Bisbee daily review., 1917-01-09
Arguments Started and it Will Take Until Wednesday to Complete Them-To Be Taken Under Advisement.
DECISION EXPECTED
 WITHIN A FEW WEEKS
Court Allows Attorney Eight Hours to Argue Instead of the Usual Time of Three Hours.
(By Review Leased Wire)

By ReNleW LedSeQ W NlIeD
 WASHINGTON, Jan. S,-The test to determine the constitutonality of the Adamson law, enacted last September, when a general strike threatened came up in the supreme court today. Argument will continue until We'd nesday and decision is expected with in a few weeks. The question whether congress has power to regulate hours of service and wages was brought up today. In opening defense of the law, for the department of justice Solicitor General Davis declared it regulated both hours of service and wages and contended that congress has authority to regulate both. He asked annulment of the decision of Circuit Judge Hook at Kansas City at the test case of the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway. holding the law void.
 Although three hours is the usual time allotted for argument of case, the court granted an extension today to eight hours, equally divided between the federal and railroad counsel. To morrowWalker D. Hines, chairman of the railroads general committee of counsel and John G. Johnson, of Phil adelphia, will speak for the carriers.
 Solicitor General Davis told the court that it reached the heights of i'm imagination" to say that the primary object of congress in passing the law
 snH n asserted that Elisha Lee, the railroads spokesman throughout the strike con- troversy, often had admitted that the law is workable, now denied by the railroads.
 When Mir Davis cited congress- dis turbance of railroad contracts in pass ing the federal employers liability act. upheld as valid Justice Day asked:
 Do you claim the same power in fixing rates?'
 We do." MT. Davis replied,
 "I can't follow that argument" inter- jected Chief Justice White, ''the sub ject is regulating hours of service. The government has regulated commerce for ages, so to speak. It was held in the case of the employers liability act that the regulation was valid. That was no decision that the government has the power to regulate wages"
 That is what we contend for" re- joined MT. Davis.
 That's the logic I cannot follow responded the chiew justice.
 The solicitor general argued then that if congress can regulate the rela- tion of master and servant, of railroads and employees, it also can regulate wages.
 That is the most vital of all" he continued If employers are under paid and discontented, safety of com merce in charge of employees is affect ed. So wages have a direct relation to rates, investment ndexpense of ser vice"
 Your proposition goes further than that" the chief justice interposed, rlt- ing as an example freight shipped by a grocer. "Do you intend to say that wages of all persons making these goods are subject to regulation?
 "No, we won't go that far" said MT. Davis, and pointed out that congress has the power to prescribe wha: rail roads shall pay for various things locomotive, lands, etc?" asked Justice McReynolds.
 a.I am not so sure that congress has not that power" MT. Davis replied.
 "All authority is dependent upon its reasonable and not arbitrary use" Jus tice Day suggested that congress's power is limited by constitutional pro hibition against confiscation.
 Congress power to regulate issue Of railroad stocks and bonds," MT. Da- wis continued, "and to say what price railroads shall pay for credit is being advanced in and outside of congress- He added that under the decision in the Debs case congress has authority to prevent railroad strikes and obstru- ction of interstate commerce. He de
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