The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-24
FOR EARLY CLOSING.
The Rev. Heisig's Plea for the
Clerks-They Have Hard Hours
and Small Pay.

The Rev. Theodore Heisig preached to
his congregation in the Frat Baptist
Church last evening on the early closing
movement. His text was las ye would
that men should do to you do ye also to
them likewise" Luke D 6, 81. He said In
part
During the past week quite a number
Of clerks of this city met in Fra nklIn
Hall and formed tine Early Clos!n q AS
soc1ation. Their hours OF work are now
from half-past seven A. NJ. to eight P.
Nj. with an hour for dinner aud forty-five
minutes for tea. On Saturday they stay
on duty until ten or twelve o'clock. This
is the rule. The OBJECT of the associa-
ton 1s to secure the closing of stores q t
six O'Clock every evening except Satur-
day. 1t Is II subject that should interest
every citizen.
OTHER CITIES HAVE II.
I'm other places the movement has sue
ceeded. Jersey City is behind the times
In this respect. New York. Brooklyn.
Newark, Paterson, In fact every city of
any size and influence. except Jersey
City have early closing hours. In New
York they go further In July, August
and September, and close at moor IN
Saturdays.
1.-THE early closing movement should be
encouraged. because the clerks should
have some time for self-improv ement
and enjoyment with their families. Man
was made for work, but iu was
also intended by the Creator that man
tion and selr.development. know of
young ladies and gentlemen who woul d
attend the weekly prayer meeting but
for the fact that the meeting is over
before they can get ready. The man who
works until eight O'Clock does not feel
like spending much time with books or
intellectual friends. Sucn life is little
less than slavery.
OTHER TRADES ARE FAVORED.
"Other trades have shorter n ours and
larger pay. The clerks in general are
the hardest worked and poorest paid in
the community. Carpenters work eIgh
hours a day for So; plumbers nine hours
for So: masons eight hours for 81. 05;
s~tonecutters eight hours for 81. so, II
they work after hours they get double
pay. The average pay Of lady clerks is
S. and Sc and of men $12 and SIS a week.
The clerks are not asking for q special
privilege. They are simply asking to be
equal in this respect. They need
the shorter hours more than the me-
chanic, If anything.
"1t is harder work to sell buttons and
calicos and ladies' notions than it is TO
push q plane or drive a saw or strike a
chisel. or to lay brio ks or gas pipe. 1t
puts a strain on the nerves. 1t is abso-
lutely cruel TO expect growing girls to
stand on their feet from 7.45 A. M. to s
P. M.
Religion demands the early closing.
It is to be Accomplished by organization.
The change from ten O'Clock to eight
o'clock was the result of organized effort.
You must hang together or you will hang
apart. ALI clerks should join his ASSOC
citation. Tn newspapers are nearly al
ways on the right side of such questions.
The ministers will aid you"
In conclusion Pastor Heisig earnestly
urged that all should do their buying in
the day ana not put it off nntil Saturday
night. There was much buying on Sat-
urday night that could just as we'll be
in the day time. By so doing all
would be acting according to the spirit
of the golden rule his text.