The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-08
ADAMSON LAW
CONSTITUTIONALITY
Came UP for Argument Before United
States Supreme Court--When De-
cision viii Be Announced is
Problematical

Washington, Jan arguments ovel
the constitutionaiity OF the Adamson Law
came up to-day in the supreme court
A large array OF attorneys for the rail.
roads and counsel for the government
were on hand for the last stage of the
battle over the validity of the act OF
Congress last September when the coun.
try was threa tened with nation wide
railway strike.
First upon the courts call of cases
to-day, following its three weeks re-
cess, was the Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf
railroad case, chosen by the department
of justice and the railroads for the test
1t was not expected that the arguments
would be concluded before tomorrow
When the court will announce de.
Icision is problematical, but it is expect
ed within a few weeks as the court has
consented to expedite the proceedings
and place the test case ahead of all 9TH
ers upon to-day's bill The case was
appealed last November, from the de-
cision of Federal Judge Hook of Kan
sas City, Mo, that the law was "un-
constitutional, null and void"
! The railroad lawyers were headed by
Walker d. Hines. Arthur Miller rep
resented specially the Missouri, Okla
homa & Gulf road. John G. johnson of
Philadelphia also appeared for the rail-
roads.
In charge of the defense of the Adam
son act for the department of Justice
were Solicitor General John w Davis,
Assistant Attorneys General +. Marvin
Underwood and G. Carroll Todd, and
Frank Hagerman of Kansas City, special
assistant to the attorney general
The railroad brotherhoods were not
formal parties to to-day's test suit;
Judge Hook dismissed the Missouri, Okla
homa & Gulf railroads bill as to union
officers named defendants.
To-day's arguments. technically, were
upon appeal of United States Attorney
Francis M. Wilson of Kansas City from
Judge Hooks decision in an injunction
suit brought by Alexander New and
Henry c. Ferris, receivers for the Mis-
souri,, Oklahoma &Gulf, to enioin en-
foreement of the law Actually. how
ever, the case will determine applica
ton of the law of all railroads.
By stipulation, signed by railroad
and department of justice counsel, all
other litigation over the Adamson act
has been suspended pending the SUI
preme courts decision. The railroads
agree meanwhile to keep special account
of wages due employees under the new
law, to insure payment if the act is sus-
tanned as constitutional or given partial |
application.
The principal provision of the Adam
son act, which became effective January
| and whose operation was suspended /
by the present legal proceeding, declares |
eight hours shall, in contract for labor /
andservice. be deemed a days work for
the purpose of reckoning compensation
for services of all employees employed by
any common carrier by railroads
actually engaged in any capacity in the
operation of trains"
The law was passed by the House
/, by the Senat on September
,, and signed by President Wilson twice.
!, by the Senate on September
general strike of railroad brotherhoOds
previously ordered for Labor day, Sep
ember 4. was called of.
That the law is not in reality an eight
iour statute, but wage increase sct
: contended by the railroads In, the
resent case it is also contended that