The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-20

Concuring In the main rrincir!c$
rnunciatcd hy tho majority. Justice
Mckcnnu expressed the opinion lnh' inc
law IS an hours Of service ana not =
wage fixing statute. lie also suSEcsted
increase Of railroad revenue probably
would b. provided if wage increases re-
suited.
The dissenting opinions--IuStices Ray
and Mclieynolds delivering individual
views and Justice litnHy and Van Dc
Nrnter Joining in the announcement
cariously asserted that the AdamSon
act il void because beyond constitutional
powers OF congress. because 1t takes
railroads property without Que process
IF law. or because t Is not IN hours oil
labor statute nor legitimate rcgu!t-
ton nt commerce.
The pissenters.
Justices pitucy and Van DeNcntrr de-
MED that congress has power I" fix
WAGES Of common carriers employees
a power upheld hy the majority. Jus
tice Day did not admit or deny Surh
uowcr dissenting because. i" said. the
law Illegally takes railroad revenues
and gives them +" III" trH!nnirn u!
arbitrary, Illegal congressional fiat.
In upholdinE Tie statute, III" majority
reversed Federal Judge Hooks decree
cnjolning it's enforcement ana di!iniSS"h
the railroads test suit leaving tn" led
rr:ll government Tree To eufUrCn :hr
statute under its stringent n"na ties;
Dismissal IF about 800 other railroad
Injunction suits pressing al which Was
suspended under agreement between the
government and the rOndS. Viii follow
as Il matter OF course.
The Wage Increase.
The Wage increase sustained dates
hack to january when III" AdanlS"n
act WAS made effective. railroads have
been krrpInG account OF iraiumcnS
wages du. for prompt payment npUn to-
DAYS decision. The temporary wage in
crrascs are rifertIv" under TIE law I'M
I'll the GncthaiS'' commission reports.
while the futIr" wage scale under per
lnancnt S-huur day standard VIII await
either private ar congressional action
after the report.
To Seek Rate Increase.
That the railroads Will aSl: either con-
ErcSS ar the Interstate Commerce Com
mission u authorize rate increases 10
meet the Increased WAC" COSTS "n;aiied
has been plainly indicated through all
stages of the controversy.
Attoncr General Gregory said tonight
tho courts finding WAS naturally graft
fyinE to the government. and added
The drriSina dISp"s.S Of TN" iarGe
questions Immediately involved Hnd
viii likely have Il hearing on other
issues which may develop.
Means End of Strikes.
KANSAS cry. No. March l".--Flr
AdaiuSOn law decision h%. HE supreme
ruurt means Ia" cad 81 all strikes in
stat, service. ia the opinion Of Frank
Iagcrman. special government attorney
IN the Missouri. oklahoma and Gulf
l:ailrnaI case. which led up Ia i0-day.S
ruling. This probably WIFI h- done. Mr.
IIaurrmaU d"CiFr"d III Il statement -
SIr, here let" to-day, by tn" c!Upuw'r-
iug Of Suinr body. $IIch AS The Interstate
Commerce Commission. t. %cttl" any
such labor d:Spui" that may ariS".
Tho public is :" b" c"ncra; ulHtcd ON
this drci.iuu." in" statement reads. II:
evidently means that tn" ra!!r"nda and
their employees; are "u&HS god in - public
service the great interest e; the pub
M, is to SEE. that trains ar" Kept in mo
lion This requires nirH rs w"! Is GU
zines and ,ar>. Th,>" m"n must h"
efficient =" H." ~ requires health t.:
bod. and .,uul"u.n3rnl Of mind. IN
reasonable hours ai.t lark OF fair pay
inlrair III" health :nh breed discomfort
1T is not. however, u un"-Sldrd proTO-
sition. Til" men. having devoted ihcm-
selves with the railroads /" this public
service. mast Il" thor part.
..Th"Y-Gnr-. The movement OF trains
must int L.. stopped - such C"utr"ver-
S;"s II one arises, and both parties
cannot agrcc. congress can keep. trains
moving 10y fixing tn" wages aTh work
!,:l; conditions, just as II can settle pub
liz, rCntruNrrirS as Ia rates L. hc charged
and $crNiC" I" hc rendered t. shippers
and passengers.
'.'rLn logical result ur"lrthiy VIII be
the empowering "f *uIHr tribunal. Hike
i he Interstate Commerce" commission, Ia
settle labor disputes. This would end
strikes in Interstate industrial work
and give III" men a tribunal from Which
they always could obtain Justice