The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-14
CHICAGO STIRS
NEICHbORS' IRE
IN Time CHANGE
Spokesman of Five States
to Voice Protest at |. C.
C. Hearing.
BY PAUL II. SMITH

BY PAUL II. SMITH
copyright. 1885. by United Press,
CHICAGO, Feb. 14-Midwest
farmers, manufacturers, laborers
and others will mobilize against Chi
cago's ordinance making Eastern
Standard Time mandatory in the
midcontinent metropolis perma-
nently after March /, Nrvey Of
five states indicated tods<
They will run into strong opposi-
ton from Chicago business men,
! who fottsee advantages from having
business hours identical with New
York.
Z Opposing interests will clash at a
hearing on the measure called here
by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for Feb. "a.
Arguments for Affirmative
Those who want to turn the clock
ahead argue:
1t will aid Chicago business by
having its hours synonymous with
those Of the East. 1t will be health
measure in that it will give residents
an extra hour of sunlight all the year
round. 1t will be safety measure,
since IL will provide light during the
early evening hours when traffic is
heavy and automobile fatalities are
numerous. 1t will stabilize railroad
suburban schedules heretofore
changed twice year for daylight
saving time.
Chief arguments against the or
dinance are:
It Is an injustice to thousands or
farmers in the Chicago trading area
who would be compelled to arise
an hour earlier to deliver milk and
other products.
It would force children to 20 to
school in the winter months in the
dark.
It would compel early workers to
spend their first hours laboring I'M
der artificial light; it is direct
boon to the utility companies which
would profit from the increased
power consumption in the morning
hours.
Claim Confusion as Result
Great confusion would be created
in train and business schedules be-
tween Chicago and towns in its
business area which do not have
Eastern Standard time.
Sentiment on the ordinance in
Chicago has been divided between
the businessmen who are favorable
and the farmers, teachers, parent
teacher organizations and labor
leaders who are hostile.
\ The Interstate Comhaerce Com
mission is empowered to fix time
zones for the convenience of rail-
road transportation. But it has been
emphasized in Washington that the
commission will take into consider2-
ton the convenience of the people
and localities the railroads serve
and the commerce flowing over the
railroads. The commission could
refuse to reconsider the time zones,
which would forbid enterprises OPP
Grating in interstate commerce to
obey the ordinance. Proponents of
the change then would have to ap-
peal to Congress for change in
the law creating the commissions
power.
Wisconsin Citizens Hostile
A survey by the United Press in
states adjoining Chicago revealed
the following opinion
Wisconsin, state law passed in
1881 forbids use of any time except
Central Standard with fine and
Jail sentence as penalties. Wisconsin
farmers, manufacturers and bust
ness men hostile to the proposal.
Indiana-Farm and labor spokes-
men express opposition. Business
and railroad officials said the
/ordinance would cause great incon-
venience. The state Chamber of
Commerce will be represented at
the I. c. c. hearing.
Illinois-The State Agricultural
Association passed resolution at
its convention in Decatur last
month. Labor is irritated because
there was no referendum on the
time shift either in Chicago or the
state.
Iowa-Farm and labor leaders ex-
pressed strong opposition. Railroad
executives said their trains would
not oe affected and livestock deal
ers favored the change, because they
will have market quotations an hour
earlier
Minnesota Is Indifferent
acknowledgement is regis
tered unless principal exchanges
also shift time schedules to conform
with those of Chicago, in which
case farmers would be opposed.
Wisconsin officials were most Wig
orous in expressing their opinion.
Charles l.. Hill, head of the State
Department of Agriculture, said: ito
change to an hour earlier would
work terrible hardship on the Wis
conSin farmer. Some have to get
up at a. m. now"
william Hurst, president of the