Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
U. S. Urged to Take Part
In Reforming Calendar
BY HARDEN COLFAx.

Those who seek comfort against ad-
vancing age by conveniently overlook
ing their birthdays will find added
solace in the report submitted the Sec
rotary of State last week by the ma
tional committee on calendar simplifl-
cation, especially II they were born at
the end of the month.
In recommending after q rather full
investigation of the subject that the
United States Government indicate Its
willingness to participate in an inter-
national conference for calendar re-
form, this committee, composed OF
business and professional men and sew
eral Government departments lending
assistance In its work. has given impetus
to . resolution pending before the
House of Representatives authorizing
the President to propose such con-
ference or to accept an invitation for
this country to participate in one. Ex-
tended hearings were conducted last
Winter by the foreign affairs commit
tee, without action being taken, but
renewal of the effort next Winter ap-
pears assured
In the l3-month calendar as outlined
by its author, each month would have
four weeks; new month with the sug-
gested name Of Sol would be inserted
between June and July, the annual
year suggested to be observed as an
extra holiday; the extra day each leap
year would be inserted at the end of
June and also be observed rs . holi-
day; extra days to have special names
and to be the eighth days of the weeks
In which they fall: and all holidays
would be observed on the nearest
Monday plan which would mean two
consecutive days Of rest In weeks hav-
ing holidays.
@While defects in the present calendar
used throughout Europe and the Amer
icas and in other parts Of the world
are recognized, the principal objection
to radical change has been ON religious
grounds, although. sentimental objec-
tionS are advanced in individual cases.
At the House committee hearings last
Winter Jewish rabhis and representa-
tives of Christian denominations which
observe the seventh day as the Sabbath
were the chief opponents Of calendar
change to the 13-month plan.
Advocates of calendar reform admit
readily that there would be difiiculties
or establishments to any change in the
present system, but emphasize their
view that the BENEFITS would speedily
discount the inconvenience. As a mat
ter of fact, 1t is less than 800 years
since Great Britain, including the then
American Colonies. adopted the Gre
gorian calendar. Most of Europe ac-
cepted the adjustments of Pope Gregory
In 1882. The British did not do so un.
til l752 - George Washington, whose
birthday is celebrated February %. in
reality was born February IL.
Business interests are pressing for q
change in the calendar because of the
impoSsibility Of keeping statistical rec
ords comparable from year to year. or
month to month, under the present
system. In fact, considerable number
of large commercial and industrial or
ganisations now maintain records of Q
private system predicated on q month Of
exactly four weeks: the committee lists
more than 80 such Arms In its report
Definitely, and certainly In the United
States, among the hundreds of firms
and organizations to which the COM
mittee submitted q QUESTIONABLE, the
trend favors the 13-month calendar,
DESPITE the fact that the superstitious
may observe that under the suggested
plan. Friday the 18th would occur ~
tcepyrisht. Isss1