Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-31

CONTRAST IN CONDITIONS
OF ONE MONTH AGO
Radical Change Being Discussed in
Washington Without Any ExpIana.
ton Of Financial strinssney Now
Past-PIanpins Extension Of Nation.
al Capitol Grounds.
rspecial Correspondence.1

| +s-Ht
Especial Correspondence
Washington, Jan. 31.-Carter Glass
of Virginia of the house committee or
Banking and Currency, sat in his Of
flee today talking with two business
men. One was great paper manu-
facturer from Michigan and the Other
large contractor from New Jersey
both men accustomed to deal in large
figures their transactions. Said the
paper man:
"A change certainly has come over
the banking situation. Two months
ago I could not go to any bank with
which I do business and get money al
less than six per cent. Not only that,
but the banks were not eager to loan
They did not deny that they had plenty
of money but they said that the un-
certainties Of the situation, including
the pending currency BILL were such
that they must go slow for awhile. In
the last week or two there has been a
decided change. Rates have fallen and
the banks are telling me that can
have all the money I want. I do not
know what has caused this change OF
anything else about 1t. but these are
the facts"
my experience exactly" said the
New Jersey contractor. Il could get
no money at all at living rates Il few
weeks ago, yet only the other day one
of my banks called me In and told me
1 could have 100000 or any part Of it
at Az per cent. 1t certainly is fact
that something has happened and that
the banks have loosened up"
Tishtness Unexplained.
Then Chaivman Glass took a hand.
These are the stories that are COM
ing to me all the time Of late" he said.
"They come In letters and they are
told me by business men. While the
currency bill was in the house and
senate the banks hung to their money
and showed great uneasiness as to
| what might happen in the future.
Charges were made that they were re-
stricting credits to prevent the passage
of the currency legislation. I don't
know anything about that and have no
! { Urges to make, but 1t is fact that
business men can now get all the
money they want at reasonable rates.
don't know or say that this change
is due to the passage OF the banking
| bill, but It surely is evident that Its
passage has not injured business pros
poets"
Kenyon Bills Passed.
The Kenyon bill, extinguishing the
red light" district Of Washington, has
passed Congress and by this time
probably has been signed by President
Wilson. who was known not to oppose
ii. The law will automatically and at
once rid the Capital Of the two con-
gested pest spots south Of the post
office building and southwest Of the
Capital, for Washington Is singular
| ly easy city which to enforce laws deal
ing with certain types OF immortality.
like liquor selling. gambling and that
especially aimed at in the Kenyon law.
Aside from Its interest as a social
advance, this law is indirectly signi-
fcant as an unintended but very gen.
uine step toward removing all private
buildings south Of Pennsylvania avenue
to the mail, between the treasury and
the capitol and thus giving the city its
most impressive downtown parking
area. The brick residences about to
be vacated under the Kenyon law are
unattractive in themselves and have
no further residence value for long
time II ever again. The government
already owns two squares in the rect
angular tract roughly described above.
| This tract encloses also the enormous
pile of stone in which the postoffice
department is housed. the new National
Museum, the beautiful new Municipal
building, the exquisite Botanic Gardens
and a large area OF which already is
parked. Such Of the remaining build
ings as front on Pennsylvania avenue
are small business establishments.
liquor saloons and cheap hotels. with
the possible exception Of one large
\ hotel which is popular with tourists.
In fact, the whole southern line of
Pennsylvania avenue from the Capital
to the Treasury Is an eye-sore and a
disgrace to the capital city of the
nation. The northern side, 1T may be
interjected, is no better intellectually
although it may be a little more reput-
able.
1t was the dream Of the late Senator
Weldon B. Hepburn that the unsightly
buildings on the south OF the Avenue
should be torn down and the whole
area parked. Senator Hepburn intro
duced bills appropriating some 10000
ings on this land. and while none Of
these ever passed Congress 1t has been
generally recognized that It would only
be a question Of time when this new
and creditable park would be substi-
tuted for view which must shock
foreigners at least, into wondering
whether the criticism Of Washington
by Charles Dickens are still timely
The Kenyon law, although framed for
another purpose. will operate directly
to aid in bringing about this desirable
result.
All things are possible. except losing
an opportunity that never belonged to
you.