Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-23
DAYLIGHT SAVING
MAY BE ADOPTED
IN UNITED STATES

NASHlNG1ON, u. T., july IL
There appears to be a strong proba-
bility that the United States may soon
adopt the daylight saving plan as q
war measure. The Calder bill, author
iling the setting ahead of the clock one
hour in summer, has already passed
tie senate. This bill provides that. af-
ter January l next, the standard time
Of each zone shall each year be adj
vanced one hour, between the last Sun.
day in April and the last Sunday in
September. In the house of represent
atiyes two bills for similar purpose
have been introduced, one by Repre-
sentative Carlin, of West Virginia, and
the other by Representative Borland,
Of Missouri.
The adoption Of the daylight saving
plan is urged by the United States
Chamber of Commerce, on the ground
that it will contribute immensely to ma
tional efficiency and economy. More
! than a dozen of the European nations
have found the plan highly beneficial in
practice, and many leading business
men and commercial and trade organi,
cations in the United States have eX-
pressed the belief that the same ad-
vantages would be gained here
AS wartime measure the daylight
saving plan has been adopted by Great
Britain, Germany, France, Russia.
Italy, Austria, Holland, Denmark, Nor
way, Sweden, Portugal, Australia and
Iceland. In England a committee Of
the house of commons, which made a
preliminary study Of the question for
two years reported that it would have
many advantages. Chief of these. the
report stated, would be the promotion
of the greater use of daylight for re-
creation purposes, lessening of the
use of houses licensed for the sale Of
intoxicating liquors, facilitation of the
training in the territorial force, reduc-
ton of industrial, commercial and do
nestle expenditures for artificial light
and the advancement of the general
welfare of all classes of the communi-
ty.
Accordingly the committee recon-
mended that an alteration of the clock
of ne hour in April and similar al
iteration of one hour in September be
made The central committee for the
disposal of coal unanimously passed a
RESOLUTION urging the government to
adon. the daylight saving plan in order
to conserve the coal resources of the
nation. 1t was estimated that the saw
ings in the use of artificial light and
fuel, for the summer months only, in
England, would be as high as $780,
900.
In France the adoption of the day
light saving plan was estimated to re-
duce the amount spent for coal by gas
and electric light undertakings by a
least $4,000, 900 for the summer months.
In Germany a great reduction in the
amount of gas consumed has been re-
corded. Russia has put the plan into
effect only within the past few weeks.
so reports on the results in that coun
try have not been received.
For the United States, daylight saw
ing as a war measure would mean a
saving of $40, 100000 annually in coal
bills alone, according to reliable esti-
mates. A special committee appointed
by the Boston Chamber of Commerce
to investigate the subject places the to-
tai saving for the nation as high as
$500 100000 year. These estimates
are not mere guess work They arc
based largely on the indisputable fact
that the city of Cleveland, where the
daylight saving plan has been in sue
cessful operation for several years,
saving 100000 in the first six months
operation of the plan.
In it's effect upon the food problem
the daylight saving plan, it is pointed
cut, would allow 10000 900 workers in
trade, transportation and other pur'
suits outside the field of agriculture
to use an extra hour of daylight for
work in gardens and fields. The Ma
tional Emergency Food commission is
inspiring and aiding the planting of L.,
O0OO home gardens in cities
and villages. Daylight saving would
mean tremendous impetus to this
movement. In the summer cool hour
of the morning will be substituted for
warm one of the afternoon, in in
! dustry, which will contribute to eff
cheney. Workers will be able to spenc
more time outdoors after the work-day
is over, and this will mean better use