Evening star., 1947-03-25
ID. T.. Time Bill
lin House After
.SenateApprova|
Dirksen Hopes for
Vote in Two Weeks
On Optional Plan

Washington's battle for local op-
ton on daylight saving today was
carried to the House, where the
farm bloc recently smothered the
original, but different, fast time bill
by two-to-one vote.
Chairman Dirksen of the House
District Committee promised early
action on the Senate measure and
predicted change of heart" would
be found at the next test on the
House side.
The Senate late yesterday adopted
the local option bill of Senator
McGrath, Democrat, of Rhode
Island, by roll call vote of Sc to
II. The size of the victory surprised
many observers.
Committee Meeting Friday.
Chairman Dirksen set 10 m. Fri
day for a meeting of the full men,
hership of the House Committee and
said he hoped to get House action
at least by a week from next Mon
Gay.
The original daylight saving time
bill, sponsored by Mr.. Dirksen,
would have had Congress itself order
the fast time. That bill was de-
feated in the House by a roll cali
vote of 2l0 to 1874, with farm spokes-
men in command.
With this lesson in mind, Senator
McGrath then offered a substitute
bill in the Senate to give Washing
ton local option authority. The
Commissioners would be ordered to
hold immediate hearings and en-
powered to order fast time if thev
find most Washingtonians want the
change.
This was approved by the Senate
yesterday despite a joshing contest
offered by Senator Overton, Demo-
crat, OF Louisiana. a veteran friend
OF the District, who just doesn't be-
lieve In changing Old Soils time"
Senator Overton was supported by
Senators Maybank, Democrat, of
South Carolina; Stewart, Democrat,
OF Tennessee, and LANCER, Republic
can, of North Dakota.
Taft Makes Motion.
Senator McGrath was given solid
support by Chairman Buck of the
Senate District Committee and Sen
ators Cain, Republican, of Washing
ton; Saltonstall, Republican, of Mas
sachuetts, and Holland, Democrat.
OF Florida. The motion to take up
the bill for action was made BY
Senator Taft, Republican, OF Ohio,
head of the Senate Republican
Policy Committee.
Chairman Buck said that out of
1880 letters the District committee
had received on the fast time issue
3,303 favored daylight saving time.
There are predictions that manv
OF the House opponents will be sat
lsfied with the new bill But there
still will be a fight, according to
present indications.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
Iof Virginia, who played a part in
Killing the original Dirksen bill, said:
Il haven't read the new bill and
have no comment"
Wadsworth Voices Opposition.
Representative Wadsworth. Re-
publican, of New York, another
leader in the fight to kill the Dirk
sen bill. spoke again of the hard
ship" on farmers. He said he still
was opposed. Daylight saving time.
ne said. amounts only to a conven-
fence to city folk.
Representative O'Hara, Republi-
;an, of Minnesota, who voted against
the first plan. said Il am not one
to march up the hill one day and
down the next"
On the other hand. Representa-
tive Auchincloss, Republican. of New
Jersey, chairman of the Home Rule
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee, declared: THE action
Of the Senate definitely is a step
IN the right direction. This issue
shouldn't be the concern of Con-
gress, but of the people who should
rule the District locally. Whatever
they want, favor"
Confusion Prospect Cited.
The McGrath bill ran the whols
gamut of questions before the SEN
ate acted. There were arguments
about the hardship on farmers,
questions of confusion about train
schedules and radio broadcasts OF
"favorite" commentators. And when
Senator Maybank was protesting
about train schedules, Senator Over
ton broke in to say Not only that.
but If you were going to catch a
bus from here to Silver Spring, you
would meet yourself coming back"
On this point, Senator McGrath
predicted that if the District went
on daylight time. nearby Maryland
communities soon would follow suit.
He said also he thought adjoining
Virginia areas would not be long
behind, If the District acted.
AIax~H1s:- HEc lI.I