The Washington times., 1925-12-25
ny RICHARD HATroN

BY RICHARD HAI.IUN .s
Several months ago many proInt
nent bankers ana business men cf
washington went on record pre-
dieting the greatest volume Of holi-
day business in the history Of the
city. Today every one OF those
optimistic forecasts has been made
good, and. as the city turns for one
day. from business to the enjoyment
Of the Christmas festival there are
few merchants. indeed, who cannot
say that this has been the best;
holiday business season on record,
While Washington business has
broken all previous marks in pre-
Christmas sales; while. at the same
time. bank deposits are mounting
to q peint where it is freely pre-
dicted that the next bank call viii
show q large increase In deposits I'm
District of Columbia banks; while
the response to the new call to
thrift as contained in the banks
stimulation Of their Christmas Saw
ings funds Is gratifying; while there
Is ample money available for legiti-
mate local investment, Washington
Is not alone in its prosperous con-
dftiOn.
The whole country is steaming
ahead at full speed along the
channel Of prosperity. and to add. 70.
the speed and security OF the trip,
GUN export trade in raw materials
foro the first ten months of 1925
amounted to 81 ,0S9 900 600, as com
pared with 1862 .000, 900 recorded for
1924. At the same time imports OF
raw materials have shown a CORE,
spending increase and these two
factors are merely indicative of re,
lnewed worldwide manufacturing
activity which spells but one word
prosperity.
Increasing activity In the general
real estate market has been APP
parent for some months. and in
November. the last month for which
complete. figures are available, II
reached a point higher than any
previous record for the same month
In the last ten years.
There is scarcely any angle from
which the present business situation
can be viewed which does not show
a decided Improvement over any
recent year. When to this brilliant
outlook Is added the fact that the
American people are far less bur-
people Of any other nation, with the
prospect Of still farther reductions
IN taxation during the coming year,
one more weight may be placed In
the scale of prosperity.
This matter Of taxation Ia worthy
ofo consideration from. a compare.
tive standpoint. Per capita taxes
in the United States. for instance,
are Ills per cent Of the national
income at the present time. In
England they are 232 per cent,
t@while in France they are 300 per
cent, and 1872 per cent in Italy.
Surely the American people can
have little to complain of on the
score of taxation, and, so far as
this affects general or local bust
ness conditions, the burden carried
here is light compared to that which
is/borne by other nations
A sign which points to the gen.
orally prosperous condition of the
country today is seen in the fact
that, for the first time in history,
car loadings in December have been
reported as in excess of one million
cars, and there is no present indi-
cation that there is a slump in
freight movements in sight.
With business above normal in
practically all parts of the country
during recent weeks, with local
pre-Christmas business SURPRISING
all previous records in volume, with
the people of the city generally oc.
eupied and prosperous, with every
indication of a continuation of good
times. today should be hailed as
the best Christmas from an eco
nomic standpoint which has ever
teoIne To Washington.
In compliance with the recent act
VI Congress making tomorrow, Sat
urday, December 20, a legal hoIi-
day, none of the banks of the city
will be open. Notes and other
paper falling due on Saturday, Ii
has been announced, will be due
and payable on Monday, Decem-
Der %.
Francis NJ. Savage, president OF
the Central Savings Bank, is spend.
ing Christmas with relatives IN
New York city.
Directors OF the Second Nationl!
Bank have declared the regular
semi-annual dividend of 3 per cent
and an extra" of III per cent
Doth payable on January 1.
Gives SIS, 900 to Charity
BINGHAMTON, N. Y, Dec. U.s.
Charitable organizations in this city
win receive Christmas requests az
gregating 5000 HsEa Geog9s r
=.