The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-20
BrOtherhOOds Not Altogether
Pleased With Decision.
Establishes Right by Congress
to Protect Public Interest.
WHO PAYS $50, OOO, 900 EXTRA
Increase Freight Rates Next
Step Contemplated by Lines.
Committees of Both Camps In
Final Conference Today.


New York. March 20.-The Adam
son law decision clearly establishes
the right of the government to pre-
vent strikes, railroad managers con-
tended in a statement issued today. A
sharp cleavage of opinion has devei-
oped over this question, brotherhood
chiefs contending that the ruling of
the supreme court does not give the
government such power.
The Switchmen's Union of North
America, which was awarded ten-hour
pay for nine-hour day by an arbi-
tration board recently, will be taken
care of" when their present contract,
signed for one year, expires. according
to another statement from the man
ayers office
Establishes Power Beyond Doubt.
An official spokesman, for the ma
tlonal conference committee of rail-
road managers authorized the follow
ing statement:
The chief thing that the country
mas gained out of this decision is that
it establishes beyond doubt that the
government thru congress has full
power to prevent railroad strikes. The
opinion as read by Chief Justice White
makes 1t plain that employees of in
terstate carriers, because of the public
character of the railroads are affect
ed with a public interest and that
they nave no more right to strike and
tie up the commerce, of the country
than have soldiers and sailors
This same opinion was recently ex-
pressed by Judge Clements a men,
Der of the interstate commerce COM
mission. when he said that railroad
employees are affected with a public
interest shat they can no more ignore
than can the carriers.
President Expressed Same idea.
THE same idea was expressed by
President Wilson in a public speech
he made at Shadow Lawn during the
campaign when he said:
America is never going to say to
any individual you must work wheth-
er you want to or not but it is privi-
legged to say to an organization OF
persons you must not interrupt the
national life without consulting us
TT is understood that Secretary
Lane who was chiefly instrumental in
bringing about the settlement believes
that this broad opinion from the court
as to the public duties of the em-
ployes is the most important thing
gained"
New York. March 2O.-with the
possibility of a railroad strike defi-
nitely averted, both railway managers
and brotherhood chiefs turned their
efforts today towards a more minute
study of the situation they have
brought about.
the brotherhoods are undisputed VIC
tors but both camps are today trying
10 salvage as much possible from
the work of the past few days.
Increased freight rates seem sure
to be demanded by the railroads to
compensate them for the $4,000, 900
"a year increased wages. Expert esti-
mates have shown by bowling to the
will of the employees the railroads
must expend this sum annually to
meet the revised pay roll.
Study Court Decision.
In the other camp-the brother
hood chiefs-action is directed at the
best possible application of the Adam
son eight-hour law and one that will
prevent the law from legislating out
strikes of employees in "a business of
public interest"
The brotherhood chiefs and their
counsel sat late into the night study
ing the law the supreme court de-
cIared constitutional. The brother
hoods are not altogether pleased with
the courts decision.
One part of the law specifically
states the right possessed by employees
of "a business charged with public
interest. and as to which the power to
regulate commerce by congress ap-
Piled is necessarily subject to Eimi-
tations.'
Don't Believe II Stops Strikes.
w. G. Lee, trainman chief. declared
he does not believe this section pro-
hibits strikes.
I'VE are public servants he said.
But we are not government ern-
ployes. Therefore L see nothing in
the supreme courts decision thai
would prevent striking.
Eight hundred separate agreements
are to be effected today. The brother
hood chiefs are to meet the railway
managers conference committee in
Grand Central terminal today to take
up this work.
w s. Carter. head of the engineers
is en- route back to St. Louis, where
he left his dying daughter to attend
the conference here. A telegram late
last night summoned him back.
Compute Back Fay.
1t is estimated that the employees
will receive between 100000 and
s13, 000, 900. There was some talk OF
leaving the computation to the eight
hour commission headed by Major
General c. w. Cocktails.
Freight service on all trunk lines
has been more or less deranged BY
epnba rgoes declared in anticipation OK
a strike. Nearly all the railroads lifted
their embargoes yeste rday as soon as
they heard of the settlement A re-
turn to normal conditions on some