Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-12
MERCHANTSASK
FULL BUSINESS DAY
UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Delegation Calling on R. R.
Administrator Repre-
sents All Cities.
ANY ECONOMY DIRECTED
PLEDGED AFTER DEC. rs
Mr.. Hines May Make Decision To-
morrow Along With Train
Schedule Restoration.

Schedule Restoration.
Charles ]. Columbus, secretary of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association of Washington. today re-
Quested of Director General Hines of
the railroad administration that per-
mission be granted to all stores to
remain open for business as usual
until Christmas Secretary Columbus
headed a delegation of merchants rep
resentinG retail interests in the Ma
tional Capital Detroit. Boston and
New York. the request being made
in the name of retail merchants IN
these and all other cities.
1t was announced that Director
General Hines was comforting with
officials of the railroad administra-
ton and the fuel administration as
to the advisability of acceding to the
request of the delegation of repre-
sentatives of retail merchants. though
it was intimated a decision would not
be reached before tomorrow.
Pledge Later Economy.
In making the request. Secretary
Columbus and the representatives Of
stores in other cities pledged that
after Christmas the stores cheerfully
would make up all of the additional
time by remaining closed or curtall-
ing business hours in whatever man
ner might be directed.
The conference was held with Brice
ClagGett. assistant to Director Cen
eral Hines. the conferees being
Charles j. Columbus. Lewis Hahn.
secretary of the National Retail Dry
Goods Association of Washington:
Garment Retailers Association of
New York; T. Nj. B. Hicks. secretary
of the Boston Retail Trade Board;
c. B. Clark. controller. the ]. L. Hud-
son Company. Detroit. Mich. and w. A.
Hawkins of the Jordan Marsh Company,
Boston. Mass.
The men were told by Mr.. Clagett that
their request would be presented to
the director general early this after
noon and taken up in conjunction
with similar requests coming from
wholesale and retail merchants all
over the country. 1t is understood.
they pointed out. that by observance
of the order closing the stores until
IL noon, shoppers will be prohibited
from doing the volume Of business
they would do if the stores were open
for a time in the morning and an
immense volume Of business will be
lost to both retail and wholesale mer-
chants.
To Take In Train Resterption.
It was stated that Director General
Hines is to take up tomorrow the
question Of restoration Of trains can
ceied recently. and that a decision
on both questions might be announced
at the same time.
1t was pointed out that certainty Of
adequate and uninterrupted train
schedules was Of as great Importance
as Christmas business and that the
two questions are SO closely allied
that they require simultaneous con-
sideration.
Modification of the six hour business
r,,va
the railroad administration. provided
that retail stores may remain open
nine hours on Saturdays. though the
six day for the other five days
of the week will remain operative for
an indeterminate time.
Under the modified rule retail stores
may be open for business on Satur-
days from o'clock am. to 6 o'clock
pm. On other days of the week the
hours will remain IL o'clock noon
to pm.
Not violation Of the regulations
as regards outside and other unneces-
sary lights was reported by the police
last night, all establishments coming
within the scope of the order COM
plying absolutely with the require
ments.
Store Workers Report Early.
1t was learned today that prac-
tically ali of the retail stores of the
city require their store forces to re-
port at the usual hour in the morn
ing and remain on duty until the
closing hour. 6 pm. 1t was stated
that Encouragement of stocks to take
care of the congestion of trade in
the six-hour business period neces-
STATED having the store forces on
duty as usual.
At several of the stores it was stated
today that heating plant fires were
not started up until noon. and that
only absolutely necessary lights were
used during the forenoon, nor was
power used for elevators. employees
having to go from one floor to an
other being required to walk up or
down stairs.
FrOstburg Miners Going Back.
A dispatch from Cumberland said
that miners in the Frostburg terri
noon voted to return to work Mon
day. A meeting of miners in the
Georges creek coal workings near
Md. voted to resume
work at once. Practically all of the
mines in the latter territory are
owned by the Georges Creek Coal
Company, and have been shut down
for more than two weeks. Not a mine
has operated in the Frostburg terri
tory since the strike began Novem-
Der 1.
The Cumberland dispatch said it
was expected all OF the striking min
ers in the Georges Creek and Upper
Potomac fields. comprising district 16
of the U. NJ. w. of A.. totaline about
10000 miners. would return to work
by Monday. This statement is at yari-
ance with declarations of many min
ers. made to stan correspondent of
The Star a week ago. that hundreds
of the men. having found outside en-
ployment that paid large wages, had
no intention of going back to coal
digging, no matter what the outcome
of the strike might be.
Can Make s12 n Day in Mines.
Under the IL per cent wage in
crease. it was stated in the dispatch
from Cumberland. men working full
time could make $12 a day or more
However. scores of miners inter-
viewed by a staff CORRESPONDENT Of
The Star week ago. said that in
their present employment they were
making IS to $12 day. and that they
did not intend to abandon their work
above ground for their old occupa-
ton. even at the proposed increase.
This condition, it might be stated,
was found to exist throughout the
entire West Virginia coal fields.
owners of Small Sforoe