Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-15
Professional Spectators Standing
Aside and Waiting.
DULLNESS In STOCK DEALINGS
Shares Affected by Advices From
Washington.
GENERAL MARKET REPORTS
Special Dispatch 10 The Evening Star.

Sieciai dispatch 10 The Evening Star
NEW YORK, November I5.-Opening
prices this morning were. in many in
stances. shade under last weeks closing
parity and subsequently receded under COW
er of extreme dullness. London was indif-
ferent to the course of local prices. and
has turned attention once more to the east
ern situation. from which, sooner or later
financial disturbance may come. Conditions
throughout the eastern colonies are not I'M
med!ately threatening. but the public mind
is undoubtedly working itself into a state
OF unpleasant expectancy. Foreign cables
consequently reflect the opinion that, even
with new enthusiasm IN the local market.
il is doubtful IL London would become
buyer on any considerable scale.
The apathy throughout the day has only
been equaled during holiday periods, but
IL Is entirely in line with earlier predic-
tions as to the nature of the market. once
liquidation ceased The professional ele-
ment has made its turn in the short
count. and is now confronted with n mar
ket trifie too low to sell and with conci-
lions too complex to warrant purchases.
To stand out and await Developments is
only natural. and this. for today at least.
Is the policy of the larger traders.
Washington advices again announced the
postponement nj the Nebraska freight rate
Supreme Court decision, and this for a
time invited some selling around the room,
Burlington losing 1 per cent In the process.
From the same center came assurances of
| the Treasury Departments failure TO find
SUFFICIENT law to compel the collection VI n
counteryailing duty on Dutch sugar.
The stock of the American company sold
down per cent as the result of growing
conviction that today's kilograms describe
an actual condition. Grave questions OF
international law and treaty rights are in
volved in the pending decision and shrewd
lawyers have all along emphasized the ne
cessity Of delicate handling to avoid viola
ton of these mutual obligations. 1t has
been evident for some weeks also that the
American company's own legal household
has limited at the difficulties in the way of
perfecting the monopoly through the medi-
UNI of a countervailing duty.
The selling of the stock during the last
fortnight has been the most conspicuous
feature of the entire market and, as the
volume of the business indicates. II was
not for the accounts of amateurs. To-Day,
as usual, the entire market was forced into
sympathetic movement with sugar. As
the latter property only rallied on covering
the undertone of the general market was
consequently heavy and substantial de-
clines were only prevented by lack OF bust
ness.
Consolidated Gas declined chara -teris-
tioally for net less of per cent, but the
balance of the list not influenced there
by. Peoples Gas was favorably comment
ed upon by pool brokers. and predictions
that ii would sell at par ex-dividend wrre
made by a leading interest but even these
sanguine assurances failed to attract any
considerable new buying.
Earnings, money rates and all outside
developments, ara favorable, but there is
no one to buy securities outside of profess
sional circles.
The necessary demand is not likely to
appear until after Congress has outlined
its winters work. Some OF the speculative
synd:cates identified with the midsummer
boom :.re occasion ally noticed among the
buyers of Missouri Pacific, Chesapeake and
Ohio and kinared issues but there is as
yet something conspicuously half hearted
in their efforts.