Neither measure was reported out of committee before the lame-duck 64th Congress concluded.īy the start of the 65th Congress, twelve advanced democracies had adopted daylight saving policies by the time the bill was introduced in the Senate including England, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Portugal, Australia, Iceland, and parts of Canada ( Congressional Record, 65th Congress, March 15, 1918, 3565). time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific and a fifth to include Alaska). Legislation had been introduced in both the House and the Senate earlier in the month that combined the daylight saving period proposal with the establishment of five standard U.S. This proposal was supported by both the American Federation of Labor and President Wilson. During the convention, the Committee announced its support for a plan that would establish a five-month daylight saving period. In January of 1917, the National Daylight Saving Committee hosted a two-day convention in New York City.
Neither SJR 135, sponsored by Senator Francis Newlands (D-NV), nor HJR 229, sponsored by Representative Martin Madden (R-IL), were acted upon in the 64th Congress. In May of 2016, during the first session of the 64th Congress, joint resolutions were introduced in both chambers of Congress proposing the creation of a commission to investigate legally standardizing time in the United States. Prior to the implementation of the railroad time zone plan, times varied across regions resulting in over 50 separate schedules in the United States alone. Four standard time zones had been established in the United States and Canada in 1883 by railroad magnates seeking to minimize confusion (Clark and Cunningham 2018). The daylight saving movement was slower in the United States, where it was combined with a federal effort to standardize time zones. Great Britain and other countries followed suit the following month. The daylight saving movement spread quickly over Europe, with the Germans first adopting it in late April, 1916. This modern argument is most frequently credited to British builder William Willett who unsuccessfully championed the concept from 1905 until his death in 1915 (Prerau 2009). Supporters argued that adjusting time so work hours better coincided with periods of natural daylight would increase productivity, result in health benefits and cut down on costs associated with lighting and heating. Daylight saving time became a popular solution. President Wilson approved it on Apofficially involving the United States in the war.Īs war was breaking out in Europe, nations were actively seeking ways to increase efficiency. SJR 1 was passed by the Senate on April 4 and by the House of Representatives the following day. Following the President's address, SJR 1, which would officially declare war on Germany was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. HCR 2 provided that both houses meet on April 2nd to hear from the President regarding the status of potential involvement in the war.
The President's proclamation stated: "Whereas public interests require that the Congress of the United States should be convened in extra session at 12 o’clock noon on the 2nd day of April, 1917, to receive a communication concerning grave matters of national policy which should be taken immediately under consideration…" ( Congressional Record, 65th Congress, April 2, 1917, 101). On Monday Apthe United States Senate and House convened for a special session to address President Wilson's request to declare war. The 65th Congress got off to a tumultuous start due to the impending possibility of the United States entering World War I. The daylight saving provision was repealed on Aug(66 PL 40). The Standard Time Act of 1918 was considered a "landmark law" by Stathis (2014) and rated the 14th most important piece of legislation in the 65th Congress by Clinton and Lapinski (2006). President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill into law on Maand the first time change occurred within two weeks of its passage. There was one roll call vote during consideration of the bill in the House on the passage of the bill, 253 yeas, 40 nays, 6 "present," and 133 non-voting. Opposition was minimal, but a members expressed fear that the time change could cause logistical issues with railway schedules and, seeing the bill as an attempt to change the laws of nature, did not see it as a serious piece of legislation.
Supporters of the bill argued the time change would lead to monumental fuel savings and help the country to catch up to their European allies and enemies who already used the system. However, passage of the Calder Act during the 65th Congress was not particularly controversial. The daylight saving time provision included in the measure would be repealed just over a year after it was enacted.
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