The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-05
HALF-HOL|DAY PLEA
DECISION HELDUP
President and Commissioners
Soon viii Act on Clerks Re-
quest for Time Off to Shop.

Upon the decisions Of President VIII
son and the District Commissioners de-
lends whether the employees OF the Fed
raj and District governments Will be
given half holidays December = and -.
Saturday and Saturday week.
\ letter asking that employees OF the
District be granted half holidays has
been filed with the Commissioners by
he Retail Merchants Association. \
-ImIiar letter from the organization now
$ on the Presidents desk awaiting its
-eaiinE, regarding holidays for Federal
Employees. The President Will not visit
ais offices till Monday morning. Conse-
quently he will not consider the letter
today.
The District Commissioners have
not yet taken any action of the letter.
Commissioner KutZ said this after
noon that the board had not been
given an opportunity to consider the
rcQuest but that II would receive
careful attention
The association desires that oppor-
ulnity be given the governmental en-
ployes to do their Christmas shop
ping early. 1t IS pointed out that the
.ight-hour law for women renders it
impossible for the stores to remain
open in the evenings in advance Of
the holidays thereby depriving DAY
workers of a chance to do their buy
ing so as TO avoid the last minute
rush.
Following is the associations letter
10 the Commissioners:
Tho Retail Merchants Association OF
Washington, D. c., respectfully petitions
the Board Of Commissioners or the DIS
irict of Columbia to issue an executive
order allowing employees of the District
Government a half-holiday Saturday
afternoons December u and 70 next
The attention of your honorable
Board is invited to the fact that the
last Congress enacted q law proVldlhs
Tor a maximum of eight hours per day
for female employees engaged in mer-
camille and other establishments IN tho
district of Columbia, and on this &C
count il will be impossible for stores
70 remain open Of evenings in advance
of the Christmas holidays, thereby de-
Driving employees of the Government OF
"A reasonable opportunity to arrange for
those amenities so long custom Twin
the people of this land.
There is therefore, brought about
= situation which works to the dis
advantage Of both the buyer ana
seller in the National Capital The
law prevents the two classes from
having a common time foT traulnS.
We feel that any movement that
ends TO the welfare Of all the peo-
pile. such as this necessarily does, VIII
rnceiye the benefit OF your kindly CO.
aPerauon and support.
1t is . wholesome circumstance
mat our people nave Sucn occdSlOIS
IS the Christmas holidays 10 look for
ward TO, and IL is quite in the nature
If things that the arrangement for
the holiday season should be made
without undue waste Of energy. The
Congress CT the United states,
trough tho enactment Of the eight
i.our law for female employees, has
AIKEN this view oc the matter, and
ince the law and the eXiGencies OF
trade have made it impossible for Dis
riot government employees TO have
reasonable opportunity to supply
their needs at this season Of the year,
4 would seem 10 be not only a lawful
but a courteous consideration, not
only to the employees of the District
Government. but to those who labor
.ehind the counter
The granting OF this petition will
likewise mean the acceleration Of
trade under the most favorable condi- |
lions for both the buyer and seller, and I
'his end being realized. the community |
ia its entirety is benefited We are
onvtnced that to bring about this re
s1lt is the concern and the ambition Of !
sur city fathers"