The Rise of Daylight Saving Time-- Part 2: World War I, Bills and Vetoes

However, World War I changed all this.  The Germans were the first to adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) on April 30, 1916, as a way to save on coal-powered lighting in factories.  The British politicians followed suit two days later and set their clocks forward.  Most other European countries did the same.

Time changed slower in the United States, which did not join the war until 1917.  Stockbrokers and manufacturers pushed for it,  but the railroads opposed it fearing a change like that would cause train crashes.  So were farmers, who worked by the sun anyway.

The stockbrokers won, the bill passed Congress and President Wilson signed it.  But, there was a problem as the date the time changed was on March 31, 1918, Easter Sunday.  But, the change went smoothly.

By the next year, the war was over and many wanted DST over as well.  Farmers were still against it and some two dozen bills were introduced in Congress to repeal it.  One passed both houses, but Wilson vetoed it.  A vote to overturn the veto failed.  Another bill passed but again Wilson vetoed it.  This time, though, opponents got the 2/3 vote necessary to overturn it.  DST was dead.

But cities like Pittsburgh and New York passed DST laws and it was brought back for a short time during WW II.  States had various DSTs, including Iowa which at one time had 23 different times depending on what town you were in.

In 1966, President Johnson made DST the law of the land.

I'm thinking DST Year Round would be the thing to do.  I hate changing all the clocks.

Technologically Challenged Me.  --Coot?