Evening star., 1896-12-09
Cuban Resolutions in Congress Af-
fected Prices Only a Little.
FRACTIONAL DECLINES LOOKED FOR
Sugar Trust and Its Rivals Settle
Differences.
GENERAL MARKET REPORTS
Special Dispatch to The Ev sning Star.

Special Dispatch to The Ev >ning Star.
NEW YORK, December 9.-The opening
| of today's stock market reflected no new
! changes in general speculative conditions.
Traders were in control of prices. but were
| plainly undecided as to the wisdom Of ex-
tending the short account. The natural
consequence of this indecision was to pro-
| mote inactivity business being suspended
| during frequent intervals throughout the
morning.
Spains chances of success in Cuba were
| thought to have been improved by the
| death OF Maceo. but the lack of reliable
| information as to the correctness of the
| rumors prevented any important market
movement.
The Introduction of resolutions in Con-
gress looking to the recognition of the in
surgents was passed over without notice.
except Dy traders, who sold a few shares
for fractional declines.
fractional declines are probable from
time to time. as Washington furnishes the
incentive but the real owners of stocks are
| not likely to be easily scared into a sac
| rihce Of present holdings. There are no
stocks pressing for sale; on the contrary.
| the inquiry for desirable investments is inn
proving.
Capital is steadily employed in educating
| Itself In the science of values, and will one
| day put this knowledge into practical ope-
| ration. On that day the discounting of
| future prosperity will begin. Unfortunate
ly, however, the recent succession Of finan-
| clal scares has made the proverbial caution
| of capital doubly pronounced
Politics and legislation were both re-
sponslble for the recent monetary panics
ard financial circles will require time 10
become accustomed to the daily sessions
or body from which many disconcerting
| Influences may issue. The probabilities are
| distinctly opposed to any outbreak detri-
| mental to continued business Improvement,
but the possibilities In an opposite direc-
| ton must be admitted
Absolutely new material is necessary to
| any slgnlhcant decline in prices whereas 3
| the general market lacks only determine
| tion TO force substantial improvement.
The announcement of a settlement Ct
| differences between the American Sugar
| Company and the most embarrassing OF it,
| new rivals prompted sharp recovery In
| the price Of the former company. The bulk
| of the buying was credited to the short ac-
| count which was already on the point OF
| liquidation from other causes. The forth
coming dividend is an important factor in
| favor of the property at this time
The railroad list was fractionally i'm
| recovery in this leading Industrial The
| character Of the buying of itself does not
| warrant confidence in the permanency of
| the improvement. The disposition to sell
| is less pronounced than heretofore and
| should Maceo's death he confirmed as now
| seems probable. Cuba should shortly disap-
| pear as factor in American politics. With
| this question disposed OF and Congress con-
fined to consideration Of approprfa tior
| bills the good points in the situation should
! he taken into more careful and complete
| consideration
| The final hour was dull and irregular
| within fractional limits.