Evening star., 1897-07-27
A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK
What Washington Merchants Say Of
the Business Situation.
BELIEVE PROSPERITY Is COMING
Settlement of the Tariff Question
Will Restore Confidence.
SOME OFFICIAL VIEWS

AS indicated by the recent letter Of Mr..
Pepper to The Star from San Francisco. an
era of better times and improved business
conditions has already set in throughout
the west Substantial indications were
found upon every hand of improvement
in the outlook for all classes of trade. and
that condition was extending eastward
very rapidly.
In order to ascertain the state of affairs
in mercantile circles in this city and to
learn how business men of Washington
feel about the near future, Star reporters
today interviewed a large number of men
In the business, financial and commercial
houses of the capital. Their views are
found below.
There Is probably no surer index to the
state of trade in the community than
the volume of business transacted by the
large express companies. Their carrying
trade. represents the movement of goods
to the merchant and goods from the buyer
to the nearby consignee. When their
business is thriving commerce is likewise
active in it's movements.
lie Adams Express Company report a
gratifying increase in their business at
w NaShlngton for the past two months
compared with the same period last wear
the t increase Is deemed significant of good
manager, said he anticipates a large in
crease of trade for the coming fall and
thinks that good volume of business will
be transacted.
The United States EXPRESS Comnony
makes similar report. Mr. Samuel ri
fSoWman, the manager, said the business
Tor June had increased is per cent over
the same month last year and there was
much better rate of increase for the nre-
ced1ng spring months He is confident
tnat the indications presage brisk business
IN the fall, and looks for better times to
set In very soon.
official Views.
Secretary Alger was caught bv a Star
man on his way to the cabinet. He was in
great hurry, but took time to pre- lict a
good business revival. He has inst re-
turned from visit to Spirit Lake, Iowa.
and Chicago, and took occasion to irouira
INTO business conditions. The increased
prices OF all commodities, wheat, corn and
colton, the increased earnings of the rail-
ROADS ana the orders the manufacturers
are receiving for more goods than hereto
loFe, show conclusively to my mind that
the better Aoi
Assistant Secretary Howell of the .reas
ury: II consider the new tariff bill n most
excenent one. 1t is particularly free from
am aslnblguitles, which, despite the most care
iul eHofts, are liable to creep into such
measures 1t is not only a revenue pro-
Queer, but it will result in building I'M oTr
industries, and l believe will cause a gen
eral revival of business In NV oninion
the new law will produce at least sIS5 Mo
90 during the present fiscal year, and
look for at least 500, 900 900 during the fis-
cal year 1S99.''
Gen. Spaulding, acting secretary of the
treasury-"From a cursory examina ton Of
the tariff act am of opinion that it will
certainly result in an increase of revenue in
the end. lnasmuch as the importers have
anticipated its passage by heavy importa-
tlons for several months past, 1 look for
a slight falling off in revenue for the first
few months, but in the near future 1 look
tor very marked increase in revenue and
also FOR gradual but certain improvement
In business. Briefly stated, 1 anticipate an
increase of revenue and a business re-
vivaL"
Restore n Healthy Condition.
Mr.. Charles j. Bell, president American
Security and Trust Company:
THE settlement of this important ques-
ton and the fact that manufacturers will
know exactly where they stand will no
doubt help materially to restore a healthy
condition of business, especially when
coupled with the enormous crop of food
stuffs in this country, which elsewhere are
failures short"
Mr.. e. S. Johnston, president of the Citi-
zens National Bank:
THE removal of the business uncertainty
by the adoption of a tariff bill which es-
| tablisEes rates that will necessarily hold
good for the next four or five years will
L think, have a helpful influence on the
country. The most gratifying thing, how
ever, is the approaching prosperity of the
farmer, which may be seen in the enor-
nous crop of wheat this year, which is
being sold at good prices. The prosperitv
of the farmer means the prosperity of the
country more surely than any adjustment
of a tariff, in my opinion
Mir. Charles P. Williams cashier West
End National Bank:
THE matter of the tariff being settled.
and now that We know on what basis we
can do business, think that business will
as is already The case in the west The
revival out west is wonderful. and, New
York Is commencing to show many signs
of healthy activity"
Mr.. w. B. Hibbs banker and broker.
The best indication of the effect Of the
settlement of the tariff question IN my
opinion. is shown in the buoyancy of the
financial market. All sorts of securities.
both stocks and bonds, are now being
sought for by capital that has been hith.
erto idle. The abundant crops in this
country, and the short crops abroad. which
insure market for our surplus at higher
prices, will also have a very substantial
effect In restoring prosperity of the sub
stantial sort. The heavy shipments of our
for the unusually heavy imports Of. this
country at this time. which have been
made for the purpose of escaping the pay
ment OF the increased duties.'
Expect Good Business.
Luchs & Brother, 7th street: I'VE hope
for an increase Of trade in the fall There
is every reason to expect a good business"
Hecht & Company, 7th street: 1--WE find
that the increase of business has already
set in. We think more men will 60 to
work by fall, and we look for brisk fall
trade.'
John Rudden 7th street: "As soon as the
new tariff gets fairly into operation labor
will find employment, and better times will
set in for Washington. I am looking for
ward to good business within the next
few months"
John c. Eckloff, cashier Second National
Bank: 'One of the most promising indica-
ticns of better times is the increase of good
collateral loans the banks are making. That
means a more healthful tone throughout
the business community. that more money
is being used in business concerns and that
there is not SO much speculative paper
abroad"
Eiseman Brothers. 7th and streets, said
they were looking forward to a speedy re-
turn of better times and an increase of
business. The indications throughout the
oil fox