The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-03-23
UPHOLDS
ADANSON LAW
Elght-HOur Act Held Valid;
Vote 5 TO 4.
MEiI WILL GET BACK PAY

Supreme Court Decides That Con-
gross Has the Power to Keep Com
mence open--Wage Increase Dates
Back TO January 4.
Washington, March 20.--The su.
preme court In an epoehial decision
holding congress to be clothed with
all the power necessary 10 keep open
the channels OF Interstate commerce,
sustained the Adamson law as CON
stitutionhl and enforceable in every
feature. The court was divided in its
decision 8 TO T.
The immediate effect Of the decision
will be to fix permanent eight-hour
basic day in computing wage scales
on interstate railroads for which a.
nationwide strike twice has been
threatened and 10 give, effective from
Jan. this year, increases in wages
TO trainmen OF about 20 per cent at a
cost TO the railroads estimated at from
100000, 600 10 s50,00O,OO0 year.
The court through Chief Justice
White declared both carriers and their
employees. engaged In business
charged with a public interest, sub
ject to the right Of congress TO com,
pulsorarily arhitrate dispute AFFECT.
ing the operating OF that business.
whatever would be the right Of an
employe engaged in private business
10 demand such wages such as he de
sires. to leave the employment II he
does not get them. and by concert &C.
ton TO agree with others to leave the
same conditions said the opinion,
such rights are necessarily subject
10 limitation when employment is ac-
oepted in business charged with
public interest and as to which the
power TO regulate commerce by con
gress applied. and the resulting right
10 AK in case OF disagreement and
dispute standard OF wages as we
have seen necessarily obtained
In delivering the opinion the chief
Justice departed at this point from
his written text 10 emphasize the posi-
ton OF men operating trains In a time
OF national emergency by comparing
them 10 soldiers facing an enemy.
Coming on the heels OF the conces'
sion OF the eight.hour basic day by
the railroads at New York. to avert
the threatened strike. the decision is
regarded as largely supplanting that
agreement and also removing for all
time. through the broadcast interpreta-
ton of congressional authority out
lined by the court. the probability OF
future transportation paralysis
Joining In with the chief Justice In
sustaining the law were Justices Nc
Kenna and Holmes-his Immediate
successors in point OF service-and
Justices Brandeis and Clarke, junior
members. Dissenting, for various
reasons. were Justices Day. Vande-
yanter, Pitney and McReynolds.
The dissenting opinions--Justice
Dav and McReynolds delivering indi-
yidual views and Justices Pitney and
yandeyanter joining in one announce
ment--variously asserted that the
| AOamHOn hCl- 10 NOiN bNNhe'N ~ 49,
constitutional powers OF congress, pc
cause II takes railroads property with
out due process Of law or because It
Is not an hours OF labor statute nor
legitimate regulation of commerce
Concurring in the main principle
enunclated by the majority, Justice
McKeena expressed the opinion that
the law is an hours OF service and not
wage fixing statute, He also sug'
gested Increase of railroad revenue
probably would be provided II wage
increases resulted
The wage increase sustained dates
back to Jan. /, when the Adamson act
was made effective. Railroads have
been keeping account Of trainmens
wages due for prompt payment upon
the decision. The temporary wage In
oreases are effective under the law I'M
I'll the Goethals commission reports
while the future wage scales under
permanent eighthours day standard
viii await either private or congress
s.t .n4t.,, nftax tha rapOrf