The sun., 1916-11-17
TEST OF 5 HOUR LAW
IN COURT THURSDAY
Continued from First Pooe.

will be necessary for them to do this. az
they must design before January I a
series Of report forms. operating charts.
wage scales. &c, that are to form part
Of their observations.
There Is felt, too. the likelihood that
the President to relieve the doubt about
the meaning Of the law-the doubt that
constitutes one OF the main premises in
the injunction suits-may ask Congress
to vest In the commission complete
power for operating the law for It's trial
period.
The roads feel none too secure In the
its definition Of the law already set down
before the preliminary decision on the
Injunction suits.
Should the commission fail to gain the
necessary power. should It be compelled
to remain Inactive during the progress
Of the suit II Is not intended by the
Fe 'eral authorities ISat there shall be
any lack OF observation.
C0ngress May Hear From Wilson.
Congress. 40 the railroads believe. will
receive q suggestion from the President.
the Attorney General or the Interstate
Commerce Commission for the reception
BY the latter body Of the conditions OF
railroad operation during the time the
decision hangs fire. This surveillance is
made necessary by the fact that should
the law ultimately be declared consti-
tutional the trainmen will receive It's
benefits from the date originally set.
january 1. 1917. These benefits would
be based entirely on the reports made BY
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Several Of the biggest railroad men
in the country hope that the Adamson
law will be found constitutional. They
have expressed this opinion In the con-
ferences that have been held here and
in other cities recently However, their
recommendation not TO fight the act has
been voted down; the majority OF rail-
road men cannot overcome their bitter
ness because OF the method OF Its en-
actment.
The men who want its CONSTITUTIONAL H.
ity sustained expect that. as natural
consequence. the regulation Of railroad
wages by Congress will follow. This Is
n result they pray for devoutly: II would
keep from them the ceaseiess threats OF
strikes. II would hold away fom them
the everlasting mediations. arbitrations
and other conferences. Such law. they
believe. ought to be a fitting recompenst
for the Adamson law.
Ramop OF 4. r. Of l.. Alliance.
There have been reports Of an ali.
ance between the American Federation
| OF Labor and the big Four" brother
hoods No such alliance has yet beer
| formed, but there Is every evidence ar
entente will be established within few
days This impending combination ha,
been Indicated in the Arm indorsemen
| by the American Federation Of Labor a
| Its Baltimore gathering Of the eigh
Ia. stxa A<xl
chiefs have promised to address tn,
! A. F. OF l..
Now the news comes that Samue
Gompers Is to meet with the leaders o
| the big Four In Washington on Sun
day and Monday night. This conference
can have but one object. 1t 10 proba bl,
that when the brotherhood chiefs go be
| fore President Wilson they will repre-
sent the A. r, OF L., as well as theil
| own organizations.
The alliance Is in no way agreeable Il
the hrotherhoods-who have gloried II
the title OF ''aristocrats OF labor" tn,
A. +. OF l.. has never ceased TO inv!,,
| them to amalgamate, but they have re
| fused on every occasion. They hav,
fought out their own battles and hav,
had greater success relatively than tn,
men under Gompers.
Overnight. however. the situation ha,
changed. 1t is the general impression
I In labor that the National Industrial
! Conference Board has AZ Its only pur
| pose the crushing OF unionism. An ac
tual alliance between the conferenc,
hoard and the railroads has not an
! peared thus far. but the brotherhood
| men are certain tho corporation hold
inEs OF railroad directors make then
sympathetic. at least. to the objects o
the new organization. Hence they fee
they must swallow their pride and joir
| with the A. F. Of L.