Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-31

is at present less than eighty cars for
each fifteen-minute period of the day.
Stating that the futility of expecting
adequate or even passable transporta-
ton is apparent so long as the present
Opening hours continue, the report
takes up discussion of the staggering
of working hours as a means of re-
lief. The prime consideration, 1t states,
is to keep in mind the health and COM
tort of the employees so that they, in
turn, may do better work and produce
better results in these strenuous days
when every one should be doing his
utmost"
Necessity for Change.
Continuing. the report points out the
necessity of changing the hours OF vari-
GUS buildings in the same territory SO that
the loads on the cars will not coincide,
and OF according the same working hours,
as far as possible. to groups OF offices
having business in common.
Because the Army and Navy depart
ments have in hand all they should do
without having any new problems raised
for their consideration. the report rec
ommends no change in hours for them.
In fact. their hours already are staggered
to a greater extent than those of other
departments, 1t is stated.
after providing right of way for the
Army and Navy, Mr.. Beeler has endeav-
ored to arrange the hours of other gov
eminent departments SO that they would
fit into the general scheme to permit OF a
more even distribution of opening and
closing hours, considering both the num-
Der of the employees and the locality Of the
buildings.
The arrangement for private offices is
based on the theory that they readily can
open at $50. which is after the hour set
for opening the government departments.
In fact, many OF them are now opening
after 9, and the change, it is urged. should
not work hardship upon any one.
AS for the proposition to have stores
open at 10 and close at 6, the report as
serts that this will give the employees a
slightly shorter working day and that
they in turn should become more eff
cient. Keeping the stores open until 6
o'clock, 1t is pointed out also. will en-
able the government employees to do
their shopping after hours and in more
comfort than at present.
Willing to Cooperate.
THE big stores" says the report,
have expressed a willingness to CO.
operate and have shown a most COM
mendable spirit to further the efforts of
the public utilities commission in every
way in the solution of this problem"
With reference to the proposed $50
opening for high schools. the report as
serts they can be set back to this hour
without difficulty, as the day is COM
paratively short and the students are
home before the evening rush hour be-
gins.
The report refers to the fact that
within the past few months the depart
ments of Commerce and the Interior
have changed their opening hours from
to $50 and 8:45 am. While this has
aided to a degree, 1t says, the number
of employees involved is insufficient to
make any great change in the general
situation.
Charts showing studies of each gov
eminent department and the opening
and closing hours proposed compose the
bulkiest section of the report. In con-
Guiding. Mr.. Beeler refers to new gov
eminent developments in Potomac Park
on the south side of B street between
18th and 21st streets, the floor space
of which will exceed forty acres.