Evening star., 1922-03-07
GOOD SIGNS IN -,
FEWER|DLE CARS
Report on Railway Freight
Service Shows Decrease
During February.

No better sign of the gradual re-
turn to better conditions can be had
than the decrease in idle freight cars
throughout the country, as reported
by the car division of the Ameri-e
can Railway Association.
According to the latest figures is-~
sued by that organization, the num-
per OF freight cars idle because Of
business conditions totaled 437.6S7 on
FEBRUARY %, compared with 449,8l9,
on February Is, a reduction of 2.141.
Comparisons show that of the total !.
264.S14 were surplus freight cars in:
good repair and ready for immediate
service il traffic demands warranted, =,
which was a reduction of 1867 com
pared with the number of such cars.
at the middle of the month. The re-.
naming 172.S64 were cars in need
of repairs over and above the num-
ber. normally regarded as being un-
use until repairs had been made. ,
Surplus box cars in good order s.
numbered 105,93S. decrease OF :;
6,616 since. February Is. while sur 3
plus coal cars in good repair totaled
1O5,570, decrease of 6,4S0. within
the same period. Surplus coke cars 8
showed q decrease of 104 within ap-
proximately a week, while decrease :
Of 449 was reported for stock cars .
within the same time. which brought
tne tOldl QOWn 10 ",
To Discuss Bonus.
Discussion of the soldiers bonus.
the bill leading to the reduction IN !
size of United States paper currency
and other matters pertinent to the
organization will be gone into at
special meeting OF the council of ad-
mi nistration of the District of Co
by President John B. Larner, for
Thursday afternoon, at 4:30 o'clock.
While there Is doubt in some quar-
ters as TO what action will be taken
on the bonus issue, it is known that =
President McAdams of the American :
Bankers Association has asked for
an official attitude of the local asso- =.
citation as being opposed to this pres :
ent-day problem.
The question of a reduction in size :
Of United States paper money. which !.
was prompted by George ". Whites !,
request for a declaration against this
issue, will probably find advocates
both for and against the argument :
1t was pointed out in banking circles
yesterday that were this move
adopted, having a separate and dis
tinct size for every denomination. the
practice of forging and raising" a
note would be reduced to the mini /,
mum.
At the meeting Secretary Victor B.
Deyber will extend an invitation to
nois Safe Deposit Association to at :
tend the annual convention to be held
by that body May 19 and 20. 1t is ;,
likely that the District association
will delegate several members to rep =
resent it al the congress. .
Dfscounting Gas Decision.
"A common practice the world over
is to wager, that the other fellow is
wrong" says the Wall Street Journal. :
1.-The bear does it when he goes short
of the market; the bucket shop does II
when it fails to execute the buying
orders of it's customers.
"a trader Of decidedly bearfsh ten
denotes was recently approached by
man who claimed to have inside in
formation regarding the rate case of -
the Consolidated Gas Company before
the United States Supreme Court. He 1.
maintained that the courts ruling
would be against the company, which
would have to refund the difference,
between 80 cents and the Sl.2o rate.
which it had been assessing. Skepticai.
as usual. the trader offered to sell for
SIS his receipts, which entitled him to
refund of $36 in event the eighty
cent rate was sustained. When the
decision was made public the pur-
chaser of the receipts had nothing but
a bundle of worthless paper to show =
for his investment"
Several RumOrs AhOat.
Rumors of the merging of two bank.
ing institutions and the sale OF an
other national bank flew thick in the
financial district today, and while no
confirmation of these reports could be
obtained, it is thought likely that sew
eral announcements pertinent to the
matters involved will be forthcoming
within the next twenty-four hours.