Evening star., 1919-08-26
sG|VE APPROVAL TO
2f PRESIDENTS VIEW
Security and Financial World
Welcomes Suggestion to
: More Considerate Action.
LOCAL STOCKS SLOW
BY i. A. FLEMING.


New York and Washington showed
large interest in the attitude of Presi
dent Wilson in commenting on the
question of increased wages for rail-
road rnep in so far as his suggestions
for consideration of rule of reason
d. and the adoption of an attitude of
moderation were concerned
No one knew exactly how labor
would receive the suggestions, al
though there were many who express
ed positive opinions thereon
Naturally all depends on the atti-
tude of organized labor, whether it
will accept the Presidents point of
view and assist in bringing down the
cost of living or still demand the big
increase, which can only be granted
by passing along the extra to the
public in increased costs of transport
tation and higher costs of living
PreSldent Com perS' return from
Paris tomorrow IS awaited with inter-
est His advert may have an impor-
tant influence on what may be decided
py the orotLerhoods, and may also af-
feet the Pans of the leaders of steel
iaoor, VINO propose to put up to Chair
man Gary of the United States Steel
Corpor alton certain demands pre!imi-
mary 90 ordering strike in the war;
Gus steel plants.
Many manufacturers are looking for
Chairman Gary to give a positive
Negative to all demands and to take
the bull by the horns in a finish fight.
recognizing the steel corporation as
especially equipped for such strug-
gle. Only a very small percentage Of
its men are unionized.
wall street gratefully accepted the
action of the President as meaning
that he was opposed to the railroad
brotherhoods' plans and that he would
oppose any and all of the so-ealled
oemocratization projects.
Inc change OF front was plainly
70 the satisfaction of the stock mar
ket- which responded with a firmer
opening and stern rallies. although
present time that large Improvement
Is not expected.
Interior banks are Withdrawing
money from centers for use in crop
movement.
Personal Mention.
John NJ. Riordin, cashier of the Bank
Of Commerce and Savings, is vaca-
t1on1ng in New York state.
Francis M. Savage, president of the
Northwest Savings Bank, has returned
from York Harbor. Me.
Steel Workers Wages.
In view of the threatened strike of
steel workers, the fact that the steel
corporation has steadily advanced the
wage scale of it's employees is interest
ing.
In 1904, following the severe panic
or 1903. the average wage per man in
the employ of the company was s677
annually; in 1906, $50, while in 1911
the average was $500, and In 1914, s905;
in 1917 the average was $1.2S0, in
l91s, 1855, and in December. 1918.
S1,e5e. These figures indicate that
the high cost of living has been fairly
we'll met.
Local Market Slow.
There was scarcely any business
transacted on today's session Of the
local stock exchange. Some of the
brokers who usually have orders were
absent from the floor, and there were
very few commissions placed at any
thing like going quotations.
Mergenthaler was offered at 140 with
125 bid: Lanston at TO- with 671a bid;
Railway common was 81 bid, and 4Sa
was bid for the preferred. These proffers
failed to bring a trade.
Potomac consolidated SIS sold to the
extent of one bull bond al 81, indicat-
ing small loss. while Capital Trac-
tion shares brought IS II.