New Britain herald., 1926-04-12
MERCHANTS ARGUE
 SATURDAY POLICY
Fail to Reach Agreement on
 Closing at s O'Clock p. III.
TART REPAR7EE HEARD
Different views Expressed About Probable Effect on Trading Condi- tions--Ncw Program Voted But Later is HccOnsidcred After Tie.

Later is RccOnsidcred After Tie.
 After a hour and a half of discus sion and debate this morning, dur irg which charges of playing politics were handed out gathering Of 4S merchants failed to come to q de- cision on the question of Saturday night closing. The meeting was held 1 in the Chamber ol Commerce rooms.
 The vote 10 say open Friday eve nings and close Saturday evenings was carried by q majority of two l and was so declared by Chairman George II. Dyson Of the mercantile bureau. Upon the withdrawal of two votes, making it u tie, the meeting adjourned to the call of the chair man, with nothing decided. The meeting two weeks ago was the largest ever hold in the new chamber rooms. Today's meeting was even larger. There were 50 in the room. with 42 actually voting, Dyson Explains Purpose. Mir. Dyson opened the meeting with the explanation that it was an adjourned session for the purpose of considering the question of remain ing open Friday evenings and clos ing Saturday evenings.
 Louis R. Raphael immediately dc manded that those who wished to remain open Friday evenings instead Of Saturdays be called upon to eX- plain their reasons. Mr. Dyson rulerd that motion was necessary to bring up the question for discussion.
 The motion was made by A. \. NolX that the stores remain open Friday evenings and close al 6 o'clock Saturday evenings, except the meat and provision stores
 Mr. Raphael said Saturday night closing would be an injustice to the city and to shoppers from surround ing towns. He said these people have not time ii their shopping Sdtur day afternoons and that Saturday night was the best shopping time.
 II. l.. Mills said he had made in- uuirieS in surrounding towns and finds that in most Of hem pay day comes on Saturday, making Saturday the best shopping day
 Abraham BorkoWitz, proprietor of he Connecticut Hat shop, said many stor,s will stay open both nights, if it is voted to remain open Friuay nights.
 Mr. Monroe Of Brcnnah's credit house said business would be impos- sible with him if he didn't stay open Saturday evenings. He said his GUS toners are mostly people who do not own autom obles and the majority ot payments are made on Saturday nights. He said if the merchants vot- cd to keep open Friday evenings he would be open two nights.
 A representative of the r. x a. shop said this condition in their Mcrld,n Il store made it recessary |" keep open Saturday nights, and some stores were open both nights He also objected to the halt-day closing on Good Friday, He said Saturday evening closing would drive business out of town.
 speaks for North Of Tracks
 Mir. Mag of x. F. Mag X Sons spoke against the motion and said he spoke for all of the merchants north of the tracks" and that he would keep open Saturday nights whether the others did or not.
 II sec the hands are turned against us" said $. NJ. Davidson oi the Davidson X Lercnthal store. All these movements are educca- tional. This year there are more in favor of Saturday night closing than last year. New Britain will come to it some day. II may not be in 1926, but it is coming"
 Win Do What Others Do
 Maxwell <. Porter of B. C, Porter Sons said his store was one of the pioneers in the Saturday night clos ing movement, For two summers we eXperimcntcd with it." he said. ''Now it is no longer an experiment, but a proven fact that Friday nights business is much better than Sat urday's was. A good many stores would like 10 do il if the other fcl- low would. Friday is better trad ing night. f they tried it many stores would find it q benefit"
 Referring 10 the stand taken by Mir. Davidson last spring. whom Mir Davidson is alleged 10 have changed his vote because the majority In favor of Saturday closing was not large enough, Mir. Raphael accused Mr Davidson of favoring the mo- ton. then changing his vote and changing the whole situation last year.
 "PoIiti@s" Charged
 Mr. Davidson replied that i've arc all a little selfish in this thing, but stand today exactly where stood last year. changed my vote be-
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