Hon. OREN HARRIS, OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in reply to your request for a report on H.R. 7167, establishing a uniform system of time standards and measurement for the United States. The measure would establish eight standard time zones for the territory of the United States. Under present law (15 U.S.C. 263) there are five zones: eastern, central, mountain, Pacific, and Alaska. The zones to be established by the proposed legislation would be: Atlantic, eastern, central, mountain, Pacific, Yukon, Alaska-Hawaii, and Bering. The standard time of a zone, with certain exceptions, would be the time for the transaction of all government business, and for observance by all persons in civil and business relations with the public. H.R. 7167 would also provide for daylight saving time, and allow the administering agency to determine whether a given zone (or subzone) should be on advanced time from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October of each year. We favor the general objective of the legislation which is to eliminate the confusion resulting from a lack of uniformity in the adoption of daylight saving time by various jurisdictions. The measure, however, though providing for a desirable uniformity in dates for the daylight changeovers for all those jurisdictions which will use daylight time, falls short of the goal of complete uniformity by failing to prescribe daylight time for all jurisdictions. Section 7 of the bill, for example, would authorize establishment of subzones within the standard zones, transferring them eastward to the next adjacent standard time zone during the period from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. Though giving the effect of daylight time to the subzone, it continues the present undesirable situation of having daylight time in one part of a standard zone but not in another. Though a mandatory and uniform daylight time for the country as a whole would best serve the interest of mail transportation, the proposed legislation is at least a step in the right direction, and for that reason we favor its enactment. It will, we believe, in some measure benefit mail transportation by definitely fixing daylight time areas and standardizing the date periods. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that from the standpoint of the administration's program there is no objection to the submission of this report to the committee. Sincerely yours, (Signed) JOHN A. GRONOUSKI, Postmaster General. Hon. OREN HARRIS, FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY, Washington, D.C., August 6, 1965. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in reply to your request for the views of this Agency with respect to H.R. 7167, a bill to establish a uniform system of time standards and measurement for the United States and to require the observance of such time standards for all purposes. This bill provides for the establishment of a uniform system of time standards based upon the general zone system of standard time. The exact limits of the respective time zones are to be determined by the administering agency. Section 9(b) provides an exception to the use of standard time in a given zone for "air navigation, air traffic control, and related activities." In the conduct of many of this Agency's activities, such as air traffic control, weather reporting, flight information services, and aerial navigation, we have adopted Greenwich mean time as the standard time for all required communications, both external and internal. This internationally agreed standard has been adopted to standardize as much as possible an increasingly complex activity, to permit more adequate separation of air traffic moving across time zones with increasing speed and volume, and to facilitate the growing use of computers within the system which requires the use of one standard time for programing purposes. We believe the continued use of Greenwich mean time for these purposes is imperative and that the exception provided for “air navigation, air traffic control, and related activities" is appropriate. The other aspects of this bill are not within the purview of this Agency and on them we defer to the views of other interested agencies. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection from the standpoint of the administration's program to the submission of this report to your committee. Sincerely, Hon. OREN HARRIS, (Signed) WILLIAM F. MCKEE, Administrator. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, D.C., July 8, 1965. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. HARRIS: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have for report H.R. 7167, 89th Congress, a bill to establish a uniform system of time standards and measurement for the United States and to require the observance of such time standards for all purposes. The primary purpose of the bill is to establish throughout the United Statesuniformity in the beginning and ending of daylight saving time. Section 7(a) of the bill provides, among other things, that in the case of any zone or subzone (as defined by the bill) determined by an agency (designated by Congress), the agency may determine that in each year, from 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in April until 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in October, such zone or subzone, shall be on advanced time and shall be transferred to and made a part of the zone immediately to the east, and the legal time of such zone or subzone shall be the standard time of the zone into which it is temporarily transferred. Section 7(b) provides that until the agency determines to place or not to place any zone or subzone on advanced time as provided in subsection (a), “daylight saving" or other advanced time may continue to be observed in such zone or in. any portion, but only if such "daylight saving" or other advanced time commences at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday in April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October of each year. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia are authorized by the act approved April 28, 1953, as amended (67 Stat. 23; sec. 28-2804, District of Columbia Code), to advance the standard time applicable to the District 1 hour for the same period. Pursuant to such authority, the Commissioners have for the past several years established the entire period as daylight saving time in the District. However, section 18(b) of the bill repeals this statute, but does not change the present practice in the District of Columbia and would in fact standardize the practice in other political subdivisions with the practice now followed by the District. In light of the foregoing, the Commissioners favor enactment of the bill. The Commissioners have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that, from the standpoint of the administration's program, there is no objection to the submission of this report to the Congress. Sincerely yours, WALTER N. TOBRINER, President, Board of Commissioners, District of Columbia. The CHAIRMAN. Now, it is our pleasure to hear from our colleague from Minnesota, the Honorable Joseph E. Karth, a Member of Congress from the Fourth District of Minnesota. Mr. Karth has introduced bills in various Congresses and has a bill in this Congress. He has been interested in daylight saving time for a long time, and especially in the need for uniformity. You may proceed, Mr. Karth. STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH E. KARTH, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA Mr. KARTH. Mr. Chairman, gentlemen of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the committee today and to urge the favorable consideration of legislation to establish uniform dates throughout the United States for the commencing and ending of daylight saving time. Few bills, I might say, that I have introduced have generated so much spontaneous popular approval as the bill that I have introduced on uniform daylight saving time. Of course, the reason for this is not difficult to understand for anyone who knows of Minnesota's most recently troubles with time confusion. It is, of course, bad enough that State law sets the unique switchover dates for Minnesota on the fourth Sunday in May, the 28th day of May, and the Tuesday after Labor Day, September 6, but it also permits local option for border area municipalities. The major cities, St. Paul, to name one, Mr. Chairman, desire to conform with commercial or transportation schedule requirements of the great population centers of the Nation, but legally cannot do so. When St. Paul recently tried to go on daylight time before the rest of the State, utter confusion reigned because the adjacent metropolitan area refused to participate in St. Paul's decision. Intercity bus schedules were sheer chaos, coordinated commercial business hours were impossible. I might say that at one time, St. Paul was on one time, Minneapolis, the sister city, which is only separated by a river, was on another time, and Duluth, Minn., the other major metropolitan area in the State of Minnesota, was on Wisconsin time, to give you an idea of the chaos that reigned. The Minnesota Legislature, after futily considering the complexities of the problem, adjourned. Quite frankly, the urban and suburban people in the metropolitan areas of Minneapolis who are involved in business and transportation on a national scale are frustrated by a failure of their State legislature to meet their real need for time uniformity. The St. Paul area chamber of commerce, civic and labor leaders, representatives of the air, motor, and rail industries, and many citizens have urged me to obtain relief for them from time confusion through Federal legislation. It is the proper concern of Congress to accomplish this through the powers granted in the Constitution, "To regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States." While I believe my bill, H.R. 3385, would accomplish the uniform daylight saving time switchover which is so earnestly desired by constituents of my district in Minnesota, I know this committee will carefully consider the many bills before it and, in its wisdom, determine what legislation will effectively solve this serious problem this year. Mr. Chairman, I want you to know that I do not necessarily have any pride of authorship in H.R. 3385. I know, for example, that you have been in the Congress much longer than I and I know, too, that your interest in daylight saving time dates back to days prior to my becoming a Congressman. So suffice to say, Mr. Chairman, that I know that you and this committee will use your very best talents and your even greater knowledge than mine on the problem that has been brought about as a result of nonuniformity. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that in this age of supersonic jet travel and instantanteous communications, it is incredible that our highly complex and sophisticated society still tolerates archaic State and local time laws which are tied to the sleeping and waking habits of chickens, cows, and horses. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. If there are any questions, I shall be very happy to attempt to answer them. The CHAIRMAN. Any questions? Mr. Friedel? The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Younger? Mr. YOUNGER. No, thank you. The CHAIRMAN. We wish to thank you for taking the time to come and give us the benefit of your views, because we recognize that your constituency is the same as every other constituency across America, that they feel something should be done to avoid the confusion in your district, and it is certainly that way in every other district in America. I believe the responsibility, as you said, lies with Congress to do something about it. It is rapidly getting worse, and we have the opportunity to do something about it. I know you have had many bills in to try to correct this situation. I know of your real interest here. We thank you for taking the time to give us the benefit of your views. Mr. KARTH. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. (The following letters and press releases were later submitted by Congressman Karth:) Congressman JOSEPH E. KARTH, Longworth House Office Building, ECONOMICS LABORATORY, INC., St. Paul, Minn., February 9, 1966. DEAR CONGRESSMAN KARTH: Please list my name as a supporter of uniform daylight savings time. One only has to be involved in an operation covering all of the standard time zones to know how short the time is for business communications during the day. To have nonstandard changes shorten this day in key areas can mean many dollars suspended or lost. The loss of the yearly resetting of time deadlines by area will be an activity that would never be missed by passage of your bill. Sincerely yours, D. W. DEVINS, Vice President and Treasurer. GOULD-NATIONAL BATTERIES, INC., St. Paul, Minn., February 9, 1966. Congressman JOSEPH E. KARTH, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: This will serve to show this company's support to legislation creating uniform daylight savings time on a national basis. Gould-National Batteries, Inc., is a St. Paul based national corporation operating close to 200 plants, warehouses, and offices located in practically all States of the Union. The present nonuniformity of daylight savings time application has been a hindrance to us in our necessary daily communications, travel, and personal contacts. This reflects more than invidividual inconvenience. We have not attempted to evaluate our increased costs of doing business under the present system, or lack of system; however, there is no doubt that a sizable detrimental economic factor exists. If we can lend further assistance toward the enactment of legislation covering this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Very truly yours, HORACE G. MILLER, Director, Personnel and Labor Relations. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO., Congressman JOSEPH E. KARTH, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN KARTH: We note with considerable interest your bill to establish national daylight savings time. We are wholeheartedly behind this proposal and commend you for your efforts on behalf of such legislation. The exaggerated time differentials produced during those periods when the eastern financial centers observed d.s.t. and we do not cause extraordinary hardships and business disadvantages to our customers and to us. Commercial banks acting on their own behalf and on behalf of customers have considerable volume of business with New York banks, major stock exchanges, and the large government bond dealers. This proposed legislation would make it possible for us to continue our operations through the year without time problems caused by the different d.s.t. starting and ending dates under which we have suffered in the past. We hope this letter of support will in some small measure help you in establishment of uniform daylight savings time. Very truly yours, WILLIAM T. PRICE, Vice President. Hon. JOSEPH E. KARTH, Longworth House Office Building, CENTRAL LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION, INC., South St. Paul, Minn., February 1, 1966. DEAR CONGRESSMAN KARTH: It has been called to my attention that hearings in the House of Representatives will begin today (Feb. 1, 1966) on a bill, which is authored by you, and which has as its purpose the establishment and maintenance of uniform daylight saving time on a national basis. Those of us associated with the management of the Central Livestock Association, an organization which enjoys the distinction of being the largest livestock marketing agency in the United States, and, therefore, in the world, are very much interested in the passage of this legislation, because we receive consignments of livestock for sale from all sections of this north-central area of the United States, and because, through the Central Livestock Order Buying Co., we market livestock throughout the United States. I am certain that you can readily see that our business operations are severely handicapped when the offices of companies where we do business are opened and closed at different hours of the day. For instance, the buyers who buy cattle on the eastern coast, whose offices open earlier than ours, and earlier than the opening of our markets, would like quotations on livestock at an early hour in their day. Under the present situation we are not able to give them the information they desire until a later time, which materially handicaps their operations. The Market Reporting Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which attempts to quote the different markets throughout the day, finds it difficult to render a satisfactory service to retailers, processors, and producers when time varies throughout the country. 58-797-66- -3 |