submits its report
next summer.
That under the Adamson law a
railway employe who completes his
100 mile run in five hours, for exam
pie, is entitled to receive only five
eighths of his present pay.
That under the Adamson law q
railway employ must work at least
eight hours to obtain his present pay,
That after the expiration of the
investigation period the wages OF
railway employees will be subject to
adjustment by negotiation between
the railway companies and the un-
IONS
In view of the relations Of Attorney
Clawson to the unions which he has
represented in many notable wage
and other industrial disputes his opin~
ion has proved a bombshell in the
ranks of organized labor in Indiana
and adjoining states and in the camp
of the democratic leaders. 1t has
been issued by the Locomotive En-
gineers and Conductors Mutual Bell
eft association OF Detroit for the in
formation of its members.
On the question of how long the
employees are to receive ten hours
pay for eight hours work the Claw
son opinion says:
THE wage provided for in section
shall continue-for a period not to
exceed eleven months after the pres
ident has appointed his commission
for investigation, and for no longer
period.
After the expiration of the thirty
days beyond the report of the COM
mission there is no standard rate of
wage mentioned in either section /
or section OF the act, and this law
does not govern II"
Railway employees making runs Of
100 miles In less than ten hours are
now paid on the mileage basis Many
passenger runs of 100 miles are
made In five hours and the employees
now receive ten hours pay for the
five hours work. On the effect OF
the Adamson law upon the the pay
of such employees the Clawson opin-
ion says:
"If trainman shall run 100 miles
In five hours. and eight hours is the
basis for reckoning his compensation
we are of the opinion that under the
Adamson law after the maximum
time of eleven months has expired
there Is no rate OF wage provided
and it is wholly a matter of negotia
tion between the railways and theil
employees: and we are of the opinion
that within the eleven months as {
maximum period the trainman WHIT
travels 100 miles In five hours vii
receive his proportionate part OF th'
eight hour staH1ard pay.
1T Is true that section provides
that the compensation for the stand
ard eight hour day shall not be re
duced below the present standar,
days wage. but that simply mean
that IL the man works the standar'