Evening star., 1916-09-01
RAILWAYS TO TEST
8-HOUR-DAY LAW
May Ask U. S. Supreme Court
to Pass on Proposed
Legislation.
AGREE 1T WOULD DELAY
A STRIKE OF TRAlNMEN
Notwithstanding This View, Execu'
tives Prepare to Cope With a
Possible Walkout.

CHICAGO, September l.
While railroad officials OF the
country generally agreed today
that passage by Congress of the
proposed eight-hour bill would
avert the strike set by the four
brotherhoods of trainmen for
Monday, many were of the opin-
ion that the railroads would de-
cline to accept the law without a
contest in the United States
Supreme Court.
Question Constitutionality
Counsel for the various railroads are
said to have informed the presidents OF
the roads that the Adamson bill is
patiently unconstitutional as being con-
fiscatory and class legislation.
"Our lawyers" said E. P. Ripley. pres
ident of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe, informally and individually have
expressed lHt oDlfflti lIidt liC sAdaiiooi
bill, if passed, will crumble at the first
legal blast If the bill passes the presi.
dents and counsel will confer formally
as to legal procedure. 1t is illogical te
assume that the railroads will abandon
their principles merely because they
are attacked through Congress. instead
of directly by the brotherhoods."
r. H. Ashton, president of the Chi
cago and Northwestern. said that the
Ie, oh a a w
he did not believe it would stand the
test of the courts.
Preparing for Strike.
A statement was issued at publicity
headquarters of the railroads that
preparations for a strike Monday were
proceeding without regard to pros
poets of congressional action. Off,
cials of the four railroad brotherhoods
began massing their forces here today
to direct the threatened strife.
T. A. Gregg, vice president OF the
from Roanoke, Va, and James Muir
dock, Vice president Of the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen, and Timothy
Shea, vice president of the Brotherhood
of Railroad Firemen, are to reach
here later today.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
road was notified today that the Broth
erhood of Railway Conductors on the
section of that system between Chi
cago and the Missouri river had voted
not to strike.
Statement Of Managers.
THE managements of the railways
are disregarding reports from Wash
ington regarding the possibility of the
strike being prevented and are pro-
ceeding exactly as they would IL they
were certain that it was going to oc.
cur September A." says the statement is.
sued by the railroads. I'VE will pro.
ceed in this manner and advise the pub
lie to do the same until the order for
the strike has been formally revoked.
TT will be recalled that for about
eight months the railroad manage
ments have been warning the govern
ment and the people of the United
States that the danger of a nation wide
strike was real and serious. On the
other hand, soothing assurances have
throughout this time been given by Of
ficers of the United States government
and even by spokesmen of the labor
brotherhoods. The public now knows
that the railways were right.
THE leaders of the railway brother
hoods are playing a desperate game
and, as they say now that they will not
recall their strike order until they
wiring from Congress the legislation
they demand. for anybody to act on
the assumption that there will be no
strike would be foolish and might
prove to be extremely unfortunate.
Embargoes Going Into Effect.
"The orders which the arrangements
of the railways have issued placing
embargoes on the shipment of most
kinds of freight are rapidly going
into effect. and shippers, consignees
and the public are beginning to feel
the results of the strike without 1t
having actually occurred.
'1t should be fully recognized, how
ever, that the railways in taking these
steps are not merely protecting their
own interests, but that in a larger
measure they are protecting the in
terests of the public.
If the strike occurs 1t win be much
better for all concernd for goods which
In the absence of embargoes would be
shipped to be left in the hands of their
owners. where they can properly care
for them.
1T Is hoped that travellers as well as
shippers will act on the warning of the
railways and not start upon journeys
which cannot be finished before the
strike order goes into effect.
THE railways believe that in stand
ing out for arbitration even at the cost
of a strike. they have been trying to
protect not only their own interests, but
those of the public.
Public Support Claimed.
I'm view of the expressions of the
press. of commercial organizations and
of many thousands of individuals
throughout the United States. the rail-
ways are confirmed in the belief that
the public wanted them to stand firm,
and they believe they would violate