New-York tribune., 1918-01-11
The National Oil Administrator

Oil trade interests were retlcent
yesterday when it came to commenting
upon the appointment Of Mark l.. Requa,
Of California, as national OIL admins
TRAITOR. The general understanding. is
that the new official will become active
in directing and insuring an equitable
distribution of oil in the United States
during the war; but beyond this little
is known here. 1t is asserted that the
oil administrator will have no author
itv to fix prices of crude oil or crude
oil products AS a matter of fact, there
would be much relief in the oil trade
if the government would make dell-
mite announcement regarding It's
future attitude toward the industry as
whole For many weeks reports nave
been current that prices would be fixed,
but so far nothing tangible has come
out of Washington. II. G. James, Of
the staff of "The Oil City Derrick" re
Gently had the following to say anent
the talk of government interference IN
the oil industry:
"If the government wants to be as
sured an adequate supply of petroleum
products and if it wants to encourage
an industry, at the same time placing
itself in a position of securing It's
needs at the best possible prices, let it
act quickly and decisively now. Let all
talk about shortage, communicating
and price fixing stop. Let cooperative
method obtain, and the results VIII be
amazing. Industry has proved that co,
, operation is wonderful stabllzer and
stimulant. The Federal government
might also prove 1T, "lthou1 resort "
dangerous methods of policy or prac-
tice'
Germany in Receptive Mood:
1t NAV have had little significance,
vet it was remarked upon as an interest
ing coincidence yesterday that the re
coycry in the stock market which took
place in the afternoon following fore
noon session of sagging prices occurred
simultaneo with private reports re-
ceived by brokerage houses that Ger
many was in receptive mood and
would likely make favorable response
to President Wilson's statement OF our
war aims Shortly afterward the news
tickers printed Washington dispatches
TO the effect that Sweden would be
asked by Germany to act as go-be-
tween with the Allies. Almost immedi-
ately Steel common on moderate vol
ume of buying rose from 947s to 96,
closing q up at 95M.. The upward
movement in Steel may have been stim-
ulated by the first increase in untitled
tonnage orders of the corporation re-
ported since last April.
Northern Securities Company
The report of the Northern Securi-
ties Company for the calendar year
1917, issued yesterday, showed total
income of $271,O45, compared with
S2S5,4S0 in 1916 and Sl19,704 in 1915.
The balance after the payment of
$138,383 in dividends amounted to
s109,179. compared with S188,245 the
preceding year.
General Electric Operations
In connection with it's application to
list additional capital stock, the Cen
cral Electric Company yesterday made
q report to the New York Stock Ex-
change covering operations for the six
months period ended June 80 last. 1t
a balance available for dividends of
$i9.776,474. The condensed balance
sheet as of June 80 showed cash on
hand of $1O,850,S57, compared with S12.-
.707 at the close of 1916 and $30,-
1898 in December, 1915.
a Change in Time?
Ticker tape readers were much in
terested yesterday to notice that in
instead of the usual "Hammonds
time 2:15," which for over forty years
has appeared every weekday except
Saturday and holidays, there was
printed delivery time 2:15." Wall
Street Immediately reached the con-
clusion that the tSock Exchange had
ordered departure from its usual way
of denotng that at 2:1 all sales made
on the previous day must have been
delivered. Inquiry at the offices of
the exchange, however. showed that
the change was probably an error. as
those with authority to speak said
they had no knowledge that any altera-
tion had been ordered.
limited kinpdom Nnfes