The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-11-28

the thanksgiving holiday. In addition
10 this factor the contradictory fea-
lures OF the general situation imposed
some restraint upon activity in gem
eral. Reactionary tendencies are de-
cidedly more evident than six months
ago, and the year drawing to close
shows very different business tenn
per. The whole year has been a Pc
Rod of reimbursement, some lines Of
business maintaining continued activi-
ty as a result of previous momentum,
while others showed a decided slack
ening if not actual retrogression.
AS reaction touched first one depart
ment of industry and then another, the
conviction spread abroad that no gem
eral recovery was possible until the re-
adjustment process was complete and
a general evening up-or, more prop
erly speaking, shaking down-had ia
ken place. The fact that we had
reached for the present at least, a
climax in the upward movement was
popularity expressed in innumerable
complaints about high costs of living
These complaints at first originated
with the consumer. They now come
from the producer and distributor, who
lind the enhanced cost of doing bust
a LOT
quence is wholesome change. Econ
omy is at last taking the place of ex-
travagance with the consumer, while
efficiency has become the watchword
among producers and distributors. At
the same time, owing to good crops,
the cost of living promises to be fur
Their reduced by a drop in the price of
food products.
According to the statistics of the
department of agriculture, the COM
bined cereal crops of 1910 show an
increase of s per cent over last year,
corn and oats reporting record-break-
ing yields. AS result of the big corn
crop the price of meat has already de-
clined, and this cereal being an i'm
portant element in the cost of raising
cattle, it would seem as if the price
of meat should remain on a lower ba-
sis.
With some relief in the high cost of
living in sight, and with the political
campaign out of the way, two import
ant elements of depression have been
ameliorated, if not removed. 1t is
true the tariff question is still with
us. We must expect and endure a
period of heated and prolonged dis
cussion, but new legislation seems
hardly probable before 1912. Our new
congressman do not go into office I'M
til year hence, and all talk of an ex-
ira session of congress after March
1, 1911, when the approaching session
ends, should be earnestly discouraged.
The short session beginning a week
hence will be fully complied with ap-
preparations and other necessary rou-
tine affairs, and these should not be
delayed in order to afford a pretext
for forcing the president into calling
an extra session to enable premature
seating of new members. There is
danger of political trick of this sort,
and it should be severely discounte-
nanced by the entire business commu-
nifty.
1t is universally admitted that the
tariff must be revised downwards, but
hasty action is unadvisable, and the
country is entitled to a period of rest
before another change is enforced.
Some interval between medicinal
doses is necessary, or even our vigor-
Gus fairfield infant will not survive
the treatment.
improvement in the monetary situa-
ton is more evident Money is more
plentiful and easier rates prevail.
FUNDS are returning from the interior,
and in spite of gold shipments to Cana
da, the outlook is for continued ease
until the approach of January disburse-
ments and other operations incidental
to the opening of the new year.
The investment situation, however,
is entirely satisfactory for the reason
that investors and lenders are waiting
for greater inducements. Capital is
upon better terms as well as
labor. Recent new bond issues have
been placed with fair success, but it
Is noticeable that these are much more
readily absorbed in foreign markets
than at home.
There is slight improvement in the
demand for bonds, yet it is evident
that pending issues will only be sue