Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24

Some Astonishtng Figures About the Bust
ness Of the Nation.

THE TRANSFER or GOV. HILL FROM AIRASy TO
THE UNITED STATES SENATE MOVEMENT To
ESTABLISH An AMERICAN ssIoN-wAoSEErTEs
AND ASr1-vAoSERTrEs AT THE OPERA ROUSE.
Correspondents of The Evening star.
NEW YORK, Jan. a.
Here are . few colossal facts about this great
country of ours. which learned this week from
no less authority than a man high in Brad
streets. He told me that the business transac-
tions of the United States amounted TO seventy
thousand million dollars a wear. Of which ten
thousand million represented the banking trans
actions, leaving sixty thousand millions as the
legitimate commercial business of the country.
In the course Of year the bad debts of bust
ness mount up to an aggregate Of one hundred
and twenty million dollars, of which about
sixty millions or practically 80 per cent
arc recovered sooner or later by the cred
itors. In other words. about s60. coo. 900 a year
are lost by the merchants of the country
through bad debts. This. however Is a micro
scopical percentage-about one-tenth of one
per cent OF the whole volume Of business so
that the trade of the country seems TO be on a
pretty secure basis in spite of panics and
bankruptcy. There is an old maxim that only
about one man in ten succeeds in business. but
tins adage does not seem to be borne out by the
facts have given OF course only a few men
succeed TO very brilliant extent.
but 1t is evident that most people who go into
trade manage to make living-at any
rate, somehow pay their debts. But what an
imposing aggregate this seventy thousand
million dollars wear is. The imagination can
no more cope with it than with the distances
Oh astronomy. We can see, however, why
Uncle Sam can stand so much crude legisla-
ton so many fire losses and much humbug
and knavery. Today we are the richest coun-
Wy IN the world, and we are increasing in
wealth very rapidly IL is the uniform testi-
mony of the merchants of New York that last
year was the best year on record for the trade.
The same story goes up from all the mercantile
eenters. At this rate the United States will
presently smash the human record all to
splinters, by doing an annual business of one
hundred thousand million dollars.
FREE WILL OR FATE?
The translation or at least the transfer Of Gov.
Hill to the United States Senate is regarded
with very mixed feelings by politicians of both
parties True to its history the Sun kicked in
the traces at the last moment. Its editorial of
Tuesday, in which il declared that Hills action
was virtual abdication and suicide, led TO
universal comment, but the editorial reflects
the feeling of the inside managers. including.
suspect Hill himself. At any rate, the gossip is
that Hill went to the Senate very much
against his will, being driven there by the
shrewd manipulation of the Cleveland leaders,
acting In conjunction with the republican ma
chine. good many men would consent to he
kicked into the United States Senate. but Hill
apparently goes there very unwillingly and
files a caveat that he does not consider himself
dead or done for yet by any means. Ills best
man. Sheehan. at the democratic caucus said
with the greatest distinctness that the move
did not shut out Hill from promotion if the
party wished.
PREPARING FOR AN AMERICAN SALON.
The great event Of the week in the art world
has been the rather premature but no less in
teresting announcement that the more progress
sive and audacious element among the artists
and art lovers here have executed a grand
flank movement on the National Academy and
also on the Associated Artists and other art
ciques by preparing the groundwork for an
American salon, the intention being TO dupli-
cate pretty closely in New York the great am
nual exhibition IN Paris. For this purpose ne-
gotiations are in progress that will make the
Madison Square Garden resemble in arrange
ment the Palace of Industry in the Champs Ely-
sees at Paris; that is. the sculpture will occupy
the ground floor in the interior. while the paint
ings will be exhibited in a succession of CALLER
les up stairs. The new undertaking
is backed by some of the strongest men in the
city, prominent among whom are Mr.. Glider of
the Century and his splendid art force to-
gether with Mr.. Chase, Mr.. St. Gaudens and
other progressive and unconventional artists
The idea is to form an organization which shall
have its juries and be of such distinction that
its awards will put final hall mark on native
canvases. The proposition was too interesting
to keep. 1t has now been spread abroad in the
papers, and, of course, the art machines are
very much incensed.
But unfortunately for them they long ago
alienated popular sympathy by their indiffer-
ence 10 the real art interests of the country, so
that now in their hour of need they do not find
many friends. 1t Is certain that this new move
ment if carried out would mark an epoch in
American arr. Whether it shall prove to be
success will depend largely upon the common
sense and public spirit OF the artists them
selves. If they Immediately begin to fight and
snarl among themselves the whole project will
evaporate in talk, but there is great oppor-
academic dry rot" and star. afresh on y ma
tional footing.
THE sENEY AUCTION.
The season thus far has not been very enter
prising for art auctions, but the cards have Just
been issued for the Seney collection, which is
to be sold early in the spring. The press view
afternoon Of Tuesday, January q. The Ameri-
can Art Association will conduct the exhibition
and the sale. They announce that the collec-
ton is the finest and most valuable in the line
of examples of modern masters ever exhibited in
America. Allowing somewhat for the exuberant
enthusiasm of the auctioneer, this claim is not
far out of the way. Certainly this second col
lection by Mr.. Seney ranks among the finest
ever made by an American amateur and the
sale will be the art sensation of the season
WAR AT THE OPERA.
As every one knew would be the case a gen.
uine opera war has already broken out be-
tween the Wagnerites and the devotees Of the
tune. We have already been promised an oppo-
cid xrif r Il H.