The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-03-23

Washington, March 19.-The Adam.
son eight-hour railroad law was held
constitutional and valid in all respects
today by the supreme court.
The decision makes eight hours the
standard of days work and wages
for men in operating trains and legal
ICES the wage increases which went in.
to tentative effect on it's passage,
The decision was five to four, Just.
ices Day, Pitney and Van Deventer an.
nounced their dissent from the bench
and later Justice McReynolds announc-
ed his.
Federal Judge Hooks ruling in the
Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad
test case enjoining enforcement of the
Adamson act and holding it uHconsti-
tional, null and void, was reversed.
The immediate temporary wage in
crease won by the railroad employees
affect 100000 trainmen, as of January
land are estimated to total between
$4O,OOo,Ooo and 5O,ooo,OOO.
Justice McKenna concurred IN the
maioritx opiaion but on slightly did
e1ll efpanls, 1Qskiee naa Kead his
; (, g 4
Pitnev tle red the other disseffilig B
opilai0n in which Justice Van Deyan-
ter Joined.
Justices Pitney and Van Devanter
in their point dissenting opinion held
that the law should be held unconstitu-
tional and void because congress, al
though confessedly not in possession
of information necessary for intelli-
gent and just treatment of the contro-
versy, arbitrarily imposed upon the
railroads the entire and enormous cost
of an experimental increase in wages" "
Justice Day, in his dissenting opinion
said the legislation amounted to "de-
privation of the railroads property
without due process Of law"
In concurring in the majority opin-
ion Justice McKenna differed in that
he believed the law IAN hours of serv-
ice" statute and only secondarily a
wage-fxing law and thus. within the
power of congress.
Justice McReynolds delivered sep
arate opinion saying congress did not
have power to pass the law, but that
he now bows to the majority's ruling.
Justice McReynolds said that con-
gress did not have power to enact the
law, but that the majority decision
now gives it authority to fix train
mems maximum and minimum wages,
"to require compulsory arbitration of
labor disputes which may seriously
jeopardize movement of traffic, and to
take measures effectively to protect
the free flow of commerce against any
combination, whether of operatives,
owners or strangers"
\ Announcing the opinion the chief
justice reviewed the negotiations lead
ing to the enactment of the law. He
did not read from a prepared opinion,
giving it apparently from memory. He
told of the presidents efforts to avert
the strike last September.
"He suggested arbitration. The en-
ployers accepted and the employees re-
fused" said the chief justice. "He
then suggested basic eight-hour day
standard. The employers rejected and
the employees accepted"
How the president went before con-
gress was then recited.
Congress passed the law that is be-
fore us and the carriers refused to rec
ognize it," he continued. He said the
agreement to expedite the case was
~''very laudable."
Justice White said that the law is
both an eight-hour law and a wage
fixing statute. He said it "strips the
parties of power contract" as to wages
He said the eight-hour provision is the
paramount feature"
Regarding whether the law was an
hours of labor or wage-fxing law, the
chief justice said it was both. He said
the question of fixing hours of labor by
congress was out Of the case unques-
toned.
He cited the "hours of service act
as an instance of ''hours Of labor" legs
islation by congress. He said trans
portation is both Of private and pub
lie interest.
"The dividing line is so marked that
the government viii not destroy that