Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-19
Continued from page one)


eight-hour day for employees OF car
riers engaged in Interstate and foreign
commerce, and fDr other purposes.
the law was made effective January
and comprised fotr sections. Briefly.
the first section, providing the perma-
nent eighthour wage standard. de-
clares that beginning January eight
hours shall, In cortracts for labor and
service, be deemed a days work for
the purpose OF reckoning compensa-
ton Of all employs now or
hereafter employed by any common
carrier by railroal actually
engaged in any capacity in the opera
ton of trains"
Railroads not more than 100 miles
long and Independently owned, and
electric street and lnterurban railroads
were excepted
Commission 70 Proiided
Section providbs for the presiden-
tial commission OF three, now headed
by Maj. Gen. Goefhals, to investigate
and report to the president and con-
gress the Operations and effects Of
the institution OF TIE eight-hour stand
ard work day and the facts
and conditions Affecting the relations
between such conmon carriers and
employees during six to nine
months" A report within 80 days
after that period! discretionary with
the commission. WIS ordered, the tenn
porary Increased wages remaining In
effect still anothet 80 days.
Section 3, especially assailed by the
railroads as void providing the tenn
porary increase, oates:
Pending the report OF the commits
sion and for 80 bays thereafter the
compensation Of rtilway employees sub
ject to this act fDr standard eight
hour work day shall not be reduced
below the present standard days wage
and for all necessary time In excess
OF eight hours shch employees shall
be paid at q rate not less than the pro
rata for such standard eight-hour work
day"
Section 4, prescribing penalties, de-
clares. ANY person violating any pro
vision of this act shall be guilty Of a
and upon conviction
shall be fined not less than 800 and
not more than $1,000. or imprisoned
not to exceed one year. or both"
History Of suit
Early last November Injunction
suits were filed BY various railroads
in virtually all federal district courts
to enjoin the laws enforcement. The
present test case, brought by Alexan-
der New and Hehry c. Ferris, receiv-
ers for the Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf
was agreed upon to deter
mine nationwide constitutionality and
operation OF the law. To expedite
such determination. the case was sub
mitted without argument TO Federal
Judge William G. Hook at Kansas
City, No.
On November 90, two days after the
suit was filed, Judge Hook held the
aw "unconstitnti0nal null and voidT
md gave decree permanently en-
Joining United States Attorney Wilson
rom enforcing il Judge Hook dis
missed the bill as 10 brotherhood OF.
,icars named defendants and ordered
he railroad to cooperate In expediting
he appeal OF the department Of jus.
ice to the supreme court He also
ordered the railroad to keep account
,f wage increases due under the law,
% insure prompt payment following
i decisioa upliolling its validity.
3oes 70 Supreme Court
The fedora appeal was filed In the
supreme court November q and the !
court assented to expedition Of the
rearing, three days Of arguments fol- |
owing January to 10. Pending the
iecision, the department OF justice and |
ailroad attorneys formally stipulated |
hat the 500 odd Injunction suits |
should not be pressed, that the feder-
Il authorities would ret attempt to
Ier. So the question Is, what can