The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-02
The Time Issue.


that they never could become reconcileG to
| it are now heartily in favor of it. 1t is also
! probably true that the opposition to stand
ard time would have been much less pro-
nounced had it not been for the aggressive
activity of a few gentlemen who have made
! it their business TO create the impression
that the Inconvenience of that kind of
time are much greater than they really are
1t was expected of course, that there
would be considerable opposition to stand
ard time at first, bee ause it interfered to
some extent with long-esta blished habits
and practices, but il was believed that as
the people became accustomed to it, they
would see that most of the objections to it
were more imaginary than real, and that
| those which possessed some merit were far
less formidable than those which are in
separable from two kinds of time. Doubt
les this view of the matter is still enter
tanned by those who are sincerely DESTROYS
OF having that time adopted which will be
for the best interest of the whole commu-
nifty.
The committee appointed by the Council
to investigate the complaints of those who
have petitioned for return to sun time has
prepared two reports. The majority report
Is in favor of return to sun time. 1t is
based, doubtless, upon the results of the in
vestigatiOn. which the committee made of
the complaints of the petitioners, but it is
understood that only opponents of standard
time were given an opportunity to be
heard. Why was this. If the committee
had been anxious to get an expression of
public sentiment, and had desired 10 hear
what there was to be said in favor of stand
ard time as well as against it
the friends of that kind of time
ought to have been called upon for an
expression of their views. The majority
report, based wholly upon the statements
and opinions of those representing one side,
can hardly be fair one, or one upon which
Council can act with any degree of GER
tainty that it is doing what is for the best
interest of the community.
For instance, it is said that both employ
ers and employees found fault with standard
time-the employers particularly, because
they got less service from their employees
1t is rather remarkable that employees
should object to standard time if it
enables them to get the same
wages for less hours of labor
Alderman Schwarz, who voted for standard
time, has signed the majority report in
favor of sun time. In view of the fact that
those who favor standard time were not
invited before the committee, it would be
interesting to know his reasons for going
| back on his record in the brief period of
one month. 1t is reasonable TO suppose that
he wishes TO do what will be most satisfac-
tory to the majority of the people Doubt
less be thought he was doing what would be
popular when be voted for standard time
How does he know that he would not still
be in accord with the will of the majority
if he were to continue TO support that time?
He certainly cannot accept the results of
the one-sided investigation, which his com
mittee made, as indicating the popular
wish.
The Council cannot without the loss of
some of its sefrespect hastily reverse its
action on this time question. 1t did not act
hastily when it adopted standard time. 1t
gave two weeks notice of the proposition to
adopt that time, and not one of those who
are now SO active in behalf of sun time ut
tered protest, or gave any indication that
they were in the least interested in the mat
ter The Council had every reason to think
that the public was Indifferent, or really
favored standard time IL can hardly
be expected, therefore, to place
itself i'll the position of acting like
lot of children because a few
aggressive gentlemen, who were so entirely
| indifferent whether standard time was
adopted or not that they did not bother
themselves to protest against it when the
opportunity was offered 10 them, have sud
denly discovered that they want the city
clocks run by sun time.
1t is very doubtful if the Council will
grant the request of the petitioners, not
withstanding the fact that Alderman
Schwarz has concluded that sun time is bet
ter for the city than standard time. As far
as known, the Council stands 6 to ) in favor
of standard time, with one member in doubt
The one who has expressed no op inion since
the present controversy began is Alderman
Thomas. When standard time was adopted
he voted in the affirmative, and it has been
|
that as ne had no direct personal interest in
the matter, and desired TO do only what
would be for the public good, he
should vote with the majority. If he
still entertains these views he will vote
with the six TO retain standard time
Alderman Thomas has given too many evil
dences of his desire to do what is for the
best interest of the city b ba influenced by
the clamor OF the few. He acts only after
careful elaboration, and is not apt &c
reverse his action except for good reasons.
II is doubtful if he has yet been able to see
that he made a mistake when he voted fol
standard time That kind Of time has moi
been given fair trial, and no member OF
Council is able to determine yet whether OF
not the city can adapt itself to it with entire
satisfaction.
Admitting, for arguments sake, that there
are interests which are injured by standard
time, they can suffer very little at thi,
season of the year. The duty of the Coun-
Gil, therefore, is this: 1t should give stan
dard time fair trial-a trial say of -four
months. If at the beginning of the next
cotton season il is found 81 be unsatisfactory
10 the larger portion of the community, il