Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-21
MORE TIME FOR REST.
The New State Half-HOliday Gener-
ally Observed Yesterday.
EXCURSIONS WELL PATRONIZED.
Many Banks We're Open, but Some People
We're mconvenienced.
UNCLE SANS BOYS WERE KEPT BUSY

The new State Saturday half-holiday went
into effect yesterday at noon. 1t ran a very
close race with the gentleman who dis
tributes moisture over this section, for q
typically tropical shower descended Just as
the clerks and workers were leaving to en-
Joy the novelty of one whole half holiday,
as some one spoke of it. The rain, however,
soon ceased, and excursions to the country
were in general order. The half-hol1day
rule will remain until the 18th of Septem-
Der. Of course, yesterday there were some
inconvenience caused by the early closing
of stores and banks which will not reoccur
At many of the banks bills which should
have been held until 8 o'clock before going
to protest were held over until Monday, out
of consideration for the customer who
forgot all about the early clos
ing. In other cases men who were
prepared to meet their bills in the after
noon walked to their bank to find it closed.
Some of them were open, as the Iron
City, Bank of Pittsburg, Citizens National,
Second National and Exchange. ALI of the
savings banks, with the exception of the
Odd Fellows, had open doors. Numbers of
people were unable to get their checks
cashed after their own bank had closed.
They forgot or were unaware of the new
rule.
Hustling to Pay Off Employees.
A well-known downtown employer was
in bank at II 80 O'Clock. He returned at
1890 o'clock to find the doors closed. He
was puzzled, for two reasons-to know why
the bank should close and where he could
find money to pay his men. He had to
hustle around for time before he succeeded
in raising enough money to pay off his men.
This case could no doubt be duplicated
many times over.
Prominent men we'll enough known on
the street could not get checks cashed in
strange banks. The Doltar Savings Bank
will remain open until o'clock all the
year, but movement is on foot among
other similar institutions to bring about a
general closing at 8 o'clock on Saturday. A
similar joint movement is on foot among
the other banks for general observance of
the half holiday.
A number of the insurance Offices were
closed, and the example already set by one
or two wholesale houses was followed by a
number of others. The county offices all
closed at midday. The Federal Offices, with
the exception of the revenue Office, were
open. The postoffice employees, by virtue of
their work, will be unable to participate in
the half holiday.
The Day Enjoyed on the River.
The river was freely patronized by the
newly liberated counting house, store and
warehouse employees, and the excursion
boats were brought into active requisition.
An air of stiffness and the Mayor were
the lone inhabitants of the City Hall, yes
terday afternoon. There were also few
veterans in Common Council chamber, but
their quiet stories, weighed down by quar-
ter of a century ago, had no visible effect on
the stiffness and they certainly did not
disturb the Mayor. A number of clerks and
a few of the officials, however, still fingered
on the broad stone steps and looked at the
bolted doors as if wondering whether the half
holiday was a reality or dream. Many of
that great clan, known as the public, did not,
however, understand and every few moments
someone clamored for admission. 1t was
the last day for paying water assessments
and many who had waited till the afternoon
cursed their luck as they walked away to
dream of liens, legal processes and sheriffs.
Up in his cozy back office Mayor Gourley
to business as if nothing had hap
pened, although his clerks were out enjoy
ing themselves. When asked why he was
working Mayor Gourley said:
The Mayor Must BE Busy.
"I don't feel comfortable when am not
working In fact on Sundays 1 spend about
the whole day in my library. do not have
a horse in town or 1 would go driving
However, 1 have two horses in the country
at my. farm"
With that the Mayor started off
on a description of his speculations
in horsefesh. Last summer he used
to GO out on Sunday and try to
break a colt that he owned. He had
raised another colt, but had sold it when a
year old for S100. Last summer, after
working for whole day trying to drive the
younger colt, he became disgusted. Be-
thinking himself of the other colt he hunted
up the man to whom he had sold it and
bought it back for $500. He said the only
reason that he kept any horses was that he
intended to retire to his farm in Pine town.
ship as soon as his term expired
The new Saturday half holiday was put in
effect yesterday in the Court House. 1t
worked successfully in all except the
Criminal Court, where business dragged
along slowly until nearly 4 o'clock. As
result, Ine ATTACHES OF. InaC court ana the
Clerk of Courts and Sheriffs office have not
yet received the benefit of the new law The
other offices in the building closed at noon
and caused not the slightest inconvenience
to any one.
Benefited by the New Law.
Railroad employees generally will be ben
efted by the law. The Pennsylvania Rail |
road Company has notified its Western en- |
ployes that the rule will go, and the eight |
hour day has also been granted to the |
clerks. The effects of the legal half-hoEday |
regulation was scarcely perceptible out |
along Penn avenue. None of the retail |
1ealers closed their shops or places of busi
ness, but everything had the usual lively
appearance of any Saturday payday. 1t i
was likewise in Lawrenceville, with the ex-
,eption of the two banks on Forty-third |
street, and these opened at for the accom-
notation of their depositors who were un
lble to reach the bank before noon.
Many merchants and people out along
Butler street had not even heard of the new
regulations, except those who
lad read The DISPATCH
BARGAIN LIST NO, 8.