Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-03-19
HISTORY OF ADAMS0N
LAW AND FIGHT OVER
IT'S C0NSTITUTI0NALlTY

WASHINGTON, d. c., March 19.-
National enforcement and operation OF
the Adnmsont law, enacted by congress
last September when . nationwide
railroad strike threatened paralysis Of
Transportation. was suspended await.
ing the supreme courts decision upon
its c0nstitufionalIty National effect.
s..sra nRreed, feEted upon dispQsRl nf
Oklahoma 4 Gull Railroad. chosen by
the rnilroede and department Of Justice
TO determIne. for the whole country,
the issues
Involved were vital public and
private interest. present and future,
including those of American railroads
sggregafing 250, 900 miles and property
interests Of $4,000. 100000. together
With those Of 100000 railroad en-
rloyes, one.fifth Of the total Also In
yolyed was future limit OF public regu-
lation and private operation of COM
mon carriers, with boundaries Of regu.
latory legislation by congress
A decision upholding as constitution
al all features Of the Adamson act en-
tails:
y I. Permanent establishment Of !
work day. Of eight hours 40 measure
or STANDARD Of calculating wages and
service Of train operatives.
2 Temporary but Immediate In.
creasesof about Is per cent In wages,
during not less than seven or more
than ~ monthe beginning January :.
last Of about 400 900 trainmen. mostly
Of the @BIp Four brotherhoods Of en-
cIneert, fIremen, conductors and
brakemen and those principally In
freight service. Comparatively few
passenger tralnmen were given i'm
medists benefit BY the law.
8. Cost 70 the railroads Of such
temporary increass Of from, SIC, ,o0o, 900
GO e5o,ooo,o 900, ~ estimated by the rail-
roads. or about e2o,ooo, 900 ss esti-
mated by the hrctherhoods. Future
additional cost Of . permanent eight
hour-day scale was estimated BY the
railroads az Sioo 100000 annually, with
prospective additional wage demands
from 100000 other employees not
benefited BY the Adsmscn Law.
4. Vast extension Of congressional
authority IN federal regulation Of com
mon carriers, with power TO authorize
wage fixing BY the interstate COM
rneree commission.
5. Future negotiations between rail-
roads and tralnmen Of new wage
scales based upon the eight-hoar-day
standard.
6. plsmisssl Of about 500 railroad
Injunction suits, In virtually every fed
eral district court, 70 enjoln the laws
enforcement
The temporary wage increase. insti-
tuition OF the permanent eight-hour
standard and all litigation, by formal
agreement between the railroads and
department Of justice. have been held
in allegiance pending the courts de-
cision. However. the railroads have
been keeping special account Of in
feases due since the law became ef.
; fective January 1. with q view to
prompt payment upon ruling uphold
ing the statute.
May Work More than Eight Hours
A decision Apholding the eight-hcur
standard, il was admitted. would not
bar trainmen from working more than
eight hours a day. but merely entitle
them TO pro rata overtime pay. Also,
such ruling entailed making OF en-
tirely new wage agreements for ali
trainmen affected. by private negotia-
ton. as to the amount Of wages
which shall constitute an eight-hour
day standard.
The federal hours of service act.
prohibiting continuous employment OF
trainmen more than Is hours daily, re-
main undisturbed regardless Of the de
cision upon the Adamson law
Entitled AN act 20 establish am
{contlnued On page three