Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-20
Supreme Court Says Adamson Law Is Valid

WASHINGTON. March 19.-The
majority opinion on the Adamson law
rs delivered by Chief Justice White
of the United states Supreme court
follows:
"Was there power in congress,
under the circumstances existing, to
deal with the hours of work and wages
of railroad employees engaged in inter
state commerce? is the principal
question here to he decided.
Its solution. as well as other ques-
tons which also arise, will be clari-
fled by brief statement of the con-
ditions out of which the controversy
arose.
Two systems controlled in March,
1916, concerning wages of railroad
employment; one an eight hour stand
ard Of work and wages with addi-
tional puy for overtime, governing
ON about - per cent Of the railroads;
the other a stated mileage task of
9ne hundred miles to be performed
dUring ten hours with extra pay for
any excess in force on about S5 per
cent Of the roads.
The organizations representing the
employees OF the railroads in that
month made n formal demand upon
the employers that, as to all engaged
In the movement of trains, except
passenger trains. the 100-mle task
hc fixed for eight hours. provided that
II was not SO done as to lower wages
and provided that an extra allow
anCe for an overtime calculated by
the minute at one and one half times
the rate Of the regular hours service
be established.
Tho demand made this standard
obligatory on the railroads, but op-
tional ON the employees, as it left the
right to the employees to retain their
existing system on any particular
road II they elected to do so. The
terms Of the demand were as follows,
except that on which reserved the
/ option which is I'm the margin and
others, making Article applicable to
yard and switching and hosting
service.
Points Involved.
Article /. (a) In all road service
cne hundred niles or less eight hours
CT less will constitute day except in
passenger service MilAs i'm excess of
/ one hundred will bc paid for at the
same rate.
or less overtime will begin at the eX-
/ piration OF eight hours
"tc) ON runs OF oyer one hundred
miles overtime will begin when tho
time on duty exceeds the miles run
divided by 12is miles per hour.
"(d) All overtime TO be computed
on the minute basis and paid for at
time and one-half times the pro rata
rate.
"Co) No one shall receive less for
eight hours or one hundred miles than
T. int 4
or one hundred miles for the class OF
engine used or for service performed
"t) Time VIII be computed con-
unuously from time required for duty
until release from duty and re>ponsi-
bilitv at end of day or run
THE employers refused the de-
mand and the employees thru their
organization, by concert of action.
took the steps to cali a general strike
OF al railroad employees thruout tho
whole country.
THE president Of the United States
invited a conference between the par
ties. lie proposed arbitration. Thc
employers agreed to IL and tho en-
lloyes rejected IT, The pi esidcnt then
suggested the eight-hour standard Of
work and wages, The employers re.
lected this ANA the employees accepted
IT, BEFORE the disagreement was re-
solved the representatives. of the en-
rloyes abruptly called a senoral strike
thruout the whole country, fixed for
an early day.
Calls on Congress.
The president. stating his efforts
o. relieve the situation and pointing
out that no resources at law were
at his disposal for compulsory arhi-
tration to save the con mcrclal dis
aster, the property injury and the per.
scnal suffering OF all, not to say the
people, H the strike was permitted,
asked congress 10 pass the eignt-nour
standard OF work and wages he fixed
by law and that an official body be
created 10 observe, during a reason
able time, the operation of the legsla-