Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-09
, EARLY CLOSING.
More Views ON the Subject From the
Employer Side of the Case.

iuOrc We've ON the SUBJECT FROM the
Employer Side Of the Case.
Letters on the subject of early closing OF
the department stores of this city continue
to be received by The Star. The publica-
ton Of the writer who signed himself
Mundane" printed in last Thursdays
Star, who urged that for the sake of the
clerks and mechanics in the government
offices the stores should be kept open later
than o'clock. has aroused a spirit of pro-
test from the store clerks, so that the con-
troversy in its present phase presents the
store clerks arrayed against the depart
mental clerks. A correspondent signing
Clerk writes:
1t may be of interest to, Mundane to
learn that by means of a postal card he
can order and have delivered to him anv
artlcles desired. l sincerely trust that this
DIT OF Information may be the means of
Mundane's' withdrawing his objections to
the early closing OF stores, which will
greatly benefit the clerks employed in
them
w. H. H. writes: Being clerk in one
or the leading stores Of the city, / am in a
position to best judge the state of affairs
as tney exist at present. My suggestion
IS TO close the stores at pm. the whole
year round. This would give the office
1olks one hour before and one hour after
their work in which to do their shopping
Wnlch Is ample time for all. Any proprie-
business enough between the hours of 8 and
to pay expenses. II this suggestion is
adopted | am sure there will be no kick
coming from any Of the Departmental
CLERKS as nave communicated with good
many OF them and have not yet seen one
VINO would object. l would also suggest
that during the summer months the stores
close at 1 on Saturdays. This has been
tried for several years by some of the larg-
est houses and has been found to meet
with favor from both customers and en-
pioyes."
The clerk whose interview on the subject
was the first word in the present contro-
Versy writes thus: ut is time the citi-
zens of this great capital city should
realize what an element of refined and
intellectual power is today employed
within the walls of the many capacious de-
partmental stores of this city who as they
hours OF business cannot give to society
but slight degree of support and attend
TO or advance matters which involve mu-
nlcipaf rights. The remedy is obvious and
simple. Let there be an agreement of legal
character for opening at $50 am. and clos
ing at D pm. every day except during the
summer months. L presume that every
merchant to man will sign the agreement.
Let not the ardent supporters of this i'm
portant movement be dismayed by the in
soent power of the opposition, for after
a careful and thoughtful consideration of
the pending question they will realize the
iiie uie 'o "a anu Heeessdiy dclon WHICH IL
requires. The plea, as have seen through
your paper, Is that the government and
office employees will be entirely excluded
from purchasing if the shorter hour system
is adopted This is erroneous idea
They will have one and half hours daily
for shopping, which Is enough for any or
binary person. If upon some particular
occasion they require more time let them
encroach upon their annual leave, which
is with pay, while the store clerk is locked
Tor every minute, generally. In comparison
L see 1t stated that the position of the av-
erage salesman is easy compared with that
of government clerk. If that statement
were just reversed it would then be rec
ognized typically. The one who has adj
vanced this comparison doubtless believes
1t to be true, because by training, influence
and being exonerated from red tape he be-
comes so addicted to a good thing that the
lncumbrance which salesman endures is
no longer considered"