Evening star., 1914-12-28
WESTERN RAILROADS
TO ASK HIGHER RATES
Their Officials Claim That Public
Opinion Is Decidedly More Favor.
ably to Companies.
Sharp Rise in Leading Rails and
Industrials on Wall Street.
Financial Gossip.
BY I. A. FLEMING.


1t is expected that western railroad
officials will soon file application with
the interstate commerce commission
for permission to put into operation
higher freight rates. Such action would
be but natural in view of the success
of the eastern presidents in their ap-
piication for a rehearing, at which
they made showing that produced d
reversal of opinion by the commission
Western officials claim that senti.
1nsnt has changed very materially or
faliroad matters; that shippers and the
Hght any increase in rates would sup
port the position of the railroads.
requests for permission to increase
Sntrastate rates have been filed with
q number of state commissions, and
reports indicate that many of these
applications, heretofore considered use
less. will receive favorable aclion.
Ate Attention is called to the recent
nectton with the full crew law. passed
oy the legislature, later submitted to
popular vote and overwhelmingly de-
feated, as an especial evidence of the
chang ng trend in favor OF the rail-
roads.
Traffic over the western roads is said
to compare favorably with that of a
year ago in a number of commodities
although there is still considerable de-
crease in others.
New York Stocks Higher.
Conditions were much improved to-
day on the New York Stock Exchange,
both as to the volume of business
transacted and the show of strength.
The advances were important and
reasonably well maintained; favorite
stocks were the vehicles for business
to the practical exclusion of second
rate securities.
We're not large, and as the prices were
not bid up, quiet resulted, extending
again to dullness as the session passed
the first hour of the afternoon.
Ihe advance had the earmarks of
dressing of windows to tempt the re-
clplents of large investment returns
again to replace much of this in stocks.
although some of the closest observers
OF the market declared that there was
less manipulation than an actual buy
more of less scarcity of securities.
Sanadian Sanit5n j Pacific nn z s, on Southern
Lehigh Valley. on New York Cen
trail. 5s on Erie, y on Baltimore and
Ohio and V on Pennsylvania.
In the industrials Steel common
moved up a point. Utah Copper "a and
Copper 1 u.
An effort is being made by some
members of the exchange to secure the
withdrawal of all restrictions from
trading. claiming that the situation is
SO well in hand that there is no Hkeli-
hood of any trouble nor necessity for
regulation. This faction is opposed by
a stronger, more conservative element,
so that there seems but little probabil-
away. :,
Gas SIS Firmer.
Washington Gas SIS sold on the local
exchange this afternoon at 1895. There
was nothing doing in any other issue:
Since the middle of the month, when
bids were opened for 100000 Washing
ton Gas per cent bonds, and accepted
as to about $4,000 of the issue. at 103
and better, the company has been dis
posing of the balance of the issue in lots
to investors and to banks and trust COM
panies, SO that but comparatively few
bonds remain unsold- The strength in the
stock is helping the bonds.
Sales OF gas during the year fast
somewhat in excess Of the total sales
of last year. while the introduction of
some economies will be noted in the
annual statement.
Dividend Declared.
The Columbia National Bank will pay
. per cent quarterly dividend to share
holders January l.
Financial Notes.
A X Paris of Crane, Paris e. Co.,
this morning received his eighth certif-
icate as notary public. having served
thirty-five years. He believes he is the
dean of District of Columbia notaries.
The cotton pool is going forward
slowly. Subscriptions are in for
S35,000.o00. Applications have been re-
ceived for aid from bankers in Ala
bama and others are expected with the
announcement of the completion of the
fund.
orders booked last week at the Car
negie Steel Company's plant at New
Castle, Pa, were larger than those of
amy week for sixteen months. This
business is credited to the rate de-
cision.
Big trust companies in Chicago have
reduced their call loan rates to per
cent.
Reductions in regional banks discount
rates are probable in the near future
]. B. Greenhut & Co, dry goods mer-
chants of New York city, announce
that they will retire from the banking
business March l, 1915; that interest
on all deposits will cease with Janu-
airy l. Depositors are given until March
/ to withdraw deposits. This firm has
the names of $1,000 depositors on its
books. The announcement caused little