The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-16
Congress Viii Be Asked to
Amend and Revise Measure
to Strengthen 1t
SWITCHMEN'S CASE MAY
LEAD TO SETTLEMENT
Same Questions Involved as
Caused Trouble With Rail-
road Brotherhood. - Being
Arbitrated

Washington. Nov. i5.--In anticipa-
railroads upon the constitutionality
of the Adamson eight-hour lew and
the administration is understood 10
have agreed upon y plan Of pAssing
additional Legislation at the coming
session OF Congress in order to insure
the chances of the law becoming Of
! fective. This new legislation viii be
framed to met the constitutional OBJ
je' tions to the law In Its presant form
ana will be a reviaion and streng then
ing OF the Adarlson act.
The President Is said by his closest
/ advisers to be thoroughly In earnest
In his desire to have the pr'ncip pies
Elm bodied in the Adamson act become
operative and all of the influence OF
the administration viii be behind the
proposed changes In the law. which
, will be introduced and passed while
the Democrats stiii hold the majority
in Congress
May he Conflict Of Opinion.
| It is understood here that the rail
ways plan to file suits against the law
in every judicial district IN the coun-
try. This would mean such \ multi
pi!city of suits that IL would be prac-
tically impossible to have them dis
posed OF before the first of tho year
when the law is to become effective
/. Is also recognized that there will
be conflicting opinions from the Judges
of the different districts. which would
further tend to muddle the situation
and operate against the enforcement
/ Of the law
i So many of these suits have already
boer fled that the Department OF
Justice has felt obliged to obtain
counsel to help IN tho preparation o!
, the governments case. 1t was an
nounced today by the department tina,
Frank Hagerman. OF Kansas City. has
/ been retained as special counsel fol
this purpose.
| Hope was expressed In official cir.
cles today that the arbitration pro-
! ceeaings now being held IN New York
/ between the switchmen's unions and
representatives of thirteen Railroad
may lead to q settlement OF the points
at issue and thereby avert the threat.
ened strike. 1t will be remembered
that the switchmen did not Join with
| the other brotherhoods in the con
! troversy which led to the snactmen
| of the sdamson act but tho question
involved and now under arbitration
: is exactly the same that II the sight.
| hour day and time and = half fol
! Owe time.
May Lead to setticment.
A member OF the board of mediation
and Cancellation expressed the view
today that the entire controversy may
be settled RS q result Of this hear
ing. Under the law the report of thu
arbitration board 10 to be hled in tn,
Federal Court in New York within
thirty days from last Monday. wher
tho hearings began. Ten days will
be allowed for the aiings Of appeals
and then the decision Of the court will
be given from which no appeal car
| be had. This makes It possible t
/ have a decision on the points under
! arbitration within the period before
the law is to go into effect
/ The belief Is expressed that both the
! railways and the brotherhoocs may
be willing to settle their oontrovers,
I upon the basis Of the decision made
! in the swttchmen's cas-,
| General George w. i,ethals. chair.
man of the commiss = named by The
President to inve Zig 'e the feasibility