The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-10
ATTORNEYS.FLA
ADAMSQN BILL
TERM IT AS VOID
AND IMPRACTICABLE
And Incapable Of Operation
Without Legal Interpretation
viii Close Case Today.

WASHINGTON. Ian. 9--Argument S
before the Supreme Court on the con
istitutionality of the Adamson AcI
neared close tonight. after an all
! day attack upon the law by railroad
counsel. Tomorrow the final state
iment Of the governments case will
| be made and the test suit submitted
10 the court for decision.
Questions OF law, the merits Of the
| Legislation and the manner Of its on
actment were raised and discussed at
length today and members OF the conrt
! continued 10 add interest TO The pro
ceedinGs by interrupting counsel with
questions.
Lack by Congress of authority 10 en-
! act what they termed railroad wage
Legislation was the principal line OF AT
tack of the railroad attorneys. Walker
| d. Hines and John G. Johnson. They
! cCntended also that the law is incapa'
BILE of operation without judicial inter
probation. takes property without due
process of law and interferes with lib
/ erty of contract.
! Difficulty of definitely applying .hr
act was emphasized by Mr.. Hines. He
! said although the law fixes an S.hnu!
standard railroad day for train oper! =
tives, nearly all such employees are EN-
:ployed on mileage. trip. run or monthly
/ basis.
: Purpose Is Arbitrary
| The primary purpose of the act was
larbitrary regulation Of private con-
tracts" he declared. in concluding an
address Of more than three hours. 1T
/ sets aside legitimate methods. sub
! Stltuting an unavoidable speculative
arrangement. Its classifications give
benefits only to the four brotherhoods
who were demanding the changes-al
for the benefit OF a special. high paid
class. In all aspects it Is Of unconsti-
+, tutional and bewildering unworkab!l,
lity without relation to any substantl Il
promotion of commerCe.p
In the closing address for the rail-
roads, Mr.. Johnson assalled the hasiy
enactment Of the legislation by Con
Sress, as we'll as the conduct or the
brotherhood leaders. He said the act
was against public. and purely for prl-
vate interest, and "arbttrarily trans
fers between forty and fifty million
. dollars from the pockets of the rail-:
roads to the pockets Of the workmen.
He insisted 1t is solely and purelya
wage increase law. void and impractic-
able in attempting to establish All 8
hour day. To make the question or
railroad wages political, to be settled
by Congress from time to time, lie
said, would lead to unforeseen calls.
Public Not Protected
There is nothing in the Adamson
Act for protection Of the public ne
said.
The brotherhoods had the honesty
not 10 pretend they were protecting
the public. but stood upon their own
selfish ends
Regarding the statement that me
act was passed to prevent a strike he
added:
Have we come to that? Have we
reached the period when the men VINO
threaten a strike shall be rewarded!
I'm not comparing men. only methods.
but we might as well buy off gang
Of highwaymen with bribe 10 prevent
with commerce.
Half an hour before court adjourn
ed Frank Hagerman Of Kansas city.
special assistant TO the attorney.gen-
eral. began the closing address OF the
hearings.