New-York tribune., 1921-02-23
Daylight Bill
Is L assed l>y
Jersey House
kibridge Measure Pro-
vides for Moving Clock
am Hour Ahead From
Last of April Until October
Plan Saving Time Here
Senate Leaders at Albany
Would Amend Repeal Leg.
islation Exempting City

The Elbridge daylight saving bill,
which sets the clock an hour ahead
the last Sunday in April and puts it
back to standard time the last Sunday
in September, passed the New Jersey
House of Representatives yesterday by
vote of 33 to 16.
simultaneously fifteen Senators
threatened to bolt the Republican con-
ference at Albany when an attempt
was made TO caucus on the Lowrnan-
Belts daylight saving repeal bill.
An attempt to caucus caused the
New York City men to start lively
row which came to an end when the
Senate leaders declared there would
be no attempt made to turn the confer
ence into caucus.
A bitter debate preceded the pas.
sage of the New Jersey bill Assem-
blyman Moore, Of Hunterdon, spoke
for the farmers of the state, declaring
that anything which added to the
farmers burden ought to be voted
down. He cited the argument of rail-
way man at the hearing on the bill
last week, that only luck prevented
disasters due to daylight saving.
Confusion in State Cited
Assemblyman Eldridge, of Union,
sponsor of the measure, said failure to
pass the daylight saving bill last year
caused confusion in various parts of
the state. Assemblymen from the
rural districts were a unit in opposi-
tion to the bill, declaring it to be not
only a source of inconvenience to the
farmers but also direct means Of
pecuniary loss.
At Albany the fifteen city men who
had threatened to bolt caucus served
an ultimatum that they would hold out
cities were exempted from it's provi
sions. 1t was suggested that govern
ing bodies of agricultural communities
might adopt daylight saving repeal if
they SO desired.
Would Avoid Compromise
The Senate leaders, however, do not
wish to make such compromise, hav-
ing twenty-four votes pledged to the
Lowman-Betts bill, two short of the re-
quired majority. They hope to win
over the twelve New York City mems
bers by amending the bill to provide
that cities of more than million in
habitants shall be exempt.
This amendment would apply only
to New York City. 1t would not help
Buffalo and other upstate cities.
Senator Seymour Lowman, sponsor of
the bill, said last night:
"I believe that when we have amend
ed it so that New York City will be
exempted we, will have more than
the required majority. 1t is only fair
to the farmers that the platform pledge
of the party be carried out. This can
be done. and New York City, which is
practically a unit for the daylight
saving law, can have daylight saving
The Assembly, where there are more
than the required majority pledged to
the passage of the bill, as the result
OF a successful caucus last week, Will
answer the threatened bolt of the city
Senators by passing the Lowman-Betts
bill tomorrow.
This, however, will not affect the
situation in the Senate, as the Low
man. Belts bill in its present form can.
not be passed unless at least two OF
the fifteen Senator'S who threatened TO
bolt early yesterday are won over.
In fact, there is possibility that the
fifteen Senators will stick together and
demand that the bill be amended, ex-
empting all cities from the provisions
of the repeal, making the local opSlon
features of the bill apply only TO
agricultural communities.