The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-08
Arguments on Constitution
ality of Adamson Bill to
Avert Strike Come Up
RAILROADS OF NATION
ARE WAITING OUTCOME
Administration. to Renew Ef-
forts to Force Early Action
. On President Legislative
Program

Washington. Jan. THE renewal
threat of a nationwide railroad strike
and the merits of the controversy
between the railroads OF the country
and their operating employees will to-
morrow become the subject of strenu-
Gus government effort.
The United States Supreme Court
will hear arguments in the suit
of the Adamson eight-hour law which
President Wilson forced through Con-
gress to avert the threatened strike
last fall. The administration will re-
new It's efforts to force early action
by the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee of President Wilson's program Of
additional railroad Legislation Rep
resentative Adamson. author OF the
eight-hour law will begin a fight to
secure consideration in the House for
his new railroad bill, including COM
bination eight-hour day and compul-
sorry investigation strike law
Present Controversy Serious
With the government prepared to
make strenuous efforts to meet the
situation, Warren S. Stone. chief of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers In Washington TO see that
the brotherhood interests are safe
guarded, declared tonight that the
present controversy between the rail-
roads and the brotherh Gods was seri-
GUS,
He said that he could not speak
authoritatively or finally without con-
sultinz the leaders OF the other broth
erhoods, but that he believei a strike
order was "by no means an impossi-
biiity"
President Stone. Of the engineers
and H E. Lewis, legislative agent of
the same organiZati ton. Will make a
fight against the Presidents railroa
program and against the new Adam
son bill.
The brotherhoods are unalterably op-
posed to the proposal In both the
Presidents measures and the Adam
son bill which would suspend strikes
pending investigation by the Fed
eral government. They characterize
the provision as imposing "involun-
tary Servitude" on the men.
Oppose Straight Eight Hour Day"
IT is expected that the hrotherhoods
will also oppose the straight eight
hour day" provision Of the new
Adamson bill which would dtsrega I'd
entirely the question OF wages. The
present laws insures the railroad
workers their present ten hours pay
for eight hours work.
President Stone said that the rail-
road men would be represented by
COUNCIL IN the case before the SUI
preme Court tomorrow, although he
will attend to hear the arguments.
The test case Is one in which the Dis
trict Court for the Western District
OF Missouri granted an injunction to
the receivers of the Missouri. Okla
District Attorney Francis NJ Wilson
from enforcing the Adamson law. The
lower court held that the law was un-
constitutional.
The railroads which had brought
numerous suits throughout the United
States agreed to hold the other suits
in allegiance and accept the Missouri
case as a test. As a result pra ctically
all of the railroads of the country will
be represented in tomorrow's argyll
ment. which WILL be conducted for the
roads by Walker D. Hines Chairman
OF the committee of counsel for the
various lines.
Special assistant to the attorney
general. Frank Hagerman. Assistant
Attorney General Underwood, assis-
tant to the attorney-general, G. Car
roll Todd and Solicitor General Davis
will appear for the government.