The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-30
BANK HALF HOLIDAY.
A Difference of Opinion as Expressed by
Cashiers.


Yesterday morning representative of
the PRESS called upon the several
cashiers of the national banks and repre-
sentatives of the other banking institu-
lions and got their opinion as regards the
wisdom Of the act passed by the last
legislature making Saturday half holt
day after 10 O'Clock noon.
Mr.. Bancroft of the Merchants National
thought that as the legislature of the state
had made the day legal half holiday he
10 O'Clock If the business people can be
accommodated in those hours, following
the custom of all the Massachusetts, cities,
and in fact of the cities of several states
of the Union.
Mr.. Gould of the Traders National said
it is the law of the state and the custom
in other cities. Hence it is sure to be
adopted here sometime. 1t Is best to be-
gin at once and avoid the controversy
which is sure to continue with more or
less i'll feeling until the new rule ia
adoted.
LIZ AoOAAC "a buO OulAUoIl0u0 6t1l0 poE-
sonally he should like to close at IL, but
all the banks would have to change to-
gether and unless all closed at 10 his
bank would have to close at p. m. HIS
bank voted Tuesday to close at p. m. to
take effect October /.
Mr.. Wengren of the First Nation al
thought that now the matter had become
q law of the land by the act of the legis-
lature the banks should conform to it. 1t
Is the custom in other large cities and
towns and customers of banks do not
seem to be Inconvenience by it. He be-
lieyed however, the system should be
carried out by all the banks so as to make
1t practicable.
Mr.. Allen Of the Portland National
thought also that 1t was but right for the
banks to conform to the law and close at
10 o'clock. as therein stated. The business
men would eventually all coms to it.
Mr.. Woodbury. of Woodbury. & Moulton
said that it has been customary now in
all the large and many OF the smaller
cities for banks to close at 10 O'Clock and
also in several other lines Of business. In
several states Saturday afternoon after 10
o o'clock has been made legal half holi-
day. Heretofore 1t has been difficult for
the banks in Portland to close all the
year round on Saturday at IL, because it
has not been legal holiday and also be-
cause the New York mails were not dis
tributed until p. m. Both of these OBJ
jections have been removed as the legisla-
ture has made Saturday legal half holt
day after 10 O'Clock for the banks and ar
rangements have been made by the post
master SO that the New York mail will
BIZ distributed all the year at II a. m.
Under these circumstances the firm of
Woodbury. & Moulton will close at 70
m. Saturdays and arrangements have
been made with Messrs. Swan & Barrett,
b. III. Payson g Co. and the Portland
Trust company, all of whom agree to
close at that time. Mr. Woodbury. said
farther that it seemed to him that all
bank employers should have half holt
day during the week and that there is
great force in Hon. Chauncey Depew's
remark that man can do 10 months
work in II months time but that it is
difficult to do ~ months work in IL
months time.
Mr.. Peters of the Canal National
though as we already had the law from
the legislature the banks had better use
it.
At the Chapman National bank the
statement was made that they would like
to see all the banks close at the time sug-
gested, but they would not as the Chap
man decided to close Saturdays in June,
July August and September at IL O'Clock
and keep open until the usual hour during
the other months.
Mr.. Cooling of the Casco National
thought the banks should follow the
merchants and their customers, instead
OF trying to Lead them. When the mer-
chants generally conclude to close Satur-
days at 10 O'Clock throughout the year
then the banks will not be slow to accede
to their wishes.
Mr.. Noyes Of the Portland Savings
bank thought that not only banks but
employees in all lines Of business should
have half holiday and then of course
the banks will be in the same condition.
He thought savings banks were in d
peculiar position. He had always
thought the banks should be open from 5
to 8 p. m. Saturdays for operatives and
workmen who are paid off Saturday
nights, to have an opportunity to deposit
their money and thua a oraat daaI othar
wise dissipated would be invested to their
advantage. Money during those hours
would only be received: none would be
paid out.