Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-31
Remedy for Traffic Conditions
in Washington Includes
the Departments.
WOULD ADVANCE HOURS
OF REPORTING FOR WORK
Schools, Private Offices, Stores and
Federal Bureaus Not Doing
War Work Included.

Radical readjustmcnt of Washing
toms business hours, including those of
government departments, is recon-
mended by John A. Beeler, traffic ex-
pert, in his long-expected report on
Staggered hours"
This is the most voluminous, and, in
Mr.. Eeeler's opinion, the most impor-
tant, report he has made to the Public
Utilities Commission with the object Of
reducing congestion on the capitals
street car lines. Copies Of it have been
forwarded to members of the cabinet.
In general, it proposes advancing the
hour of opening from thirty minutes to
one hour, with the closing hour simi-
larly changed. No change is made in
the schedule of departments having war
activities Summarized, the recon-
rnendaticns for opening hours are:
Government offices. non-war activi-
ties, 8, $50 and $50 am.
Government offices, war activities. 9
am, as at present.
Private offices. $3.50 am.
High schools, $3.50 am.
Stores (except those now opening
prior to $50 a.m.), 10 am.
Mr.. Beeler characterizes present
hours of work as "the primary cause
of Washington's congested traffic sit
uation" and believes that staggered
hours will accomplish more than skip
stops, loading platforms and front-end
fare collectors in improving the sit
uation.
Will Have Hours Unchanged.
Exhibits, which are part of the re-
port, show that out of 6s,107 govern
ment employees, 42,S70, or SO per cent.
will have their hours unchanged. If
the report is adopted. OF the re-
mainder, "A per cent will have their
hours placed fifteen minutes ahead 21.4
per cent, thirty minutes earlier, and
only 2.2 per cent one hour earlier. The
number whose hours will be thirty
minutes later is per cent of the total.
BY setting back thirty minutes the
time of opening of private offices 10000
persons will be taken off the 8 o'clock
peak of the street car SERVICE Mr..
Beeler declares.
The government departments that will
have to conform to new opening and clos
liiS IL llfc oStteI recommendations
are adopted, are the following:
Department of Agriculture, 3,142 en-
ployes, to open at 8 80 am. and close at
4 pm
Department of Commerce. 1900 en-
ployes, 8 80 am. and pm.
District building, 8 80 am. and pm.
Bureau OF engraving and printing, 5,038
employees. now operating in three shifts.
s am to pm, 8 80 pm. to IL 80 pm
and II 80 pm. to 80 am. Beeler plan
would split first shift into three sections.
to report at Z, 80 and am.
Food administration. 1,100 employees.
s: 80 am. and 4 80 pm.
Interstate Commerce Commission, $50
employees 8 80 am. and pm.
Department Of the Interior, 2,32S en-
ployes. $3.50 am. and 4 pm.
Navy yard, 1920 employees, now oper-
ating in three Shifts am to pm
4 pm. to midnight and from midnight to
s am. BeeleH plan would split first shift
SO that workers would begin at 1880,
and 80 am. with closing hours vary
ing to correspond.
Patent office. zoos employees 40 am
and pm.
Pension Office. sss employees, 80 am
and pm.
Post Office Department. 1,74s employees,
8 80 am. and pm.
The Treasury. 2,572 employees, 80 am.
New National Museum and war risk
Insurance. offices. 1000 employees. 5 am.
and 3:45 pm.
Removed From Rush.
He estimates that 10000 more psrsons