The Washington times., 1922-05-24
INCREASED
WORK DAY
IS FEARED
Whole Plan, Says BIanton, Is
Trick to Lengthen Hours
of U. S. Clerks.

The House District Committee
at the conclusion of a stormy
two-hours' session today virtually
killed all hope of reporting out
the resolution of Congressman
Hammer, of North Carolina,
which provided authority for the
District Commissioners to regulate
daylight saving.
Ragtime Is Protested.
Evan II. Tucker, president of the
Northeast Citizens Association, made
q vigorous protest against the pres
ent "ragtime" confusion in Washing
ton and said that he could not under
stand how the Hammer resolution,
which would grant the authority 10
the District Commissioners, would, If
enacted into law, solve the present
chaotic conditions in the Government
departments.
Mr.. Tucker told the committee
that the Northeast Citizens Associa.
ton has one of the largest member
ships in Washington and that the
majority of it's members are gov
ernment clerks. He declared that az
q recent meeting they unanimously
disapproved of the early opening
hours in the departments which is
working undue hardships on :he
routine of their household.
Congressman Blanton from Texas
In voicing his opposition 10 the
resolution declared that in the course
of his duties he had occasion to call
up various departments in the morn.
ing and that he could not locate on
the telephone any of tn echiefs or
assistant chiefs of the division until
as late as $3.50.
Nine o'clock opening time is what
the Almighty has fixed and we can.
not fool the SUM-" Blanton said.
1T is absolutely foolish for the Presi'
dent to attempt to inaugurate the
early opening hour as | is in direct
violation of the will of 0,000 govern
meht clerks"
Eight-HOurs Day Planned, He Says.
Blanton charged that the whole
daylight saving movement is y
camouflaged trick to eventually go.
cure an eight-hour working day for
the government clerks. Congress
man Hammer was asked by Con.
gress Millspaugh If he had had any
communications with the District
Commissioners and If the Commits
sioners had inspired him to offer
his resolution.
Hammer explained that he was
personally opposed to the daylight
saving, and that his only motive in
offering the resolution was to bring
about some uniformity in the hours
of the District, and that if the au
thority was delegated to the Commits
sioners Congress would not be re
Bponsible for what action they would
take.
Resolution is Tabled.
the resolution was tabled, with nc
hope of 1t being brought up unless
there is a marked change Of senti
ment within the next two weeks.
The meeting convened with a mis-
understanding as to what was the
regular order of business Congress
man Fitzgerald attempting to get
consideration of his workmen's com
pensation bill. He offered a resolu
Ilon to make the bill the regular or
der Of business before the commit
tee, but after a parliamentary dis
cussion, lasting nearly an hour, as
to he proper procedure the Fitz
gerald bill was again tabled.
AS far as concerns the logic Of
substituting bona fide daylight saw.
ing for the confused system now in
vogue, the committee members are
practically agreed. The only demur-
rer comes from those who share the
widespread sentiment in Congress
that the great army Of farmers,
al 9ned against clock advancing. may
see in the resolution a tacit indorse-
ment Of the saving principle.
Members OF the North Capitol and
lexington Citizens Association met
last night and condemned both rag
time" and daylight saving. Two
resolutions, one asking the school
board to re-establish the school open.
ing hour at 3 o'clock and the other
petitioning the reinstatement OF
standard time throughout the Dis
tric and condemining the Hammer
resolution.