Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18
HEARD ON CHANGE.

"A suggestion has lately come from some
fertile brain that 1t would be good idea
to trade off the gavel that is on the desk of
the presiding officer for boy to attend to
the telephone of the exchange. This duty
now falls to the member who happens to
be near the booth and who at the same
time is energetic enough to respond to the
call
Sometimes it happens that the propelling
force Is only developed by repeated urging
from various parts of the room, and which
come with special vehemence from brokers
who are tilted back in their chairs with
their feet at a comfortable angle of eleva-
ton.
AS to the gavel, 1t is but seldom used by
the present incumbent of the chair When
President Hibbs wants attention he gains it
by running fire of mingled eXpostulation
and sarcastic comment.
You don't want to hear the CALL" he re-
marked the other day to broker who was
engaged in earnest converse ton with his
neighbOr. You want to ak.
Gentlemen, this is not an afternoon tea,
he sometimes eXciaims, when the buzz of
the tongues browns out every other sound.
Then there is quiet for a time and the call
proceeds.
Quite as much time is taken up at. the
daily meetings, it sometimes seems. when
orders are few and far between as when
there is a good deal of business. 1t is sell
dom the list is gone through In an hour,
and generally the time occupied exceeds the
sixty minutes.
:. There is suspicion that the luncheon
hour has been changed recently. at least in
some cases, which accounts for the dispo-
sition to prolong the sessions
An amazing amount of interest Is some
times manifested by the members in the
trades of their associates or the attempts to
tvaI hor 1ox DIV ntf had <1Hn
benefit of much unsolicited advice. He had.
however. ideas of his own and the fact that
he did not accept the suggestions made
did not appear to affect the cheerfulness of
those who volunteered to help him along.
They are probably accustomed to do good
without receiving or expecting any reward.
and so they are not discouraged in their
philanthropic purposes
friend of Dr. Jenkins accompanied him
to the exchange the other day and seeing
that there was vacant chair near the one
occupied by the doctor he walked in and
took possession.
AS no one but members are allowed
within the rail. this proceeding was regard
ed with considerable interest, but nothing
said, as probably it did not occur to
Finally President Hibbs interjected into his
monologue of IBID" and Offered" the in
quiry:
Where is the sergeant-at-arms?"
= But nothing happened ana tnen as last
resort he called out:
Send for Maj. Sylvester The visitor
no doubt impressed with this feature,
which he probably supposed was part of the
routine Of the daily call, but he retained his
seat.
Nothing else occurring to the mind of the
president as proper to be done in such an
emergency and as Charlie Williams did not
propose the reference of the matter to the
governing committee the call was resumed
with the stranger in possession of seat for
which he had not paid the price.
President Hibbs, thinking out loud as he
sometimes does, remarked upon the scanti-
ness of the record.
1.-THE price of seats is going up all the
time, l suppose" observed Mr.. Norment,
with suspicion of sarcasm in his tone
Never mind about the price of seats"
rejoined Mr.. Hibbs, with some asperity.
what is needed are members of the ex-
change who will do some business"
The subject was not pursued by Mr.. Nor
ment.
The spirit of helpfulness is one of the
most characteristic things about the rela-
ton of the members.
The other day Mr. Paris was bidding on
some bonds and about half a point
below the asking price and also that of
the previous day sales.
Those bonds are worth much today,
AL as they were yesterday" observed Mr..
Glover. land little more" he added, "for
there is one days interest
Thank you very much for your sug-
gestion,' responded the grateful Mr.. Paris,
Il will take the bonds"