The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-11
SATURDAY CLOSING.
A Movement to Close Wholesale
Houses at Two O'Clock.

The petition that has been annually circu-
lated for the last eight or ten years among
the wholesale houses of this city for the
closing of their places of business at 2
o'clock on Saturday afternoon, generally
from the middle of May to the middle of
September. was being sent round yesterday
for signature. The hope and intention are
to start the early closing movement for the
summer on Saturday next, and already
quite number of houses have notices
posted up to that effect.
Thus far it has been most extensively
subscribed to by the wholesale grocers and
liquor merchants. The hardware as well
as the paint ana oil men have for three or
four years been in the habit or closing at 2
o'clock on Saturday afternoon all the year
round, and the wholesale druggists at 3
o'clock. A special effort will, however, b.
made this year to widen the circle of those
who believe In and will practice shorter
hours. including the wholesale dry-goods,
boot and shoe, hat and cap. and leather
men.
Some of the latter have been closing for
some time at 2 O'Clock, while others have
been keeping open till o'clock ana avow
their intention so to do Just as long as there
is any business to be done. But among
all these there seems sad lack OF harmony,
though all are agreed as one man as to the
wisdom and advantage Of early closing
always with an 'ff'-'ff every one else
does the same"
i've signed half dozen such petitions"
said a member of a leading wholesale boot
and shoe firm, land have always got fooled
on the proposition, and FL never sign an
other till all the rest fall in line and toe the
mark. What's the use of signing if they
won't stick to itP Why, they'll keep the
whole Of their back and half Of their front
doors open and sell away like sly grog-
shop. Goodness knows we all need 1t bad
enough! Besides. all the business we do
after o'clock on Saturdays doesn't amount
to row of pins, and if each wasn't so
afraid Of his next-doOr neighbor, we'd most
OF US make money by letting our employees
get away at 2"
Among those who have signed already
are. Dodge, Sweeney 81 Co., Tillman 81
Bendel, Welman, Peck d Co., Haas Bros,
John c. Bowman & Co.. Nichols & CO., NJ.
Ehrman u Co., Herman Joost, c. E. Whit
ney & Co., Schlegel & Blawed. Ordenstein
& Co., Lowe Bros, c. B. Jennings, Root &
Sanderson, John A. Lennon, Philip Wolf
& Co., William Cliff IL Co., Castle Bros,
and several others.
Dinkelspiel & Son, wholesale dry goods,
will close anyway, whether the rest do or
not, as they always run their business to
suit themselves.
Rosenthal, FEEDER & Co., boots and shoes,
would like to, but find three out of four
Saturdays so busy that they cannot man
age it.
The Carlson-Currier Silk Manufacturing
Company will be glad to close if others in
their line do likewise, but only until the
1st of August. After that date the re-
quirements of the fall trade make it almost
impracticable. They have closed at 2
O'Clock in the afternoon on Saturdays every
year thus far.
Kahn Bros. and Bine & Co., wholesale inn
porters of silks and velvets, are strongly in
favor of the movement, but must be as
sured of the rest of the trade following suit
before they could act.
P. Berwin & Bros, wholesale dealers in
hats and caps. prefer to close early, and
think they will, though they must be
largely guided by their neighbors.. They
hope, however, to see the movement a gen.
ernl success this year.
W. Cohen & Co., furnishing goods, are
firm believers in closing at 2, but are unable
TO act alone.
Bachman Bros, silk and dress goods
merchants, will be ready TO close in week
or two II others in their line will be good
enough to promise to do the same.