Evening star., 1917-01-10
ARGUMENTS CLOSED
ON E|GHT-H0UR LAW
Counsel for Government Insists Act
Is Workable-Early Decision
by Court Expected.

| Operation of the Adamson act now
rests with the Supreme Court of the
United States. The test case appealed
| to determine the laws constitutionality
was submitted to the court when the
| before 2 o'clock
The final days hearing was occupied
| exclusively in the defense of the act by
| Frank Hagerman of Kansas City, No.
! special assistant to the Attorney Gen.
eral
| Power of Congress to enact wage
regulatory legislation was vigorously
| maintained as the basic principle OF
the acts defense. He also insisted
that the law is workable and easily
, can be put in operation
Question after question was asked
Mr. Hagerman by virtually all OF the
justices. Chief Justice White dis
claimed any intention to review Con-
gresS' discretionary functions
Authority of Congress to prevent
strikes was inquired into from the
bench and the federal attorney said
his individual view was that Congress
has such power
yesterday. Mr.. Hagerman touched first
upon the power of Congress to regu-
late wages of railroad employees in in =
terstate commerce. This authority is
vigorously maintained by government
counsel in defending the Adamson act
as an incident of constitutional regu-
lation of interstate commerce
Insists Law Is Workable.
Special attention also was given by
the federal counsel to the charge tina f
the Adamson act is unworkable Ry
putting into effect new contracts with
employees on an eight-hour basis,
which. it is contended. are demanded by
the act insist the ends of the law can
be easily attained.
This was the third day of the courts
consideration of the Adamson law. un-
usual time having been allowed for the
hearings. A decision is expected within
few weeks, the test case having been
expedited since its institution in the
Kansas federal court by the Missouri.
Oklahoma and Gulf railroad
Can Operate Temporarily.
Maintaining power of Congress to
pass the law, Mr.. Hagerman said ii can
be operated temporarily just like the
interstate commerce commission tenn
pordTHy regulates rates. rs there any
law of that kind?" asked Justice Nc
Kenna
IT'S done by the interstate commerce
commission in daily practice" said MI.
Hagerman.
You mean that the commission sus-
pends proposed rate and leaves an
old one in effect" suggested Justice
Van Devanter, and Mr.. Hagerman an
swered affirmatively
There's no claim that this law is
confiscatory," the federal attorney an
swered. Congress acted in it's discre-
ton, discretion with which the judici-
ary has no power to interfere"
Chief Justice Comments.
"oh, there's nobody who claims that
the court suggests it's discretion for
that of Congress-" interrupted Chief
Justice White.
When Mr.. Hagerman said the legal
presumption--all presumptions-are in
favor of validity of an act of Congress
the Chief Justice interjected:
Il don't believe it means to go that
far-not all presumptions. but every
reasonable presumption"
To the railroads charge that the law
interferes with liberty of contract, Mr..
Hagerman declared that freedom of
contract must yield to hours of labor"
He contended that in regulation by
Congress of commerce it also has au-
thority to interfere with labor con-
tracts in conflict.