Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
FINANCE LOCAL AND OTHERWISE

paying stocks offered in the New York
list or elsewhere.
The time is near at hand when some
statement should be given to the pub
lie regarding the future of Mergen-
thaler and Lanston. the typesetters OF
the local list
Lanston directors met last Monday,
but no action was taken looking to the
payment of dividend. Some one sold
the stock freely. and il touched SO Sat
urday. Mergenthaler closed with
points off for the week due TO the feel
ing mat competition Will be more Sc
we're.
Washington Gas. on the persistent re-
ports OF large earnings. moved up the
better part of two points.
Arlington Fire Insurance.
The Arlington Fire Insurance truss
tees have notified shareholders that
theN have been offered $4,000 cash
Tor their building adjoining the Riggs
National Bank on the west. and they
recommend that the proposition he ac-
eepted. February - the shareholders
are 10 meet to take action. which IL
naturally expected TO he in the af-
nrmatlNe When the company erected
its building the style of architecture
was made to conform TO the front of
the Riags Bank building in minute de-
tdii, WHICH HllRnt lead to the inference
that the present sale may have haAn
long contemplated.
Moving May Be delayed.
Indications at this time are that tho
stock exchange may not he able to get
possession of its new quarters in the
National Savings and Trust Company
building for sixty or ninety days, with
he
longer.
New York Market.
The New York stock market is in
nervous. excited condition. one min
ute some speciality is pacing sensa-
tional rise in which a few stocks share
and the next the same stock is leading
a serious slump.
II is too dangerous for the average
speculator. Wise operators point to
the proba BILE effect of the strike OF
four brotherhoods of railroad men. the
dif1culty of making a new agreement
with the anthracite miners and the
frequent issues of securities by cor
porations that have been reported as
making many millions.
The allies want more loans over here,
and it is pointed out that if they get
them they may not sell modified
American securities on this market
But the stocks and bonds have been
sold on the market, whether strong %.
weak
The technical position of the market
is improved by the January decline
have helped materially. hut the sp.cu-
lation is in the industrials and hci II
the rails.
Room traders do the bulk of the bGsi-
ness. Money is in enormous SUPPLY
and loanable at low rates to d per-
ceutage of the SuDplN.
The Busy Bank Cashier.
The cashier of a national bank in
Washington, or any one of them. Is
the busiest man in Washington.
The multiplicity of his duties and
the wide range of subjects covered in
the course of days business require
that he be alert every minute of the
day.
Thousands of people are scheming
daily and in divers and many ways
to annex part of the banks cash
through some little laxity on the part
of the cashier, who bears the entire
responsibility from the time the time
locks swing back and the great vaults
are opened until they are closed at
night with the cash safely in vault.
1t requires a cashier with more
than average intelligence to answer
all the questions that are propounded
at him: to make this that party
thoroughly understand that he will not
cash check for any one not Gus
toner of the bank or not introduced
by some responsible person known to
the institution: to make some women
understand that even if the check is
drawn on his bank, even though there
are funds to protect it, he cannot pay
the cash over until she is introduced
or identiied-and to make it plain at
the same time, while being so diplo
matte as not to chance the losing of
depositor or customer.
\ thousand and one problems are Of
fered every day for solution to the
bank cashiers of Washington.
Legitimate customers want loans and
have to be cared for in the interim
between asking questions that bring
no profit to the bank.
Telephones ring and this or that man
desires to know whether John Jones
check for fifty or more dollars is good.
and is Informed if John Jones is a
shaky customer to send the check in
and see If he is good customer with
fat balance. the answer is generally
we have never refused one of his
checks to date"