The Washington times., 1922-05-16
Washington on a Ragtin,e
Schedule
BY BILL PRICE.

Normally Washington operates on Eastern time
1t is now doing business on ragtime- e-anybody's
time, nobody's time. The confusion resulting from
this new attempt at daylight saving has "shot the
town to pieces''-upset everything and everybody
except those unselfish citizens who felt that thew
were doing ALL HUMANITY a good turn when
they arranged affairs that they could get in an
extra hour at golf some other amusement for
themselves. What does it matter whether whole
community is turned topsyturvy if comparative
few may indulge in athletic or other pleasures to
their hearts contenti
Statesmen industrial leaders, thinking men, have
complained bitterly since the war that the trouble
with the country was that nobody wanted to work
and when did work put in as few hours and
did little in those hours as possible. Then thew
accommodatingly arrange another hour of play for
themselves, but advise others to put in this hour
working in gardens to increase the food production
of the country. Big jump, isn't it, from statesmen
preaching to the nation the serious need of increased
hours of labor to the idea that the people need more
time for amusement especially the gentlemen who
have been advising others that the cure for things
in this country is WORK!
We don't wonder that Congress refuses to have
anything to do with passing daylight saving law
for the District or the nation The thoughtful gentle
men up there know that the farmers, practically
every housewife, and most households of the nation
regard daylight saving mental deception and pure
bunk. Ordinarily Congress will stick anything on
the District of Columbia, and it is a good omen of
sanity that the national legislative body refuses to
legalize this Omfoolery in the National Capital.
Thousands of those who signed petitions in the
executive departments for this change of working
hours stand ready to sign petitions for a return
to the former hours.
The hot weather season is approaching. The early
hours of hot summer evenings are not the ones in
which tired people may Sleep What refreshing
sleep they get in the late hours of the night and
early morning. The program for the District
shortens the morning rest by one hour, and the
effect will be appreciabe in all phases of community
life. 1t will be especially noticeable in households
where there children who should not be put in
their beds until the temperature has fallen suffi
ciently to induce sleep. Mothers must remain awake
until the little comfortably at rest before
they retire. They must arise an hour earlier
to get members of their families to work This
steady loss of an hours sleep each day through the
hot summer months will have most wearing effect
upon them and upon all classes except those able
to stay abed until ready to arise.
And against this physical and nervous de-
pleton may be reckoned the benefits that may
accrue to few from additional hour of outdoor
recreation-motoring, golfing etc.
President HARDING issued orders for the new
hours representation that the majority of en-
ployes of Government departments and bureaus de-
sired the change Now it is found that at least
two Of the largest Government establishments can
not follow the hours and the whole scheme is dis
arranged.
This is the right time for the District Commits
sioners to let the President know the real feeling
in the District the subject the decentralization it
is causing, the long train of ill effects, and request
that the order be rescinded.