Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-03-21

ElGHT-HOUR LAW Is upuEI,w
Supreme Court Hns Handed Down It's
Decision at Inst.

Washington, March 19.--The Ad..
amson S-hour railroad law was held
constitutional and valid In all re-
spects to-day by the Supreme Court.
The decision makes eight hours
the standard Of q days work and
wages for men in operation Of trains
and legalizes the wage Increases
which went into tentative effect on
its passage.
The decision was to 4. Justices
Day, Pitney and VanDevanter an
nounced their dissent from the
bench and later Justice McReynolds
announced his.
Federal Judge Hooks ruling, in
the Missouri, Oklahoma and Guif
railroad test case, enjoining enforce
ment Of the Adamson act and hold
ing 1t unconstitutional, null ana
void WAS reversed.
100000 Trninmcn Affected.
The Immediate temporary wage in.
creases won by the railroad employ
ees, affect 100000 trainmen, as OF
January l and are estimated to totap
between $40,00O,00O and $4,000
600 yearly.
Announcing the opinion the CHER
Justice reviewed the negotiations
leading to enactment Of the law. Hs
did not read from n prepared opin-
lon. giving 1t apparently from mem
ory. He told OF the Presidents ef-
forts to avert the strike last SeptSm-
ber.
He suggested arbitration. The
employers accepted and the en-
ployees refused" said the Chief Jus
tice. "He then suggested a basic g.
hour day standard The employers
rejected that and the employees ac-
cepted."
How the President then went i,e-
fore Congress was then r0cited.
Congress passed the law that is
recognize It," he continued. He said
the agreement to expedite the ase
was Every laudable." #.
The New BASIS.
Following Is summary OF the new
aDsis OF hours and pay that will here
after apply:
article !. (A) In all road service
100 miles or less, eight hours or less
Will constitute a day except in pas
senger service. Miles in excess OF
100 Will be paid for at the same rate
per mile. -..,
less overtime will begin at the expi-
ration OF eight hours.
'(C)--On runs of over 100 miles
overtime will begin when the time on
duty exceeds the miles run divided
by 12k miles per hour.
"D)-All overtime to be comput-
ed on the minute basis and paid for
at time and one-half times the pro
rata rate.
"(E)-No one shall receive less
for eight hours or 100 miles than
they now receive for minimum day
or 100 miles for the class Of engine
used or for service performed.
"F)-Time will be computed
continuously from time required for
duty until release from duty and re-
spons!bility at end of day or run"
Adamson Not Surprised.
Washington, March 9-Represeu-
tative w. G. Adamson, of Georgia,
author Of the S-hour law which to-
day was upheld as constitutional by
the Supreme Court, expressed no
surprise at the courts decision.
1T was no more than expected
said Representative Adamson. "The
Supreme Court has never overturned
n bill reported from my committee
during the 20 years I have been a
member Of 1t. / would not have re-
ported the S-houi law If had not
believed it was constitutional"
To Receive Hack Pay.
The back pay from January 1st.
which the men will receive, will to-
tai In the neighborhood of $12,00O.-
000 Or S13 0n0 00n