Evening star., 1947-02-16
Letters 10 Senators
Indicate D. C.Majority
For Daylight Time
BY Don S. Worren


If you can judge by scores of COM
munications written to the Senate
District Committee, most Washing
tonians want summer daylight say
ing time.
That was the summation given
yesterday by j. George Stewart, COM
mittee secretary, after reading
through pile of letters, cards and
kilograms.
The issue is to be fought out at
a public hearing before the Home
Rule and Reorganization Subcom-
mittee of the Senate group begin
ming at 2 pm. Tuesday.
House Action Set February "a.
On the House side, a daylight saw
ing measure has been reported favor
ably and is scheduled for House
action February "a. A contest may
develop there.
Commenting on his review of the
many communications filed with the
committee, Mr.. Stewart said:
"On the basis of these expressed
views, it would appear to be about
two to one in favor of adoption"
In preparation for the hearing,
Mr.. Stewart had asked all who
wished to testify to submit their
names and views in advance.
A check of the results showed 80
organizations and nine individuals
had replied in favor of daylight saw
ing to run annually from the last
Sunday in April to the last Sunday
in September. Recorded as opposed
were eight organizations and % in
dividuals. Each side claimed 1t
spoke for thousands.
Large Majority Indicated.
The Junior Board of Commerce,
campaigning for adoption of the
daylight saving for Washington and
adjacent counties of Maryland and
Virginia, reported it had addressed
more than 100 letters to civic, fra
ternal and social organizations. AS
of February 10, it reported, replies
had been received from more than
half. Of this total, At Endorsed the
plan and nine objected.
"It appears from the results SO
far received" the board wrote,
that the people of Washington
by large majority want daylight
saving time"
Arguments about Washington's
weather, the need for sleep, sun
shine, outdoor exercise and "duffer"
golfing were highlighted in the
letters.
The Merchants and Manufactur-
ers' Association, urging passage of
the measure, said it spoke for $50
firms representing 1000 retail stores
and other business establishments.
Others i'm Favor.
Support for daylight saving came
also from the Board of Trade,
the District Recreation Board, the
board of managers of the Congress
of Parents and Teachers, the Gen.
tral Business Association, spokes-
men for the II radio stations in
Metropolitan Washington, Wash
ington Automotive Trade Associa-
ton, the Greater Lincolnia Civic
League, Recreation and Athletic
Association of the Maritime Com
mission, and the Bethesda Chamber
of Commerce.
Citizens associations writing to
the Senate Committee were divided
rs to 6, with the larger number
favoring the plan.
The opposition was more vocal in
It's presentations. One man said
"the fad for daylight saving orig
mated in Europe and like a number
of other things emanating from that
source is unworthy of emulation"
Local los of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees, consisting
of women employees of the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, wrote that
they already were required to report
to work "at an early hour"
A mother wrote about the need
of health, sleep and exercise, and
that physicians claim the
oxygen in the air Is purest in the
early morning hour" Physical exer-
else, she argued, should be done then
instead of in the afternoon.