The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-07
BANKING ASSETS NOW TOTAL OVER
 SIXTEEN BILLION
America Has Become In comparably the Richest
 of Worlds Nations.

New York, April 7.-Already the United States has become firmly fixed
 as incomparably the richest nation in the world, which fact can only be &C., cepted as one of the strongest bul- warks back of it in carrying out what ever program the Administration at Washington may decide upon.
 If\war with Germany is to come, as now appears inevitable. then the United States is abundantfy supplied with the @'sinews of war;" and largely on this account, not to speak of the practically limitless natural resources of the country, our entering into the great conflict should mark the begin ming of a comparatively speedy ter imitation thereof.
 Evidence of the position which the United States now occupies as the pos sessor of more wealth than any sother nation has lately been afforded in the report of the Controller of the Curren- cy under date of March 5, showing the condition of the National banks of the country at that time.
 On the date in question the assets of the National banks aggregated more than $16,000,000,000, exceeding by more than $5,000.000 the combined re- sources of the Bank of England, the Bank of France, the Bank of Italy, the Bank of Spain, the Bank of Norway, the Bank of Sweden, the Swiss Ma tional~ Bank, National Bank of Den mark, the Bank of Japan and the Reichs Bank of Germany.
 This striking illustration of the un- precedently sound conditions of this country's finances, which was aug mented by the rapidity with which the Government 90-day loan of $50,000,- 900 was largely oversubscribed during the past week, augurs exceedingly we'll for a continuance of the present ex- tremely easy conditions prevailing in the money market.
 It likewise indicates that the Gov ernment will have no difficulty what yer in borrowing all the funds it re- quires, even up into the billions, if necessary, in order successfully and expeditiously to pursue whatever plans President Wilson and the Congress may agree upon for the purpose of forever establishing our rights as a Nation before the eyes of the entire world.
 Passing from a. consideration of in- ternational affairs, one thing stands out more conspicuously than the ma- jority of other domestic factors name ly, the evident intention of the Inter- state Commerce Commission to afford our railroads an opportunity to re- compense themselves for the largely increased cost of operations resulting from the enactment of the eight-hour law in favor of their employees.
 Applications for increases in freight rates thus far filed with the commits sion in some eases already have been granted on certain classes of commodi- ties.
 While 1t is not to be supposed that the commission will grant all the de- mands to be made by the carriers, or that higher rates will be obtained without a more or less determined fight on the part of shippers, the con- ciliatory attitude assumed by the com mission toward the transportation in- terests promises that eventually they will secure concessions from that body which will fully make up in the way of increased revenues whatever losses they may sustain through the opera ton of the new labor law.