Evening star., 1947-03-11
D. {. Daylight Time
Hopes Revived by
Senate Unit 5 Report
By Don S. Worren

New developments on Capitol Hill
are inspiring hopes that Congress,
despite arguments from farmers
from Virginia to California, may yet
permit the District Commissioners
to order summer daylight saving
time for Washington.
Belief in possible change of
heart by the House is voiced by
Chairman Dirksen OF the House
District Committee. He spoke
after the Home Rule subcommittee
Of the Senate District Committee
ordered a favorable report yesterday
on the revised daylight saving time
bill Of Senator McGrath, Democrat,
Of Rhode Island.
Ofhcials of the Senate District
Committee also indicated favorable
action would be taken soon on a
somewhat revised version of the
McCarran bill to create a commits
sion to draft a "home rule" charter
for the District Government.
Quick Action Sought.
Assuming that the Senate will
adopt the revised McGrath bill
which would leave the decision on
daylight saving time up to the Dis
trict Commissioners, Chairman Dirk
sen said:
"We will try to get immediate
action in the House"
In recognition Of Senator Nc
Grath's efforts, Joseph c. McGar-
raghy, president of the Washington
Board of Trade, today sent the fol-
lowing telegram to the legislator:
Hearty congratulations on VIC
tory of Home Rule Subcommittee
today for your new daylight saving
bill. We earnestly hope this Is first
step in approval by Congress of a
measure clearly approved by the
great majority Of District residents.
Your leadership and personal inter-
est are greatly appreciated"
Another Step Due Today.
Another step in the program may
be taken today. The full member
ship of the Senate District Commit
tee was scheduled by Chairman
Buck to meet at 2:30 pm. to con-
slider the report of its Home Rule
Subcommittee, asking adoption OF
the revised McGrath hill,
Approval was anticipated. This
would send The new McGrath bill
To the Senate for possible action
before the end of this week. The
action of the Home Rule Subcom-
mittee, headed by Senator Ball, Re-
publican, of Minnesota, was unani-
nous. The decision was reached
after brief meeting, during which
the Rhode Islander outlined reasons
for his revised bill.
Told of the decision Of the Senate
Home Rule group, House Chairman
Dirksen, a sponsor of the daylight
saving plan, said he had found a
good deal" of change in sentiment
in the House. Public reaction to the
recent House rejection of the Urigi-
nal bill, he said, had "confounded"
quite number Of members.
Will Try for Early Action.
"If and when the bill comes back
to the House." he said, I'VE will try
to get immediate action, since the
summer months are fast approach
ing"
The question in his mind was
whether the House could act at
once on the McGrath bill as it
came from the Senate-assuming it
is approved there-or whether the
bill would have to be referred to
the District Committee for hearings
and then brought before the House
for action. ...
Daylight saving time for Washing
ton once was considered dead after
the House by a roll call vote of 210
to 124 defeated a proposal by Mr..
Dirksen. companion to the original
McGrath bill in the Senate, to have
Congress order summer daylight
saving time for the District. The
House farm bloc killed this bill.
Senator McGrath, refusing to give
up, then redrafted his bill to take
the decision. out of Congress and
to have Congress merely direct the
Commissioners to hold hearings on
the issue and to order daylight saw
ing time here if the city heads find
the majority of Washington's resi-
dents want it.
Numerous unofficial polls here
have indicated an overwhelming
percentage Of Washington residents
favor the time change.