Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-23

A rainy day and Monday combined are
not calculated. in themselves at least to
make active stock market, The attend
ance at the meeting of the exchange today
was not large. and those that were there
did not seem to have any business to
transact. and. in consequence. the total OF
the transactions was not large one.
A broker who Is supposed to know wha,
Is going on in the affairs of the telephone
company bid 90 for an option on 100 shares
but no option offered al any price
The bid for twenty-five shares rose to oSSs
while the best asking price was 67h.
These figures are higher than those
which were recorded on Saturday. at which
time the plan adopted by the company for
financing its Indebtedness was known. The
effect of such move would ordinarily be
more in evidence In the stock market, but
the number of stockholders in the city Is
small; according to one estimate, not more
than fifty.
Very little stock comes on the market, 80
that 1t has never taken its place among
the active traders on the board. 1t is sup
posed instead of the present title of the
company the name of the Pennsylvania
Telephone Company will be substituted in
the local list when the proposed merger Is
completed
Some years ago the securities of that
company were listed, but they were
dropped OFF. presumably because of lack Of
business in them.
After a sale of ten shares at POS the
bid for the stock of the Washington Loan
and Trust Company rose to POS. adj
vance Of three points as compared with
the bid recorded Saturday. The stock was
offered for 207, but the bidder did not get
that high. Prospect Of an increase in the
dividend Is what Is supposed to be the
cause Of these better figures.
Better figures 1 nthe sense of higher
figures were rather evenly distributed
over the entire list. with. of course, the
exception Of the securities which remain
unchanged for days and days.
The exceptions from this rule that may
be noted can hardly be regarded as Of any
great significance.
The outlook in the general market Is
said to be quite as hopeful and the feel
ing OF returning confidence quite as strong
as was the case during the closing days
OF last week All this has an influence
locally. There is nothing the matter ac-
eordng to those who are familiar with the
situation. with the securities on the local
exchange. taking them as a class. and the
only reason given why there is not more
business and why the figures are lower is
the one that has It's origin In the state of
the general market.
One Of the sections of the list which even
III active periods of the market is likely to
be quiet Is that of the fire insurance stocks
and while there Is no business now being
dOne IN tHeSe securities. there Is more or
less talk going on about them. for the rea-
son that just now is recurring one of those
periods not uncommon in their history. at
least of recent years, when, in the opinion
OF some people an effort Is being made to
get their business away
In other words, a rate war Is in progress
In quiet way. According to one view the
object is to get the class of insurance away
from, the local companies of which they
make a specially. According to another
view the purpose is to benefit the property
holder and equalize the rates.
However. large proportion of the prop
erty holders at the present time, as on
previous similar occasions. so 1t is claimed
have not shown much inclination to part
with those they have done business with
for 50 many years, in spite of the attrac-
tons of lower rates. for some of them
argue that rates can be changed again.
Today's Government Receipts.
National bank notes received today for
redemption, s03 739. Government receipts
From internal revenue. 81 POI ,926; customs.
Ss46.S71; miscellaneous. $1O6 1S9. Expendi-
lures, 81, 900.