New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-25
DRTG00DS MEN 0YEIRLY CLOSING.
OPPOSITION TO FURTHER EXTENSION or THE PRAC-
TICT-sOME OF TEtIR REASONS.

OPPOSITION TO FURTHER EXTENSION or THE PRAC-
TIcr--sOME OF TEtIR REASONS.
The movement among dry-gCods clerks in
favor OF an early closn. OF the drygoods shops Sat
uriays has reached such proportions that dry-goods
merchants beginning seriously to ask themselves
what action they to take in the matter. TRIBUNE
reporter called upon number OF the leading merchants
a day or two ago The opinion OF great majority
seemed % De that the amount OF work demanded OK dry
goods clerks Is not excessive ald that
they are as well able to work six days
OF the week n any other class In society.
Henry ONeul expressed himself as follows: " Amonth
ago waited by deputation OF clerks from
thu Broadway houses get my views this subject
Their desire seemed then TO be to close II or o'clock
during the months OF June, July August and September
only during the entire year Well told them then.
as tell you now that the measure seemed to Inc un-
necessary and uncaled for II rather looked to as
IL were started by the Broadway houses who not
doing any business anyway and who preferred to close
Saturdays and get the reputation OF being
with their clerks rather than to keep their stores
open aud let 1t be that nobody came to buy
told than n all the other houses closed up l. Of course
sgnthe agreement Ican what necessity there
Is for the movement work from fourteen to htteen
hours day myself The heads OF my departments
work more continuously than the clerks.
urged similar objections against the scheme OF
the clerks " 10 seems 10 mo altogether unnecessary"
said h.. I'VE close our store no O'Clock during June
July. August and part of september As | understand
the movement cuntcmpates the closing Of dry-goods
shops a TINS hour all The around. or course what
l. right and necessary tie health of employees
ready to do. and when give them Holt
even II IL is absolute necessity them. But IN
this the clerks not suffering under the
present system, and our trade certainly would
suffer II complied with their demands
our clerks arrive at the shop at o'clock, and at 6
o'clock their days work Is done. Those very
hard hours For years myself worked through every
night, and iii the small hours OF the morning. / don't
do II now, but used TO do H. on the other hand we
can't afford lose the saturday afternoon trade. With
this Is important trade, although not as important
with OF the East side and West : de stores"
Lord, OF Lord Taylor expressed his views
the subject in succinct aud ineligible fOrm As he
understood question the demand OF the clerks in
june to september his house mas always closed at
O'Clock on Saturdays In July and August Ali that
have To say the subject" said Mr. Lord, can De
summed up In four sentences. To accede to
their demands would be injustice to
the public. It would be injury to the
clerks themselves. The present condition OF the clerks
does not demand any alienation. Lastly. intend to
June is the period when strangers their way
through New-YOrk To the watering places The month
september is The time when they again visit before
returning their homes In each Of these months they
spend "A day in New York with the expectation OF max
ing purchases and the day thus spent Is usually Saur
hnd Lord 4 Taylor. Arnold. Constable & Co., and the
other large drygOOds houses closed on this very day
The clerks don't work hard that they need extra hO
days Their hours not hard. When they are sick |
time Ia rarely deducted at least among our clerks III
they are seriously sick they furnished with medical
attendance. and every fortnight they receive their pay
AS regularly as the day comes round"