The sun., 1917-02-26
UNION. LIMIT ON
US. HIGH COURT
Rail Trouble Threatened
Unless 8 Hour Ruling Is
Made by March 5.
100000 GET MANIFESTO
Legislative Jam Leaves Little
Hope of Passing Laws to
Avert Crisis.

WASHINGTON. Feb 25.-The railroad
brotherhoods are growing extremely rest
less over the delay in settling the eight
hour day question. Their latest move IS
to put time limit on The Supreme
Courts decision on the constitutionality
of the Adamson law. Unless the court
hands down its decision by March .. the
next decision day. the brotherhood" an
nounce. they will consider themselves
justified in taking aggressive action
This announcement. taken in connec-
ton with the fact that there is now.
owing to the legislative Jam. virtually
no chance of passing any of the railroad
measures designed to prevent situation
such as existed last summer, would seem
to portend a serious state Of affairs un-
less the Cour, declares the law cnstitu-
,onal within the time limit set by the
unions.
In an effort to get action on the rail-
road measures to stave of situation
such as 1t is now feared may arise.
Chairman Trumbull Of the committee of
railroad executives. and Elisha Lee. head
Of the conference committee OF managers.
visited Washington yesterday and con-
ferred with Senator Newlands and Judge
Adamson regarding railroad legislation.
DecisiOn Not Certain.
II is understood that both the Senator
and Judge told the railroad men they
were doing the best they could to adj
vance the bills. but they were un-
able to hold out much hope that they
could be extricated from the jam and
passed even II an agreement could be
reached over their provisions
for ha rai q
inclined to think the Supreme Court
/ will have its decision ready by March
>. there Is no certainty OF decision OF
/ that day. The court has been known &c
take much longer deciding an important
question such as is raised by the Adam
son law.
The latest union manifesto is signed
by the four brotherhood chiefs, and has
been sent to the 400, 900 members OF the
unions. II says:
AT the Chicago meeting OF the gen
i'eral chairmen on January II and IL II
was decided to suspend further actor
I and wait on the Supreme Court rea'
sonable time for a decision on the Adam
son eight hour law, which we had ever!
reason to believe would be Forthcoming
within a very few weeks.
The Supreme Court adjourned until
March 5 without making any decision
For the past few days the possibilities
of being involved in the internationa
war seem great and preclude the posi-
bility of immediate radical action. Mean
while arbitrary detrimental legislator
has been presented to Congress, which
We are combating in every possible
manner and will continue TO do. II /!
hoped that the present Congress will ad
journ without passing these vicious laws
4 new Congress which is more evenl,
divided politically will probably be called
in short session March ).
Time Limit Set.
I'VE will assume that II no decision il
handed. down regarding the Adamsoi
law when the Supreme Court reconvene
on March we have complied with tn
terms of the agreement entered into a
Chicago and have waited reasonable
time and will be justified In taking ag
gressive action II needs be-
should the court reverse the lowe
court and declare the Adamson Law
constitutional It would then be up 4
the railroads and the men merely t
agree as to its terms so far az working
schedules are concerned. The mel
would also receive the increased pa.
withheld from them since January l un
der the agreement reached with the At
torney- General.
But should the law be declared uncon
stitutional. as "ontended by the rail
roads, the unions are planning. IL is said
to take up the situation just as 1t wa
left last August when their famou
strike order was issued. The only chang
in their plan of action now contemplate
is the taking Of offensive measure
against few railroads at a time in
stead OF n general strike all over III
country, as was planned then.
1t has become apparent that the labo
leaders have taken extraordinary meas
urce to defeat the provisions In the rail
road bills which are distastcful to tn
uniors. Each local has been OF
dered TO bring all possible pressure I
bear on the congressman in its terri
tory The labor leaders are assertin
they now have more than enough vote
to defeat the measures, They have bee
aided by Samuel Gompers and the Fec
Grafton Of Labor.
Notice TO the Managers.
Another indication OF the attitude c
the brotherhoods Is afforded in motto
which has just been served on the raj
road managers by the Brotherhood {
Trainmen forbldding them on pain of
strike from having any negotiation
with the switchmen's union. The switch
men consented to arbitrate the eigi
hour day demand and obtained thereh
an advance In wages. The letter to n
managers conference committee d'
clares that during the pendency OF II
eight hour day movement the trainme
will regard any conferences between II
managers and the switchmen's union "a
an unfriendly act" II adds
"Our organization under existing col
ditions will not be disposed to view wit
any degree OF patience or ordinary bus
ness conservatism any apparent atteml
to fiirt with or negotiate with the switci
mems union at this time. and any sue
action on the part OF any of the roat
with which we at present hold the agre
ment will be regarded as sufficient cau
for promptly AMI collectively. by all
the men on all OF the lines parties to Il
agreement, showing their resentmel
toward such attempt. II made, to Il
e full extent OF our ability and with Il
9 only logical weapon at our command"