Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-11-22
Government Ask Immediate
Decision in Railroad
Injunction Case.
TO SUPREME COURT
AT ONCE, THE PLAN
'DeIay Harmful to Public,
Railroads and Employees
Petition Says.

" ANSAS CITY. Mo. Nov. 21.-
IN Legal skirmishing IN the fight of
the railroads of the United States
against the Adsmson cight-hour law
was brought to "A sudden issue today
by motion filed by the government
in the United States district court
here, which 1t is expected viii result
i'm "a decision on the COnstitutionality
of the law by the supreme court of
the United States before January !
when the law is to 20 into effect.
Delay To BE Avoided.
prolonged. unnecessary ana scat
tered litigation should. If possible. he
avoided otherwise injury may result
TO the public and the railroads and
their employees" the government says
IN its motion as n reason for It's
action.
The governments motion which was
directed against Alexander New and
Henry G. Ferriss, receivers for the
Missouri, Oklahoma ~ Gulf railroad,
embodied two distinct requests of the
| court as follows
What Government Asks.
1.-The government asks an i'm
! mediate decision on the Injunction
Missouri. oklahoma Il Gulf, in which
the Adamson law was attacked as
unconstitutional and an order re-
quested fOrbidding its enforcement
The government contends that the in
junction petition should be dismissed
because the law is constitutional.
therefore leaving the railroad no basis
in equity for its action
Should the law he held uncon-
II 40
the court direct the receivers for the
railroad to Join tho government in
getting the case advanced Immediate
ly to the supreme court of the United
States for final decision.
Hook to Decide Today.
Judge William G. Hook sitting in
the case. took the motion under ad-
viscment and announced he will rem
der decision tomorrow.
While the governments action was
taken today I'm the case of only one
| railroad. every rail system of trans
pCrtstion in this country is affected
by the case and eventually may be
partiCipg nts In IT, Judge Hook stated
from the bench that If the motiO5
We're granted he would require the
receivers of the Missouri, oklahoma K
Gulf to invite the legal representatives
Of all the railroads in the United
States to take part I'm the proceedings
before the highest court in the land,
which will decide finally whether or
not the law is to be enforced.
Should the law be held constitu-
tional by Judge Hook IT is expected
II at the railroS ds will appeal from the
decision in favor of the government
in an effort to stop the laws decreos
lefCrc January /. In any case the
gov Nernmcnt plans 20 have tho con
stitutionaltv Of the law before the
surrCme court when thai tribunal re-
convenes December I and to urge that
it he advanced for immediate hear
ing.
Why NJ, o. q e.. Chosen.
Action in the case was taken on
the injunction petition Of tho Mis-
scUri. Otlahma x Gulf rather Than
on similar petitions Of scores Of other
roads thruout tho United States be-
cause the Missouri. oklahoma Il Gulf
Is in receivcrship and under the di-
rection Of the federal court. This en-
abIed the government to ask the CO.
operation Of the railroads IN obtaining
final decision Of the case before
January l. This assistance can he or
dered by the court and, as Indicated
by Judge Hook, will be SO ordered II
| he decides to grant the motion.
Had the government proceeded
against a railroad not In receivership,
CONTINUED ON PAGE NINE