The Washington times., 1922-06-09
The President and
Daylight Saving
BY BILL PRICE.

President HARDING ordered the change of
working hours in Government departments and
bureaus on representations of a Cabinet officer
and committee Of local men that the scheme
of self-imposed daylight saving would be well
coined with open arms by the people of the
District
The local committee which aided in in
fluencing the President soon found that local
sentiment is overwhelmingly opposed to the
executive order brand of daylight saving
well as to statutory kind, which became a fad
in few European countries and has since been
abandoned as a delusion and hardship on the
ma iorty of people that a minority may have
more time to play.
Washington business men abandoned the
early hour scheme after short trial. 1t is still
in force in the Government workshops, much
against the wishes and desires of an immense
majority of Government workers.
The President is represented as stating that
he will not rescind his order unless it can be
shown that the early hour scheme works un-
satisfactorily to Government workers and is of
no benefit to the Government itself.
There is no way of ascertaining the facts
unless heads of executive departments and in
dent to investigate and report to him. 1t is
indsputably the duty of the Government to
adopt whatever hours of work or routine that
will Weld the best results The next considera-
ton should be hours, rules of work, ETC., that
will give the fullest contentment to employees
and Weld the greatest efficiency on the part of
those paid to serve the United States.
Unless there are distinct evidences that eff
cheney in the departments is improved by this
daylight saving joke-and everything indicates
that there is not-then the next question should
be whether the Governments employees are
satisfied.
Nothing stands in the way of executive heads
making canvass of employees or taking di-
rect vote, uninfluenced by the views of chiefs
of departments. 1t might be we'll for execu-
tive heads to consult medical attaches of the
departments or surgeons of the Public Health
Service as to whether the efficiency OF Gov
ernment clerks is increased by going to work
an hour earlier under the stress of unusually
warm weather, in which it is difficult for
people to get to sleep early enough in the eve
ming to meet the demands of the early rising
hours.
Is there not necessarily much loss of benefi-
cial sleep! Would not it be better for every
BODY to enjoy one hour more of sleep in the
cool of the morning7 What is the effect upon
the nervous systems of workers in the loss OF
this sleep! Isn't there irritability, lack OF con-
centration on work and falling off in eff
ciency'
There never was a fairer minded President
than the one who now occupies the White
House. His unfailing courtesy and thoughtful
consideration make him universally beloved.
This daylight saving issue is not life and
death affair, but every problem ought to be set
tied fairly and to the satisfaction of the major
ity of people of a community. The work of
Government departments is so closely inter
woven with the affairs of the District that
whatever affects Government workers directly
or indirectly affects the whole of Washington.
In handling this question, therefore, the Presi-
dent makes contact with practically the en-
tire community life of the District.