The Washington times., 1918-04-01
PLAN
NAYDEBALKED
BY DAYLIGHT
SAVING HOURS
By BnL Pn1CE

~ nmL PnIcE.
Camouhaging the clocks Of ths
country through the daylight sGsinE
law has temporarily restrained s0ns
Of the enthasiasm that might hAvs
been general for John A BssIsr,s
staggered hours for opening Govern
mental and private business inseitz-
tions, Offices, and schools IN this slfy.
It-is today the hope Of Mr.. Bseier
and 'memberrof,ths Utilifiss couarzIs-
sion. who are struggling 70 provsda
better street car service N tks
future that the shIfting forward -
the hands Of clocks Wiil not Per-
menentiy dampen the wlilinsness -
Goverument officials to Join "a wkak
Is generally declared BY them - -
the most Important step Jet taken To-
ward substantial relief.
Many high Government officials have
already. written the Utilities Coutrnis-
sion expressing satisfaction with the
Beeler PROGRAM, and stating that ~
the proper time they win give ordsnI
for Changing the opening hours &c
cordlngiy. From the acting head Of
the War Depsrtment, was q letttF
stating that while that department.
appreciated the fact that its hours
had not been changed there you'd bo
willingness to co-operats with tho
Utilities Commission in new hours, II
Heads Of departments ana burs.us
throughout the city are considering
the Beeler plan, which was laid b.
fore them by the Utilities commissioa.
and IL IL expected and hoped that
there win be . general acquieseencs
In the program within q short tirus.
In several instances. bowever, sub
ordinate Officials have pointed out
particular Establishments have only 4
few hundred employees and that tkeir
would do little harm.
The Interior Department, now open
ing at S:46, objects to heginnlng
law.
:Whple Plan Ought to Go Thrsugh.
In answer to. this argument, ~.
Beeler today stated that In maDping
out a plan for opening governmental
establishments at hours ranging from
T:30 o'clock to $3.50 o'clock he had
given careful. study 10 the relations
Of the different places, the number OF
l.
car lines, all with the view OF spread
ing the morning strain upon the ears
inssuch q way as to give comfortable
riding to the public, and bring about
quick service and prompt transporta-
tion Of people to their work. Any diD-
arrangement Of the hours recon-
mended by him for the various depart
ments and bureaus would upset the
whole network OF his scheme.
r. =. "A.
light saving Law has somewhat rep-eeS-
ed the unanimity that might have greet
I'd his proposition. but believes that with
in a week the people OF Washington viii
have readtusted themselves to the cioels
and viii not longer puzzle themselves
over how they stand as to time.
Objection to the staggered system u
that Mr.. Beeler puts many Of the Gov
ernment shops to work from one hour
TO a half hour ahead Of former hours.
which would be one and a half to two
hours earlier when considering the nav
time. He proposes, for instance, that
l,o5e clerks OF the War Risk Insurance.
Bureau start to work at o'clock In the
morning and 500 at $50 O'Clock Thess
clerks now begin at . o'clock new tims.
o'clock old time. Under this plan the
bulk OF them would begin work at
o'clock new time and O'Clock old time
The Department OF Labor. now
opening at o'clock, would begin IT
3 o'clock new time, o'clock old
time.
About $500 employees OF the bureau
Of engraving and printing would have
TO do some early rising stunts. They
now go to work at 8 o'clock, day
light saving time. but Mr.. Beeler sug-
gests that T:30 o'clock would be bet
ter. That would be $50 o'clock sun
time.
No complaints are expected from me
Fuel Administration, Interstate Com
nerce Commission. Council OF Ma
.ional Defense. Pensions Bureau. Com
nittee on Public Information OF Treas
Try Department The hours for these
places are shifted from o o'clock to
':30 o'clock.
The stately and dignifed state De-
oartment is recommended to begin
with diplomatic problems :.
It $50 o'clock new time, instead OF
o'clock. There are 800 employees OF
hat department. The Postoffice De-
oartment. with nearly 1000 employees.
would stark work at $50 O'Clock.
would start work at $50 o'clock,
District building employees number
ng 1000 would start upon their
laily duties at $50 o'clock.
AWAITING Ofaeial AetfOA
The utilities commission II await
ng official advices from Government
before taking up for de-
.ision tho proposed staggered sys-
.en- When the answers are in. II
Will bo determined whether the
SeeIer plan can successfully be
worked II is dependent for full sue
less. as already pointed out. on itB
adoption by practically all Depart
nents and bureaus It may be necss-
Iary for the utilities commissioa
% approach Government officials
through. further eorrespondsnee and
fisitation In the hope OF gaining com
,lets support.
Whatever the outcome Of the Bssia-
'frorts, Il Is the opinion of members
Il the utilities commission that they
must adopt steps to provide for Per
nanent improvements of servics. II
hey cannot put into effect the stag
,ered hours plans. they must And
omething else. II would. they admit.
70 OF great value, probably greater
han any other plan. but they also un-
Ierstand that many of the Govern
nent's employees may object to the
arly hours they will be called upon
o report for work. comparing the
lew and old time.
GROWN UP TO SHORT DRESSES.