National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-05-30
EIRLT CLOSING nouns.
Tile Clothing Merchants Agree Upon Uni
fni.hin Hmm


A number of leading clothiers met at Ross
last evening for tho purpose of taking steps to
secure uniform hour for closing their cs.
adjustments. The following houses were
represented: A. Sal<s s. Co., George C.. lien.
uing, S. Kntscnstein, Roman & Cox, Noah
Walker, National Clothing Company, G.. L.
Timms, Eiseman Bros, l., Rosenberg, and
Eiscman s. Scheyer. Mr.. George G. Hcnning
was chosen chairman and Mr.. 3. Katacnstcin
secretary.
Mr.. q. f. Tmms said there were many rca-
sons in favor of an carly.closng movement
and none against It. 1t would not only bcnc'
fit health, but save considerable in gas bills.
lie did not feel ne well on leaving his store Mt
nine and ten o'clock at night and retiring rs
he might If he had a few hours recreation be.
fore lie was sure that il II uniform plan of
| early closing could be agreed upon there would
he yearly saving of $500 in gas bills alone.
lie thon moved that the following schedule be
| agreed upon for closing, the exceptions to
which should be Saturday evenings and those
preceding national holidays: January l to
March 10, seven O'clock March IL to July >,
eight o'clock July to September !, seven
o'clock, and September to January !, eight
| o'clock.
Mr.. Eiseman moved to amend by making
| tho hour eight o'clock the year around.
Mr.. \. Slks favored closing at seven o'cioCl;
| during the duh season, aud gave rs hiJrcasOu
that not only employers but employees needed
recreation.
The motion of Mr.. Tmms was then dis.
cussed.
The chair favored n uniform hour aud sug.
gcstcd halr.past seven o'clock as the hour fol
closing,
Mr. Saks said the half hour in many In
stances would be valuable, but Ms far as he was
concerned he was in favor of n uniform hour
Mr. liable said whatever was done by tho
meeting should be unanimous, as many mcr
chants who were not present had said that
whatever plan was was agreed upon by the
meeting would be acquicsccd In by them.
Mr. !. Salis said the hattcrs of Washington
closed during the dull season ut seven o'clock
and every one present knew that no bushes.
was done in that season after six o'clock
Clerks were simply forced to sit around anC
the employers paid larger gas bills
Mr.. Tmms said the public generally were il
favor of the hours mentioned by him, and woult
soon fall into the habit Of buying their good
before closing hours,
Mr.. |. Saks said the merchants generally were
in favor of early closing. The shoC.men aut
booksellers had taken steps to help in the mat
ter, and were only waiting for the clcthicrs.
Mr.. Timms said that, with the consent of tn
u citing, he would withdraw his original mo
ion and substitute one that the hour for clos
ing should be eight o'clock the year round
with the exception Of Saturdays, days proceed
ing general holidays, and from the 18th TO tn
3lst of December inclusive.
Upon being put to vote tho motion wa
adopted unanimously, and Monday, June
set apart for tire inauguration of the move
ment
Mr.. A. Sals moved that the secretary dra,
up an agreement and submit it to other firm
for signatures. Agreed to.
Upon motion of Mr. |. Saks, a committee o
five was appointed to wait upon the clothicr
not present and request their signatures to tn
agreement
Tho chair appointed as the committc
Messrs. l. Saks, liable, Timms, Eiseman, an
Cox, and the meeting adjourned subject to
call by the committee.