Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The 95th Anniversary of Daylight Savings Time

daylight savings time
Image assembled by theLibraryLander
The Calder Act, Pub.L. 65–106, 40 Stat. 450, enacted March 19, 1918, was the first U.S. law implementing Standard and Daylight Saving Time in the United States. In addition, it allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to define the time zones across the U.S. It was initially established as a fuel saving measure during WWI, but it was never  popular and was abolished for a time after the war. In subsequent years, there were no Federal laws governing its observance and states were free to establish it or not. In 1966, however, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was passed to make the various state rules consistent. Ever since the first law was passed enacting DST, there has been controversy over the need and effects of DST on the population. Most research supports the idea that it is detrimental to the health and safety of the nation in general. More accidents happen following the time change, and it is implicated in an increase in heart attacks as well. Currently, a petition has been started to eliminate the time change altogether, by either ending DST or making it year-round. Recently, this idea has gained a bit of extra traction with the viralization of an imaginatively written obituary for a man who opposed DST with a passion. Harry Stamps' obit states, "the family asks that in honor of Harry that you write your Congressman and ask for the repeal of Day Light Saving Time. Harry wanted everyone to get back on the Lord’s Time." I say amen to that!

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