The Washington herald., 1912-12-18
BY i. A. FLEMING.

The mixed character of the comment
snent the Reading decision caused some
uneasiness in the stock market As many
different papers in New York took four
different views of the decision. and the
one real grain Of comfort TO the street
in the decision seems to come from the
conclusion that all combinations are not
marked for slaughter by the Supreme
Court-that all cases are not alike, and
that the rule of dissolution has its ex-
ceptions.
The Stock Exchange is preparing de-
Tense from the attacks that have been
made upon it by the Puiu committee and
its counsel. The Lewiston attitude Of de-
fiance Is to be adopted by other wit
neSses.
Yesterday afternoon the J. P. Morgan
encourage started for Washington. In
this group, headed by the financier him
self, were J. P. Morgan, jr., Thomas w.
Lamont, Of the Morgan firm; accompan-
led by their private secretaries. and
Joseph H. Choate and Richard v. Linda
bury, the latter two among the leading
lights OF Gotham. In addition. there were
numerous stenographers.
The covering Of the shorts on Monday
was among the heaviest movements of
the year and they cleaned up their con-
tracts TO such an extent that there were
comparatively few shorts in the market
at the opening.
The course Of the market was toward
higher prices, then slump, and then
partial recovery. The industrisls were
not in high favor, although some of this
group made modest gains.
The consensus of opinion onthe street
was against further advances and in
favor of sales on all rallies.
Conditions are not conductive to ex-
treme confidence on the part of the street
With the money investigation on, and the
exchange being handled rather roughly,
while the Minnesota rate case is due
next Monday. 1t is by far the most i'm
portant Of the three. and will be more
lasting in effect
Real estate holdings Of the trust COM
panies, national banks and savings
banks of the District, are carried on the
books Of the various fiscal institutions
at $3.50, 2S5.06.
The eleven national banks holding
banking property worth on their books
& s3l ,57O.F.
The six trust companies value their
bank buildings and real estate at S.
O57,442S
Property of the fifteen savings banks
have a valuation of s24,Se.3L
In all probability the directors Of the
National Savings & Trust Company will
decide on a marble or granite building,
which will absorb the present building
and one-half of the site of Lehman
Building.
1t will have a height of nine stories,
the banking Office ceiling to be at the
height of two floors.
The directors have discussed the va
rious phases Of the designs and plans
submitted and the majority seem to ia
vor having the new building constructed
right.
The regulations as to height of struc-
lures fronting on the Treasury Building
do not in any way conflict with the pro-
posed building.
Baltimore has seventeen national
banks. On November IS these banks had
s4s,140,0O0 individual deposits, and $S5,-
1888 loans and discounts. The legal
reserve stood at 90 per cent
September f. 1872, the deposits were
reserve 2l.4T. a year ago December 5
the deposits were &45922, 600; loans and |
discounts, sJ9,1s5, 269 and reserve, 21.24C |
It looks very much as II our Balti- /
more friends were making a habit OF |
keeping under legal requirements.
The Washington-Great Falls electric /!
line is now assured, as the financing |
necessary has been accomplished. The |
Fidelity Trust Company, Of Baltimore, |
puts the sinews of war in the PROPOSE