The sun., 1917-01-08
EIGHT HOUR BILL
WOULD PAY
New AdamSOn Measure
Seeks Absolutely to For
bid Overtime.
BLOW AIMED AT STRIKES
Gives President Power to Take
Over Railways in Case
Of Emergency.
BLOW AIMED AT STRIKES

emergency is the answer of Representa-
i've Adamson to the suggestion that the
eight hour law passed last August be
repealed. The bill would make strikes
or lockouts without ninety day notice
illegal and permit the taking over OF
railway lines by the military on the
order OF the President when public con-
venience demands such action.
As explained by Representative Adam
son to-day. his bill merely would make
doubly sure that the eight hour day on
the railroads would be a real eight hour
day and not basic eight hour day in
tended merely to obtain higher wages
His reason for introducing it, he said
was because he had understood there
was collusion between the railroads and
their employees to defeat the purpose Of
the original law. which he says was to
provide an eight hour day and not in
creased wages.
For Public safety.
The present law provides for "neces-
sary' overtime being paid for at a pro
rata rate, but Representative Adamson
intends to clear up any misunderstanding
that may have arisen on this point. The
bill he has introduced. he pointed out. is
the old sixteen hour law changed to eight
hours, and puts the enforcement Of it in
the hands Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
THE eight hour law was passed." said
Mr.. Adamson. primarily In the interests
of the public as safety measure. The
railroads have lied about 1t when they
said 1t was to raise wages. II was in
tended to prevent men running trains to
work more than eight house because OF
the danger involved In working men
longer than that. l think we could put
men in jail under the present law for
working more than eight hours, but just
to make sure l have drawn up this bill.
81 have done this because I understand
that collusion Is going on between the
men and the railroads in framing up
schedules providing for overtime In de-
fiance Of the law. They have ignored
the word necessary as applied to this
overtime. 1t has been said that the
whole idea of the employees was to get
more time and thereby increase their
wages. But they told us that they
wanted more time with their families.
The bill l have drawn would remove any
doubt as to whether they could work
more than eight, hours.
same Penalties Attached.
THE same penalties are attached as
In the case of the present eight hour
law. All but 2 per cent of the railroad
divisions in this country are practically
100 miles In length. 1t is therefore pos
sible to comply strictly with an eight hour
law by merely seeing that trains are not
overloaded and that they make an aver
age speed of twelve and half miles an
hour. That Is what the men asked us
to obtain for them. In special cases
where good cause is shown the ]. c. C.
could give permission for the eight hours
to be exceeded. l regard such law as
perfectly practical"
Representative Adamson said he had
informed the President or his intention
to put in such bill. He intimated,
however, that the President believed the
present law was sufficiently clear In its
meaning regarding the eight hour day
and the matter Of overtime, but after
the recent conference was held in New
York Mr.. Adamson made up his mind
that something more was needed to clear
up the situation.
The bill he has introduced, however,
cannot be called an Administration
measure 1t is doubtful II even its au-
thor intends to push 1t very hard at
present Mr.. Adamson admits that in
introducing II at this time he aimed at
bringing the whole railroad programme
of the President under the jurisdiction
of his committee. To do this he has
incorporated with his new eight hour
plan all the other plans now the sub
jects of hearings in the Senate. He is
dissatisfied with the way the Senate is
handling railroad matters, and is going
toy press for action in the House by TAX
ing charge of all the Presidents recon-
mendations in one omnibus bill.
Not Liked by Unions.
That the brotherhood chiefs do not
want any such law as Representative
Adamson proposes is certain. To their
own men they have explained time and
again that the eight hours was merely
a basic day by which overtime would be
Increased As n large proportion OF the
employees pay to-day is for overtime
such a measure would mean a reduc-
ton in pay, just as would the present
law should 1t be enforced as Mr. Adam
son says IL ought to be enforced. On the
other hand, the railroad managers have
cOntended all along that under con-
ditions In the railroad service an actual
day of eight hours is virtually an i'm
possibility.
Coincident with this move on the part
of the author OF the Adamson law to
get back at the brotherhood chiefs for
the attitude they have assumed came
the news that a circulaT letter had just
been sent to all RAILROAD lodges by the
union heads informing members OF the
unions that not oAly fdoes the present
Adamson law cover tth mileage basis of
pay, but that It even covers layoff time
In passenger service.
In suburban passenger service where
the runs are short 1t Is impossible to
provide for a continuous eight hours of
train service. Forty per cent. OF the ex-
listing schedules on suburban lines pro-
vide for eight hours work In twelve
hours. Under the Interpretation placed
on the law by the brotherhood chiefs in
their circular letters the roads would be
compelled to pay men on such runs for a
day and a half.
Governments stand.
The Government, It was learned, In its
argument before the Supreme Court,
which begins tomorrow. is to support
the contention OF the men that under the
Adamson law II 100 miles Is made In
less than eight hours the men are en-
titled to q days pay for 1t, though the
law makes no mention OF the mileage
system at all Solicitor General John w.
Davis will open for the Government.
Walker Y. Hines and John @. Johpson
will appear for the railroads. Frank
.Coxtixued on Second Pcge.