Evening star., 1945-09-20

he bOdIu Vi EQuCdt dtlOH ldCeS us
first 'reconversion" issue today as it
battles with the Traffic Department
and the Capital Transit Co. to get
their cooperation to permit re-
turn to the normal hour of am.
opening for 10000 junior and senior
high school students.
The board decided on swiftly
moving discussion yesterday to de-
mand that the Capital Transit Co.
work out transportation arrange
ments so as to permit dropping
within 80 or 60 days" the wartime
$50 am. school opening hour for
older students. The later hour was
adopted in 1912 to relieve traffic
congestion. The Traffic Depart
ment and the transit company
maintains it still is necessary.
DR.. James A. Cannon. originator
of the return to normally" move
ment, declared mothers have to
prepare two breakfasts and teachers
have to miss college night schools
classes while the abnormal $50
a m. to $3.50 pm. hour is in effect.
Elementary school children always
have reported at m. because they
generally walk to school and do not
use Streetcars and buses.
The sooner we all resume peace
time habits, the better it will be for
the country" DR.. Cannon said.
Haycock Favors Change.
Robert L. Haycock. superintendent
of schools, joined Dr. Cannon in
pointing out that with return of
standard time, darkness will begin
to cut into cadet drill and football
games. The pre-Pearl Harbor start
ing hour used to give just time
enough to finish the drill or the
games before twilight fell, Mr..
Haycock said.
Those opposing the 9 am. hour
during the discussion, were c. Mel
vim Sharpe, who said traffic con-
ditions still merited staggering the
hours, and George E. C. Hayes,
colored member of the board. Mr..
Hayes said the transit company re-
fused to hire colored motormen and
therefore its claim of a manpower
shortage was not a valid reason for
continuing to make school opening
hours easy on streetcars and bus
service.
Adelbert w. Lee suggested that
the Traffic Department, the transit
company and the board work out a
return to the 9 am. hour in at least
two months. Five board members
voted for this, Mr.. Hayes dissenting
William A. Van Duzer, director OF
vehicles and traffic, sent a letter to
the board yesterday asking that the
$50 Am. hour be kept because there
are more Federal workers here now
than there were in 1912 when the
staggered hour was first found i'm
perative. At least 253,O00 Govern
ment workers are here now, in con-
trast to $4,000 in 1912, he said.
/ Says 10 More Buses Needed.
About 10 more buses would be
needed during rush hour to handle
the students reporting at 9 am.
Mr.. Van Duzer said. 1t would be
safer" for them to come at the
late hour, he concluded.
E. D. Merrill, president of the
company, said the later opening
hour was an "immeasurable help
in providing better transportation
and safer hours" for pupils.
He said shortage of drivers
would make it impossible for the
company to put on 10 more buses
during rush hour at this time.
The board decided to place all OF
its employees on 40-hour week ex-
cept engineers, who are to remain
at 48 hours. Mr. Lee warned il
might be difficult to maintain nor.
NAL service on 40-hour week until
many more employees return from
the armed services.
Priority has been granted fol
construction of a four-room ele.
mentary school - the Lucy Diggs
Slowe-at Fourteenth and Jackson
streets NE, the board learned.
Eighteen teacher vacancies hav.
not yet been filed, board member.
heard from the officers. There art
six senior high school vacancies
eight junior high school vacancie.
u L