The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-05
DISTRICT EASY
FINANCIALLY
By RICHARD HATTON

Retail business in Washington
during the first week of November
has shown a decided upward trend.
This may be ascribed to seasonal
buying. On the other hand, indica-
tions are that the month will register
a greater volume of retail sales than
did the same period last year. This
local forward movement seems to De
in line with what is going on, with
few notable exceptions. in all sec
tions of the country, where. during
the first ten months of the year,
sales have been reported as approx
mately 4 or 5 per cent greater than
over the same period in 1925.
AS the local retail stores approach
the most active period of the year. 1t
! Is noteworthy that conditions in this
CITY are exceptionally favorable to
brisk fall trade. and it is quite APP
parent that from now until the END
Of the season of holiday buying local
merchants may expect satisfactory
results.
The purchasing power OF the
Washington public. which is seldom
impaired by conditions which often
react unfavorahly to retail trade IN
other localities, is especially ap-
parent this season. There has been
no lack of employment in any line,
and, of course, the Governmental
activities remain a substantial. al
though often overrated. factor IN
local business prosperity.
washington banks, also, reflect the
generally prosperous condition Of the
community, and, while there Is al
preset a large volume Of commercial
activity indicated by their records,
thew also show that the local public
is not behind other communities In
Increasing its saving balances.
Taking into consideration the IA
eflity with which the public IS re-
spending to the seasonable adver-
Using of local merchants and the
added fact that bank balances ana
savings deposits are increasing, 10
rether with the steady demand Tor
sound investment securities It Is
evident that this city is nnanciaHy
.'easy" and that the fall ana christ
mas business this year will I'M
doubtedly exceed that Of 1875 by
very substantial amount.
An of these facts being taken
into consideration there seems
nothing in sight at the present mo.
rnent which can influence local busi-
ness in an unsatisfactory manner,
and earlier predictions of iner-
chants and bankers who foresaw
an especially active and prosperous
fall and winter season In the
National Capital seem certain OF
fulfillment.
President John B. Larner. Of the |
Washington Loan and Trust Conn
pany. is active as chairman or the /
executive committee of the, Wash. /
ington Presbyterian laymen who
are carrying on campaign to raise
funds for putting their pastors PEN
sion plan into operation.
A large class in banking funda- |
mentals last night heard most |
interesting and Informative lecture
by Eliot III. Thomson on Prom
isory Notes. the Credit Department
and Commercial Paper" which is
one of the important subjects In
the course being given by Mr..
Thomson for the Washington chap
ter of the American Institute OF
Banking.
In an important book entitled
''AVorld War Debt Settlements, just
released from the press by the In
stitute of Economics. Washington,
ID. c., Harold G. Moulton, director
of the Institute, and Leo Pasvolsky.
of the institute staff, gather to-
gether for the first time the peril.
nent facts relating to all Of the
debt and reparation settlements FOL.
lowing the World War. and discuss
the various issues which are still
IN suspense.