New Britain herald., 1930-01-28
STORES WILL STAY
 OPEN ON FEB. z
Merchants Make Decision Re- gardinS Washington's Birthday
HALF HOLIDAY GOOD FRIDAY
Business to Suspend on Armistice Day if Parade is Hcld-Eayor Closing saturday Nights at : O'Clock.

\ vote 10 keep stores open all day Washington's Birthday, February --' to close at noon on Good Friday remain open until 2 o'clock fo, three instead of four nights precel- 'nG Christmas, and to hold another meeting to discuss the probabilit, oi closing at ! o'clock Saturd4l nIEht the entire year, was the acti 1n oi the local merchants in a general meeting at the Chamber of Com. mcrce rooms today.
 While there were not as man, fireworks as Wor" anticipated. tn. meeting was far from being in uni son on some subjects but unanimous. ly expressed itself in favor of the proposed Saturday night change.
 ne latter proposition was not in- cIudcd in the report of the unifor,r hours committee. nor was it consid- cred at the meeting of the mcrcan. llic bureau directors which ratifir,, the report of the committee with one or two minor changes. It w&s suggested by Samuel M. Davidson and was approved by q vote of senL;- mcnt without q dissenting commcn.
 Davidson Seeks Explanation
 The meeting was opened by Chai". man Maxwell $. Porter. Mr. David. son immediately asked for an ey. planation of the report of the uni.  why the committee had recommend. cd keeping the stores open all dnN Good Friday, stating that no bust ness ever is done on that day. II, asked why the committee wanted ,t close the stores on Washington Birthday, which comes on Saturd.N this year.
 Steye Robb, former chairman. D thE; Mercantile bureau. moved tina the recommendation Of the comm :, tee be adopted. Mr. Davidson oo posed the closing on Washington Birthday when it falls on Saturday He said he would favor closing D! Christmas if it fell on that day bG to close on Washington's BirthdI; was ridiculous. He criticised the di rcCtors Of the mercantile burer, and the uniform hours committ3l for making the suggestion,
 Ray (. Young. chairman of th, uniform hours committee. CXplainc. that the sentiment of the commit. tee following d survey on Main street was to close all day Washins <. tons Birthday and remain open |! day Good Friday.
 Mr. Porter explained that in 1919 when Washinston's Birthday fell ). Saturday, the stores were closed.
 William kranoWitz, manager a the Raphael Department store agreed with Mir. Davidson that tn, stores should remain open on th.t day. John A. Erickson said it WI. n patriotic holiday and the stor1. should close.
 Committee Report Rejected
 Mr. Porter called for a vote OI Mr. Kobb's motion to adopt tn, recommendation There was nothin. but silence.
 More silence greeted the call foI an opposition vote. It was admit ted that Secretary Ralph H. Bcnso, could hardly record vote of silcnc, on his minute books as being vc", decisive. Mr. Porter called for aH other vote, this time asking for tli, raising of hands. About three fourths of the meeting voted agains adoption. and upon motion of Mc kranoWitZ it was made unanimous Thus it was decided to remain opa' until 9 o'clock on the evening Q WaShingto Birthday.
 rrC-ChriStmaS Hours
 Tho original recommendation call ed for remaining open until 3 o'clocl at night on December 19, 20. o2 an, p. It was voted to close at 6 o'clocl as usual on the 18th but 10 follow the recommendation as to the othc days, including [ o'clock on Dcccm bcr @i
 Washington Birthday havin: been classified as just one more day the discussion ccntcrcd more in tcnscly about Good Friday. Mr
 Continued cn Page Two)