The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-11-25

Kansas City, Mo-, Nov. 22.@The
Adamson eight hour law was held
unconstitutional here today by Judge
william c. Hook in federal district
court. The court made it plain TINT
the decision was not based on ms.
ture consideration Of the merits OF
the case but on ~expediency desired hy
all parties at interest because of the
necessity of a final decision by The
mpreme court of the United States
before January 1, next. when the law
goes into effect.
The legal moves in the process Of
sending the cas- direct to the hirh-
est court Of the land were somewhat
involved from the lay point OF view
but the lawyers concerned rushed the
matter through with a speed seldom
witnessed in courts Of law. Juat
what action Attorney General Grce-
Dry would take remained a closely
guarded secret until yesterday When
Frank Hagerman. retained as spec;sl
counsel to represent the federal gov
eminent in the suit, suddenly set the
Dali rolling by asking Judge Hook to
Instruct the receiver for the Missou-
RI, oklahoma & Gulf railroad, com.
'plainant In an Injunction suit, to t0in
with the defendant in proceedings
which would consign the case on its
merits to the supreme court. Today
these events followed in court by
agreement:
Counsel for the receivers asked
ina their bill for an injunction be
granted and the Adamson law be
declared null and void.
49, Mr.. Hagerman, for the govern.
.mant. asked the court to dismiss the
hill-and to declare the law constitu-
tional.
8. The court overruled Mr.. Hager..
nan and declared the law invalid.
.. preparation Of q transcript AZ
the evidence for presentation to TIE
supreme court was begun and It was
expected that the mails would deposit
copies IN Washington by Saturday.
g.. Counsel for the receivers weyc
instructed to notify counsel for So
railroa9s OF the moves made here ana
10 ipxi1 observation-disclosures
fore the supreme court.
The present case. in view OF Mr..
Hsssfman. provided all the featufsAH
neGt@ary for q test case. but It va
said by James Dunlap Of the legal
STAFF OF the Atchison. Topeka & Santa
Fe that among laweys there is some
diffeEence on this point. He said that
In some quarters it wps thought per-
haps that n or two additional cases
should be brought to afford wldef
range of inquiry M analysis.
The Missouri, Oklahoma g. Gulf 81
In the hands of a receiver and tia
receiver could do only as directed by
Judge Hook, who has the final say in
the direction Of the roads affairs.
Mr.. Dunlap said that certain addition
al fine phases of the law might de-
velop in a case where the complainant
was independent. g
The case of the Santa Fe is sched-
uled to come up befort Judge Hollock
In federal district court in Kansas
City. Kan. tomorrow. There was
much interest as to what effect, 81
any, Judge Hooks decision would
have on this case. Mr.. Dunlap said
that until the arrival tomorrow OF his
associates he could not predict what
action would be taken. Mr.. Hagef3
a was similarly at sea, although
he said that he saw no reason why eva
cry question involving the Santa Fe
and all other roads could not be set
tied by today's test case.
One result Of the proceedings In
Judge Hooks court was the elimina.
ton of brotherhood chairmen Of Kan
sas as defendants to the action. Uni
led States District Attorney Francis
w. Wilson remained the only defend
ant. q