Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
CALENDAR REFORM
FAILS IN VOTING
Two Thirds Majority Lack
ing in Referendum by
Chamber of Commerce.

Calendar reform proposals failed to
receive the necessary two-thirds ma
iority vote in a Nation wide referendum
of business organizations included in
the membership of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, the
chamber headquarters here announced
today.
A preliminary canvass of the ballot
ing shows that each of the three pro-
posaIs put forward received majority
Of the votes cast, but since the ma
tional chamber can be committed only
by a two-thirds ma jority no decision
was reached on any of the propositions
The proposals submitted and the vote
on each follow:
That the present calendar should be
so changed as to bring about greater
compatibility in business records for
periods within a year and for periods
from year to year. For, l,549; against
1913. Necessary to carry, 1912.
That the form which changes In
the calendar should take should be de-
termined through international con-
ference. For, 1913: against, 1882.
Necessary to carry, 1910.
That the Government of the United
States should participate in an inter-
national conference 10 determine the
form of changes to be made In the
calendar. For, 1886; against, 1909.
Necessary to carry, 1911.
Conference Vote Heaviest.
As shown by the preliminary count
the suggestion that the United States
should participate In an international
conference to determine the form OF
changes to be made in the calendar
received the largest affirmative vote.
The proposal that the present. calendar
should be changed failed by the largest
margin.
The subject of calendar reform has
been agitated for a number of years
both here and abroad. The League of
Nations. the International Chamber of
Commerce and the international
Astronomical Union are among the
organizations which have given it study
The committee reporting the League
OF Nations recommended that attention
should be centered on three funda
mental questions
!. Should the divisions of the year il
the present calendar be SO changed tina
there will be greater uniformity il
length and consequently better com
parability?
relations to the diversions of the veal
| in which they occur?
3. How should the form of the change
be determined?
Thirteen Months Favored.
Majority members OF the Chamber.
| committee developed individual prefer.
ences respecting a 12-month plan anc
l3-month plan, with the 13-montf
| plan receiving most favor.
| The problem attending the wide
| variance year by year in Easter date:
| received the attention of the Cham
bers committee, which pointed out thu
| Inconvenience of the present arrange
ment
! The committees minority member!
frankly opposed any calendar changes
In their separate report they said.
Generally speaking, the civilized
| world does now possess, or Is rapid!
coming TO possess, a calendar enjoying
substantial uniformity. The inflictlol
of a new calendar having radical de
| partures from the present, or attempt
| ing to improve it, would mean annoy
ance to millions of people, would brin
great discontinue to great SectS which
view the present calendar with religion
loyalty, and would offer nothing OF sub
Stantial value to any single DuSint :
which that business cannot rhjoy nov
II it will.
The daily use of the calendar vital
concerns the intimate habits and Jew
OF vast millions of people in this un
try. The proposal To agitate reform
in the calendar as presented has n
popular backing worth mentioning. ]
comes 10 this Chamber with the studio
support of but few people. A lar2
! hoc fstrc
often happens with catchy ideas,
great many people, many of them c
business prominence, are giving th1
proposal their endorsement, withoI
deep thinking. We have not learne
that these people are giving else bu
lip service toward the Iurtherance
| the idea, thoungh apparently a con
slider able sum OF money is being sper
I to launch it.