Evening star., 1937-05-17
BY JAMES E. CHM.

Opponents Of the Sacks bill to put
Washington on daylight-saving
schedule today literally swamped q
special subcommittee of the House
District Committee with verbal pro-
tests against adoption of the plan.
Although mail poll had shown
that thousands of residents of the Dis
trict as we'll as many business. estab-
lshments favored daylight saving, only
few Of the advocates appeared at
the hearing on the bill to indorse it.
Opposition was led by two OF the
District Committees own members
Representatives Randolph, Democrat.
Of West Virginia and Arnold, Repub-
lican. of Illinois. Representative
Smith, Democrat, OF Virginia, also
appeared to register his protest.
After more than a score Of wit
nesses had expressed their views on
daylight savings-most of them in
opposition-the subcommittee, headed
by Representative Sacks, Democrat, OF
Pennsylvania, sponsor Of the bill, con-
cluded the hearings. The subcommit-
tee, however, announced that both
opponents and proponents would have
ample time in which to file written
statements regarding the plan before
action Is taken on the bill.
In expressing his opposition. RAN
dolph pointed out the Federal Gov
ernment Is the largest single in
dustry In Washington. He said he
had checked rs Government depart
ments and learned that not one re-
quires employees to work later than
4:30 pm.
That leaves three to four hours
Of daylight for the Government work.
ars in the afternoon" he declared.
Randolph as we'll as Smith also
argued the plan would cause confu-
sion since surrounding areas in nearby
Maryland and Virginia would remain
on standard time.
Il think the majority Of people in
the District don't want daylight say.
ing" said Arnold. This is a Govern.
ment city and most employees here are
working for the Government. Their
hours are short. And daylight saving
simply means the farmer who already
has the longest day must arise an
hour earlier"
The hearing on the bill failed to
produce the anticipated widespread
interest. Less than 100 persons were
scattered around the large House eau.
Gus room as the subcommittee lis.
tened to arguments for and against
the plan.
Stongly Favored in Poll.
Gordon Hittenmark, the time
keeper" Of Station WRC, the first Wit
ness, said he had conducted a daylight
saving pool during his morning broad
casts and had received 1928 votes,
1892 Of which favored the extra hour
of daylight. These ballots were turned
over to the subcommittee.
At the same time, Sacks announced
he had received in his own Office 5000
letters favoring the plan and 900 op-
posing it. In addition, the House Dis
trict Committee, he said, received 1874
votes indorsing daylight saving and
III opposing it.
w. H. Press of the Washington
Board Of Trade testified this organ
ization favored daylight saving. but by
congressional action only. He said
the board conducted a survey of busi-
ness establishment and found "an
overwhelming majority" in favor Of 1t,
Another Endorsement came from
Richard J. Murphy, manager Of the
Washington Automotive Trade Asso-
citation, who declared the plan would
allow the people Of the District an
added hour a day for recreation.
Extra Hour Available.
Representative McGehee pointed out
the extra hour of daylight Is nov
available in the morning.
But the people don't use It,"
Murphy declared
Stanley Horner, automobile dealer,
told the subcommittee he had polled
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