Evening star., 1922-05-09
White House Letter Formally
Authorizes Hour Earlier
After May IS.
BANKS, BUSINESS HOUSES
AND SCHOOLS ADOPT PLAN
District Government Also Orders
Change-Theater Managers
Still in Doubt.

daylight saving in Washington by
beginning the days work one hour
earlier. starting next Monday, was
formally authorized today, when
President Harding sent an identical
letter to cabinet officers, saying:
Notice should be given to all en-
ployes In your department that Or
that day employees will report one
hour earlier than heretofore, and the
days work will end one hour earlier"
The President does not state how
long the plan shall continue through
the summer, but it has been under
stood generally that probably it will
last until October
Text Of the Lettef.
The text of the letter follows:
Agreeable to the recommendations Of
the cabinet at its meeting Of Friday,
May ., and in conformity with the ex-
pressed preference Of government en-
ployes as indicated in the referendum
taken in favor Of an earlier working
hour for the summer season, have con
terred with representatives Of the com
mercial and civic organizations of the
city OF Washington and have assurances
OF cordial cooperation.
The plan OF daylight saving through
the one hour advancement of govern
ment working hours will be inaugurated
Monday, May IL Notice should be
given to all employees in your de-
partment that on that day employees
viii report one hour earlier than
end one hour earlier. The only ex-
ceptions to this rule will be in cases
Wnere the government interests dc
mand the later working hour for
some special reason which cannot be
waived aside"
ID. G. Commissioners nc,
Daylight saving for the DIserr,~
government also was ordered teoey
by the Commissioners in poaro srs.
sion, following receipt of the letter
from President Harding. On and after
May 16 the District building hours
will be from am. to $3.50 pm.
At the same time orders putting the
dayllEnt-saVlng pian Info eject IN the
puDnc schools here Monday were is
sued by SupI Frank w. -baIioa. 20
pms VINO report sueir cIasSrovmS at
3 o'clock will report at o'clock,
those who report at $3.50 will report
at 1880, etc.
soclatlon loday adopted a resolution
making the business hours of local
banks from 1880 to pm, closing on
Saturdays at o'clock.
Senator Makes Protest.
Senator Dial. in the Senate today.
protested the Presidents daylight
savings" plan by declaring the "ciock
the Creator gave u.s. could not be
improved upon and the hands Of the
dial should not be changed. He add
ed that the senators set 4 good eA-
ample for the country, saying they
get up early and work late"
There has been some contention
on the part of bankers as to the
right of banks to regulate their
hours in this respect. 1t may take
a change in the bylaws of the diff
ferent banks to make it effective,
while some more conservative bank
presidents declare that only through
an act Of Congress can the protest
ing of notes and refusal OF payment
on checks, other than in regular
hours, be made legal. They all De-
iieVe in it and only seek a way TO
be able to take advantage OF the
movement to be inaugurated May 10.
During the wartime period. when the
community took advantage of the saw
ing, it was by act of Congress.
bankers hold that the passage of
such an act would be easy without de-
bate and really a speedy settlement Oh
the matter.
Interior First to Act.
The Department of the Interior was
one of the first to issue an order plac-
ing the Presidents authorization into
effect.
Edward c. Finney, acting secretary,
yesterday issued the following order 10
chiefs OF bureaus and offlces OF the
department:
dent, the plan of daylight saving will
be put into effect in the departments
of the government in Washington by
advancing one hour the government
working hours. Accordingly, you are
! hereby notified that, beginning Mon
| day, May Is, all day employees of the
Interior Department, its bureaus and
oftices will be required to report for
duty one hour earlier than heretofore
and the days work will end one hour
earlier than heretofore. The only eN-
ception to this rule Will be cases
where the governments interest de-
, mands a later working hour Tor some
special reason which cannot be avoid
ed
While theaters and amusement
places generally have reached no de-
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