Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-15
LETTERS OBJECT
]. TO DAYLIGHT LAW
Prominent Business Men Write
Mayor Asking RepeaI-con-
4 fusion May Result, They Say
C0UNCILMEN GIVE VIEWS

Mayor Moore this afternoon made
public letters written him by prominent
business men. urging that to avoid CON
fusion the daylight saving ordinance
now on the city statute books be re-
pealcd.
1t is expected that a repeater will be
introduced by one of the administration
councilmen at tomorrow's meeting of
City Council.
Unless action is taken swiftly there
will not he time to rescind the ordi-
nance by March 2S which is the date
fixed for it to go into effect. 1t was
passed December o. 1919, by the old
Councils.
The men who have written the Mayor
express their approval of the prin-
cipal of daylight saving. but point out
that unless there Is national law con-
fusion is likely to result.
Agnew T. Dice, president of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway,
wrote Of the ordinance from the rail-
road mans point of view.
"Tbe matter has been under consid-
Grafton of the General Managers Asso-
citation" he wrote. lin New York, and
It will lead to very great confusion un-
less the Philadelphia ordinance is re-
pealed.
Personally, l am very much in favor
OF it. but unless it be national law,
/ think none of us should adopt it,"
Alba Johnson, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce, wrote that the direc-
TORS of his organization had considered
the matter, and emphasized the dcsir-
ability of national daylight saving at
the same time advocating the repeal of
the local law.
''It is better" Mr.. johnson wrote.
"'for Philadelphia to conform to the
practice followed by other communities
than to go alone in adopting daylight
saving. however advantageous we be-
lieve the latter to be-"
William l.. Coates. president of the
Philadelphia Board of Trade, wrote:
''The Philadelphia Board of Trade
has continuously advocated the continu
ance of the daylight saving plan by
Congress- and it has consistently held
that the enactment by cities alone would
cause great confusion, unless it was so
universal as to compel virtually its gem
eral adoption"
Opinions of some of the councilmen
on the proposed repeal follow:
Joseph p. Gaffney-''If City Solicitor
Smyth says that the city ordinance
providing for daylight savings is in
valid, It should be repealed. Ii Phila-
dolphin acts alone in this matter it will
lead to confusion. 1t may not be OBJ
served by many. Schools. banks, the
not be guided by the ordinance. The day
light savings plan ought to be state
wide or nation wide TO be effective"
William McCoach-"If daylight saw
ing were universal / would be in favor
of it. ! think it would be bad thing
for Philadelphia alone. 1t will only lead
to confusion. l do not think the plan
of the Chestnut street business men to
advance the workday one hour will help
matters any. We would be at work an
hour earlier than towns with which
business men here do business and the
early additional hour would be Of little
value"
Simon Walter-"I think the plan is
q good one, and If there. is any way
of continuing it, feel it is the thing
TO do. The people seem to feel that way
about it, too. And now that New
York has the law, how is Philadelphia
TO get along without it-starting the
day an hour later? Think of the diff
ference it would make in the stock ex-
change and for business men who travel
between the two cities. 1t is unfortu-
mate that the Chamber of Commerce
didn't take an interest in the matter
originally instead Of waiting to try to
have it repealed now"
Isaac d. Hetzell-"I was out of town
and don't know anything about daylight
saving. You will know where / stand
when the thing is brought before Coun-
Gil"
Sigmund J. Gans-"While / am in
favor of daylight saving as n nation
wide measure. l am in sympathy with
the opinion of City Solicitor Smyth. l
believe that such an ordinance here only
would lead to confusion and trouble"
William X. Horn-'I am in favor of
the repeal of the daylight saving ordi- :
nance in Philadelphia.
Edwin r. Cox--''I believe that day
light saving in Philadelphia alone will
be Of little value and will lead to con
fusion. l am in favor Of the repeal Of
the city ordinance"