Evening star., 1922-05-08
DC. HEADS IN DOUBT
0NDAYL|GHTSAV|NG
May Not Order Change Ap-
proved by U. S. Departments.
Postmaster PerpIexed.

Although the federal departments,
mercantile establishments, traction
companies and railroads will begin
operating on the daylight-saving plan
next Monday. the Commissioners to-
day strongly intimated that the Dis
trict government will not adopt the
new arrangement. The Commission
ers, however, will reach definite de-
cision in the matter at their board
meeting tomorrow morning.
The public schools. according to
Supt. Frank W. Ballou. will follow
any decision made by the Commits
sioners for the District government.
Therefore. II the city heads do not
favor the plan. the District govern
ment and the schools will be virtually
the only large local units not running
under the system of opening and
dosing an hour earlier.
Commissioner Rudolph. chairman of
the board Of Commissioners, said to-
day that he was heartily in favor Of
daylight saving by means of turning
back the hands of all clocks, but that
he is not in accord with the plan of
merely starting work an hour sooner
without changing the clocks.
Business Firms Approve.
Practically every large business es-
tablishment in Washington definitely
agreed today to adopt the daylight
saving plan, in a resolution passed
unanimously by the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association. The as
sociation represents virtually all the
large mercantile and industrial estab-
lishments in the city, employing ap-
proximately 5000 persons.
At the same time orders were is
sued by Secretaries Hughes, Weeks
and DENLY advancing by sixty min
utes the hour for beginning labor in
the State, War and Navy depart
ments beginning>.next Monday morn
ing. in accordance with suggestions
received from the President. From
that date until otherwise ordered the
employees OF those departments will
be excused at $3.50 pm.
It Is expected that the usual Sat-
urday half holiday In the federal de-
partments. formerly effective at l
o'clock pm, also will be advanced to
IL o'clock. That weekly holiday Is
w
put in operation the 18th of June Of
this year. unless q change is made in
existing orders.
Position Taken by Merchants.
The resolution adopted by the mer-
chants set forth that the association
heartily indorses the request of Presi-
dent Harding for the opening and
closing Of the government depart
ments an hour earlier, and stating
that all the merchants affiliated with
the organization would open their
stores an hour earlier, beginning next
Monday, and closing an hour earlier,
making the final closing hour at s
ment stores, which now open at 9:15
o'clock and close at g. will, open at
SIS and close at 5. The meeting of
the merchants association was at
tended by Representatives Of all the
stores, jewelers. and others. Gen.
Anton Stephan, president OF the as
ISOLATION, presided.
Prior to the adoption Of the reso-
luton many OF the large stores al
ready were arranging their schedules
to At in with the daylight saving
of1ciaIs Of the Capital Traction and
Washington Railway and Electric
companies said today that the sched-
ules on their respective lines would
be rearranged to meet the new hours
of employment.
City Postmaster Chance today de-
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