Chicago & A. R. v. United States

The action was for violation of the Hours of Service Act of March 4, 1907. The facts were stipulated, and the question here is whether the 16-hour limit applies, or the 9-hour limit of the proviso, which is applicable to “operator, train dispatcher, or other employé who by the use of the telegraph or telephone dispatches, reports, transmits, receives, or delivers orders pertaining to or affecting train movements.” Section 2 (Comp. St. 1916, § 8678).

The employes involved are the so-called switch tenders in defendant’s 7%-mile long Bloomington-Normal yard, who conduct the movement in and…