Evening star., 1916-04-15
Better Tone for Mexicans.

The absence of further unfavorable
hccted in a better tone for Mcxicans at
todays opening. Mexican Petroleum
and Greene -Cananea rising point
with fractional advances for American
Smelling and Texas Company.
Coppers and some of the war shares
made slight Improvement over yester-
day. with similar gains in American
Linseed preferred distillerS' securities
and United States Rubber.
New Haven, Baltimore and Ohio. Nor
folk and Western and Canadian Pacific
were the only rails to make even
headWay.
United States Steel and Crucible Steel
were reactionary.
Foreign Affairs the Pivot.
The country's foreign relations were
again t.e pivot around which this
weeks market revolved, Germany s
note regarding tne Sussex, and the
Carranza note calling for an early
withdrawal of our troops from Mex
ico exciting renewed alarm and caus-
ing numerous substantial price reces-
sions. These were partly retrieved
later on supporting orders and hasty
covering of short commitments.
Another disturbing factor was the
sensational decline in French exchange,
the Paris check rate falling to sos and
implying discount of more than II per
cent. Inexplicable delay in negotiating
a new French loan here, coupled with a
steady accumulation of obligations in
this market, contributed to this un-
precedented weakness.
Viewed from almost any angle, do
mestic conditions continue highly ia
vorable. Exports are only a little un-
der recent maximum figures and bank
clearings showed sustained activity in
many lines of trade, and such infalli-
BILE barometers of industry as steel and
copper pointed to unabated demand.
Significant Events of Week.
The decision of the rail manufactur-
ers to advance the price of that prod
uct S. on the ton after May l and
the large gain in untitled orders re-
ported by the United States Steel Cor
poration for March are among the
significant events of the week.
The crop outlook is somewhat doubt
full. according to unofficial reports that
have followed the recent adverse state
ment issued by the government, but al
lowing for the backwardness of winter
wheat. other items in the schedule of
foodstuffs offset that condition. Rail
road earnings almost without excep-
tion are so far in advance Of last years
statements as to make comparisons in
vidious.
Stocks. as demonstrated by this
weeks movement, are mostly in strong
hands. although there still exists what
is believed to be an overextended bull
account in the specialties. Monetary
conditions lose none of their long pre-
vailing ease, but mercantile paper
rates are hardening.
Cunard Extra Recommended.
regular dividend of 10 per cent and
an extra bonus" of 10 per cent on out
standing common stock have been rec
commended by the directors of the
Cunard steamship line, 1t was an
nounced at the local offices Of the
line today. The directors also have de-
clared the regular 5 per cent dividend
on the fl.135,0O0 of cumulative pre-
ferred stock
The operations Of the line last wear
showed net profits of El121IS6. after
deducting a reserve for contingent liza
bilities arising out of the war. The
gross earnings were f4f57,410, COM
pared with f4,G7s,675 for 1914. The
company. december 81 last, had twen-
weight ships, with a gross tonnage of
304,59s. as against twenty y-seven ships,
with gross tonnage of 316,864, in 1914