The Washington herald., 1912-11-21
BY j. A. FLEMING.

II was one of the duIIest days on the
New York Exchange of-the year. A
six hours session with but $4,000 shares
of stock sold and the noon hour pass
ing with barely 5000 shares traded in.
The market was weak at the opening,
came better on the prospects of peace
in Europe and the announcement that
Austria would act in concert with the
powers, but did not show improvement
in the volume of trading, the last hour s
business being less than the first,
Probably nothing that has occurred of
late created as much gossip on Wall
Street as the report circulated during
the day that Mr.. Bryan was likely TO
go into Mr.. Wilson's cabinet
Every commission house on the street
had something to say about 1t and the
general opinion was that the tender of
A Cabinet post to the eminent Nebras-
kan would be considered a misfortune.
The story that he might go as Ambas-
sador to England caused no uneasiness
on this side; indeed, Wall Street would
like nothing better.
Wall Street makes no secret of its
feelings toward Mr.. Bryan and is ap-
parently as much opposed to him to-
day as it was in 1896, 1900 and 1905
Money is a factor of importance. 1t
is believed that with a cessation of hos
tilities in the Balkans that gold imports
would be a matter of a few days.
The delay in the final call of the year
is another matter that is working against
ease In money. Every reporting bank is
prepared to make as good a showing as
possible and a call would release mil
lions.
Net changes were not important.
Judging from information furnished by
parties close to the corporation counsel.
the proposed bill praying for an injunc-
ton to restrain further proceedings in
the merger of public utility corporations
of Washington will not contain much
news for the information of the reading
public.
A history of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company has been at the
command of the seeker of information
for decade. and has been published at
length in Washington Securities for
years. 1t was reproduced in this. COL
umn ten days or two weeks ago, with
the clear statement that it was a hold
ing company.
That the Washington Utilities Company
is rushing matters TO a head before the
last session of the Sixty-second Congress
is denied by officials. The only steps so
far taken have been the increase in cap
italization and the change in name.
On the 18th instant the stockholders of
the Washington Virginia Railway Com
pany are to consider the proposition for
a sale to the company.
The Washington Utilities has in its
treasury the majority of the Washington
Virginia Railway Company shares: it has
n large part of the Washington Railway
and Electric shares as well.
Congress will have reassembled long be
fore a proposition is made to purchase
stock OF the Washington Railway and
Electric Company.
Practically all the prominent financial
interests of the city desire the passage
of a utilities bill by the incoming Con-
Eress.
1t is said to be an open secret that the
Commissioners of the District would like
to force a consolidation of the traction
lines, in the interest of universal trans
fers
The statement is made that the ''divi-
dends recently paid were not earned
but in the sworn statement furnished by
the corporation to the Interstate Com
merce Commission. as Of October 2 1872
the corporation reported a surplus for
the year Of S79.77S.54, after paying sS17. go y
dividends and a total surplus of
Sl,O24, ,5N2.
c. J. Bell. president Of the American
Security and Trust Company and one
of the executive committee of the Wash
ingtOn Railway and Electric Company, is
one of the strongest advocates of a utili-
ties commission.
Financial interests are by no means
unit of the measure that was presented
TO Congress at the last session.