Daylight Saving Time from April to October generally has served the nation well. Should Congress now extend DST to eight months as an energy – saving device? ‘1’hat’s a question lawmakers will be debating soon if a request by veteran Democratic Senator Alan Cranston of California is granted. Cranston has introduced (for himself and Sen. Paul E. Tsongas, D-Mass.) a bill to extend Daylight Saving Time by nearly two months, starting the first Sunday in March rather than the last Sunday in April. An identical bill is being sponsored in the House b Rep. Tarlos J. Moorheaifl R-Calif. Cranston told the Senate the measure would save an estimated 100.000 barrels of oil per day for two months, or about 5.6 million barrels each year. “In addition to and as a result of this huge savings, our bill would save $150 million or more for American consumers at current oil prices.” Lengthening DST isn’t a new idea. of course. Yeararound experiments were tried in World Wars I and II. And during the 1973-74 energy crunch Congress passed emergency legislation for year-around Daylight Savings Time. This was repealed in October 1974 because it required children to go to school in the dark. and light – and – heat savings in dead – of – winter months were questionable. Congress subsequently replaced it with an eight month DST program beginning with the last Sunday in February. This fell by the wayside as have other proposals offered since. Cranston said Department of Transportation studies support the eight month DST concept. and pointed out that the underlying law permits any state which so wishes to exempt itself. The senator called the plan starting the first Sunday in March ”a sensible. painless and cost-free way to reduce energy demand in order to reduce our dependence on imported oil.” Cranston said the bill doesn’t change the ending date (the last Sunday in Octoberl for Daylight Savings Time. but advances the start from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in March when there still is more daylight than in late October. The ending date fell on Oct. 26 last year. The corresponding winter – approaching – spring date figuring the time between sunrise and sunset – is Feb. 16. the senator stated. Cranston introduced a similar bill in the last Congress. which did not hold hearings because the Department of Transportation hadn’t yet indicated its support. Energy savings projected by the bill’s sponsors are impressive and deserve full consideration. Another angle: With all the talk of capitalizing on solar energy. it would seem one simple method of using more of the sun’s power would be to start DST earlier – whether by nearly two months as proposed or maybe a shorter period for an initial trial. Cranston has asked for. prompt hearings by theQ Commerce, Science andTransportation Committee. That seems a logical request and a good opportunity to obtain comment from the public as well as the professionals.