Evening star., 1942-03-12
DC. Heads Back
Thursday Night
Hours
Most Stores Will Open
At ] and Close at
9 One Day q Week

Voicing approval Of a plan where
by stores and other business estab-
ushments would remain open on
Thursday evenings until 8 O'Clock to
AFFORD more shopping time for Fed
eral workers, the Commissioner to-
day called on employees, employers
and the public to cooperate In ef-
fecting this change.
The city heads Endorsement Of
the proposal, developed by the
Board of Trade and the Merchants
IL Manufacturers Association, was
disclosed in q letter sent to Presi-
dent Fred A. Smith of the trade
board by Commissioner John Russell
Young.
Mr. Smith previously had in
formed the Commissioners that rep
resentatives Of stores and trade
groups had expressed their willing
ness to CO. o-operate in making neces-
sary adjustments. In most instances,
1t was pointed out, the stores would
not open on Thursdays until pm.
Effective March 10.
Commenting on the Commission
ers' action, Mr.. Smith said he was
glad they approved the plan, and
said the boards Special Committee
on Wartime Adjustments would take
steps Immediately to put the pro-
gram in operation. with as many es-
tablishments as possible co-operat-
ing. March 19 has been selected ten
tatively as the starting date.
The text of Commissioner Young's
letter follows:
Reply is made to your letter OF
March 10. 1912. suggesting the
lengthening of store hours in order
to afford the residents and particu-
larly the new Federal employees a
greater opportunity to shop and
transact necessary business.
"At their board meeting this
morning. the Commissioners dis
cussed this matter and noted the
statement contained in your letter
that a recent survey conducted by
your Special Committee on Wartime
Adjustments developed through in
terviews with Federal employees and
personnel officers of the agencies
bringing most Of the new employees
to Washington the fact that the
most orderly and satisfactory man
ner Of lengthening store hours would
be to stay open each Thursday night
until . o'clock, commencing March
10, 1912.
The Commissioners are OF the
opinion that this proposal is In the
public interest and therefore urge
that employees. employers and the
general public alike. cooperate pa
triotically in effecting this change
which is the result Of wartime neces-
sity.
Residents Also Urge Change.
"It is understood, as stated at the
conference which you attended in
my ONCE on this subject recently.
that in practically all cases the
stores would not open Thursdays
until / O'Clock pm"
In his letter to Commissioner
Young. Mr.. Smith said interviews
conducted by the Wartime Adjust
ments Committee showed that a
majority Of Federal employees IA
vored stores remaining open one
night a week. He said the board
also had received numerous requests
from residents that arrangements
be made to provide more opportunity
to shop and transact business.
Careful consideration Of the prob
lens involved convinced the store
and trade group representatives that
the most orderly and satisfactory
manner Of lengthening store hours
would be to stay open one night a
week" Mr.. Smith said
He pointed out also that there was
reason to believe that the present
inadequacy Of shopping hours will
become more marked as Federal en-
ployment continues to rise.