The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-01-09
Presidents Secretary Testifies
at Leak Hearing Yesterday
In Own Defense.
DID NOT KNOW OF THE NOTE
President Wilson AbsoIves Tu-
muity in Every Detail. Tick
err" Service Must be Explain
ed by Newspaper Men.

w Wv, Jan. 1Ai s u
ments over the constitutionality of
the Adamson Law came up today in
the Supreme Court. A large ar
ray of attorneys for the railroads
and counsel for the government
; were on hand for the last stage of
the battle over the validity of the
act of Congress last September when
the country was threatened with a
nationwide railway strike.
First upon the courts call of
cases today, following it's three
weeks holiday recess, was the Mis-
souri,, Oklahoma and Gulf railroad
case, chosen by the Department of
Justice and the railroads for the
test. 1t was not expected that the
arguments would be concluded be-
fore tomorrow.
When the court will announce
decision is problematical but it is
expected within a few weeks as the
court has consented to expedite the
proceedings and placed the test case
ahead of all others upon today's
call. The case was appealed last
November, from the decision Of
Federal Judge Hook at Kansas City,
Mo-, that the law was ''unconstitu
tional, null and void"
The railroad lawyers were headed
by Walker d. Hines, Arthur Miller
represented specially the Missouri,
Oklahoma and Gulf road John G.
Johnson of Philadelphia also APP
peared for the railroads.
In charge of the defense of the
Adamson act for the department of
Justice were Solicitors General John
w. Davis, Assistant Attorneys Gen
eral r. Marvin Underwood and G.
Carroll Todd, and Frank Hagerman
of Kansas City, special assistant to
the Attorney General.
The railroad Brotherhoods were
not formal parties to today's test
suit; Judge Hook dismissed the Mis-
souri,, Oklahoma and Gulf railroads
bill as to union officers named de-
PENDANTS.
Todays arguments, technically,
were upon appeal of United States
Attorney Francis NJ. Wilson of Kan
] sas City from Judge Hooks decision
in an Injunction suit brought by
Alexander New and Henry c. Fer
ris, receivers for the Missouri. Okla
homa and Gulf, to enjoin enforce
ment Of the law. Actually, however,
the case will determined application
oil rot1rooHo
I BY a stipulation, signed by rail
road and Department of Justice
counsel, all other litigation over the
Adamson act has been suspended
pending the Supreme Courts decis-
ion The railroads agree meanwhile
to keep special account of wages
due employees under the new law to
insure payment if the act is sus-
tanned as constitutional or given
partial application.
The principal provision of the
| Adamson act, which became effec-
tive January /, and whose operation
was suspended by the present legal
proceedings, declares eight hours
shall. in contracts for labor and ser
I vice. be deemed a days work for
the purpose CT reckoning compensa
ton for services Of all employees
employed by any common
carrier by railroads actual
; ly engaged in anv capacity in the
operation of trains"
The law was passed by the House
September T. by the Senate on Sen
, tember 2and signed by Persistent
! Wilson twice, September "a Sun
/ dsv) and 5. The general strike Of
railroad Brotherhoods previously or
dered for Labor Day, September A.
! was called off.
That the law is not in reality an
! 8-hour day statute but a wage in
crease act is contended by the rail
roads In the present case 1t is also
contended that the law is unwork-
able. incapable of application: Is not
regulation of commerce within the
authority Of congress. but TEN.
, porary experiment. and "unreason-
ably and arbitrarily interferes
with constitutional liberty Of. con
tract. as well as deriving the rail
roads OF property in violation of
, the due process of law" clause Of
| the constitution.