Evening star., 1895-06-12
What Merchants Say About Sum-
mer Business Hours.
A MOVEMENT THAT MEETS WITH FAVOR
Stores That Have Most of Their
Trade at Night.
INFLUENC OF LOCALITY


more and more favor every day. 1t is not
an experiment in this city. It has been
tried in years gone by, and it is said that
there Is not a firm in town that having
given 1t fair trial, has ever abandoned
1t. On the other hand, there are number
of business houses which have expressed
their intention of this year for the first
time closing their doors at reasonable
hour, so as to give employers and en-
ployes alike the opportunity of getting a
brief rest these warm summer evenings
that otherwise would find them confined in
close quarters and hot rooms.
A complete census of the city has not
been made. nor would it be practicable or
particularly serviceable. Still there is
every reason to believe that much larger
number of stores and offices will close early
this summer than ever before. The unani-
nous expression of opinion on the part of
the employers VINO show this consideration
to their employees is to the effect that they
do not lose a cent by it, but rather gain in
the increased health and efficiency of their
employees. Their customers may be little
surprised at the change at first, but they
soon accommodate themselves to the new
order of things, and seem to appreciate it
when the men they deal with are fair to-
ward those with whom they are connected.
Approves the Movement.
Following one of the earlier articles
printed in The Star on the subject of early
closing came a letter from the head of one
of the largest business houses in the city
az proving heartily of the stand taken.
He is probably the leading man in his line
of business in Washington. There never
has been any doubt that the clerks approve
of early closing. The only question was
whether the employers could agree to it
without any material loss to their business
interests. So t is that letter of this sort
means good deal, ard should encourage
others to give the matter their support.
In the course of the letter the writer says:
Il feel it my duty to thank you for your
liberal article on early closing. l haven't
any doubt but that its influence will have
great effect. You may place my name upon
the list of paint aid oil dealers, as my
store will he closed beginning June 10 at
3 pm during the summer months
In urging the general adoption OF the
early closing rule the suggestion has not
been made that the rule can be made uni
versal in its application. There are num-
her of lines of business where to shut at
5 every afternoon but Saturday and to give
the clerks a halliday holiday then would
be disastrous in the extreme. The Star has
already pointed out this fact that stores
which make speciality Of catering to the
trade of mechanics and others who are
at work until a late hour in the afternoon
would deprive themselves of their heaviest
trade If they were not open until rea-
sonable hour in the evening, Saturday
evening especially. Then, too interested
merchants insist that locations play no
inconsiderable part in the matter. Seventh
street merchants say that so much of
their trade is done in the evening that the
same rule will not apply to them as works
with the business houses on street and
Pennsylvania avenue. In the case of the
latter, they say that the bulk of the down.
town trade is made up of customers who
can do their shopping early m the day just
as we'll as not.
Where 1t Will Not Apply.
A Star reporter discussed the situation
at some length today with a prominent
7th street shoe dealer. who runs three big
establishments in different sections of the
city. In the course of the conversation
that gentleman said:
mo man would be more willing than to
close earlier during the hot weather, if
such a thing We're possible. 1 would enjoy
the extra hours of leisure and recreation
quite as much as any of my clerks, but if
Were to close at !. o'clock l should cut
myself off from the larger part of my bus
mess, aid a half holiday on Saturday
would be even more out of the question.
You see. my trade is for the most part
with mechanics and other classes of men
who are not able to get out to purchase
the necessaries of life until after sundown
Their principal chance to purchase shoes,
clothing and things of that sort is Satur-
hardship to large class of people if the
shops in this section of the city We're to
close earlier than they do now
"As it is, we are as considerate as we
can be of our employees during the hot
weather. Whenever the occasion permits
we let some of orr people off early of
evenings. In the daytime things are rather
slack. and we give them ample time to go
home for their dinners If we closed earlier
we would get more hours day work out
of our clerks than we do now, for We
would have to do as the stores which close
early do now, and that is to compel the
clerks 70 get their dinners after they
leave, We now give our clerks from an
hour to an hour and a half in which to go
tunity to get little rest and fresh air
during the middle of the day. Personally, 1
am in favor of early closing and If II
were possible, would put it into effect in
my storeS.''
Hopes to Induce All.
Another view of the matter, which. like
all questions. has two sides, is expressed
In communication received today by The
Star from Mr.. w. P. Van Wickle, which is
as follows:
I'VE notice the efforts of the Star to in
augurate the early closing movement
among the business firms of Washington
with great pleasure, and We believe in the
practice as well the theory. For the
past three years the Bradbury piano ware
rooms have been closed during the summer
months, from June - to September 10,
daily at pm. and Saturday at l o'clock
and will continue early closing this sum
mer. We were one of the first firms in the
piano business to inaugurate this move
ment and have been trying for several
years past to get the other firms in cur line
to adopt the early hours for summer but
with only partial success. We are in hopes
of inducing all to close early the coming
summer. We hope The Star Will push the
crusade against long hours with greater
Vlgor than ever, for we are confident that
such crusade would meet with success.
We do not find that early closing interferes
with business in the least, and as above
stated we have tried it for three years. 1t
gives the clerks a little chance to breathe
during the hot weather, and makes them
all the better fitted to undertake the next
days work by being allowed to go off an
hour or so earlier the day before The Star
will have our heartiest CO cooperation in this
commendable crusade, both in theory and
practice, for we shall commence early clos
ing June 10 and continue it until September
To-"