Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-17
MEN AND MONEY
By NJ. S. Rukeyser.
Copyright, 1927

| 1
Amidst a clamor of business forces
! making for individual extravaganza,
| members of the National Thrift Com
pany during the current week-Thrift
weel-are making a counter plea
throughout the land for intelligent
economy.
Economy and thrift are gray, color
less words, but the sponsors of the
movement, headed by Adolph Lew
isohn, New York tinancier and copper
magnate. attempt to give these vague
expressions specific meaning.
They offer the subjoined 70 rules for
a successful and happy lne:
L. Work and earn.
:. Make II budget.
). Record expenditures.
/. Have a bank account.
3. Carry life insurance.
=. own your own home.
:. Make u will
5. Invest in safe securities.
3. Pay bills promptly.
10. Share with others.
Are impressive array of goals for
the financially literate.
Have Good Intentions.
1t is my impression that the aver
age run OF SOBER minded persons mas
gUou intentions, but trequently lacks
either the stamina, the good fortune
ur the technical knowledge with which
TO build up competence.
II the committee can direct the
national mind to the question of wise
use of individual funds during the
week, the effort will not have been
In vain. My own large correspondence
with newspaper readers makes me feel,
however, that the average man needs
less general oratory and more specific
advice that can be applied to his own
investment problems.
The ninth commandment Of Thrift
Weekday bills promptly"
attention on the unwilling negligence
OF the average individual toward bills
for professional services. Even the
tidy man, who recognizes the desir-
ability of getting checks for rent and
for ordinary commercial bills out
promptly, will take his time in paying
the physician. The average patient
Is disposed to let the doctor wait. The
practice Is perhaps a subconscious ex-
preston OF the old superstition that
servants of humanity ought not to be
themselves on a dollar.and-cents basis.
AS matter of fact, the conscientious
doctor does not minister to patients
for a fee any more than a bride gets
married for a wedding ring. And yet
she feels she is entitled to the ring.
In paying for bonds, the customer
must add additional amounts to cover
interest for pedioes of delay after the
bill has been rendered. That Is be-
cause investment bankers have made
their clients realize that 81 900 today
mas greater actual market value
than $1,000 next week. Physicians
suffer an economic loss by being made
to wait.
Competition to Be keener.
That the competition among auto
mobile builders during the current
year VIII be keener than ever before
is the belief of John n. WHY'S. who
attended the twenty-seventh annual
automobile show, which ended Satur-
day.
Present Indications" said the
president Of WHY'S Overland, Inc,
IN reply to my questions, ARE that
the larger and better grounded manu-
facturers and producers will show
increased production for 1927 with
one exception, this being a large
producer located in Detroit. The
total volume of cars disposed of in
the domestic field will probably not
be equal to that of 1926, but the
loss will be felt more particularly by
the small builders"
Do you anticipate an increase In
exports of automotive products?" Mr.
WHY'S was asked.
The popularity of the American
built car" he said lis rapidly on the
increase in European countries. Only
two European manufacturers have in
any way attempted to develop mass
production and the figures of these
manufacturers do not approximate
anything like the figures to which
we are accustomed. The European
buyer is aware of certain very def
mite advantages in American built
products, and companies well estab-
lished in the European trade will see
an increase in the foreign demand
during the next IL months"
AS for the price outlook, Mr..
WHY'S declared: 1T does not seem
likely at this time that any material
reductions will be made in 1927. Most
manufacturers have priced their
products at q low point during the
past year."
The next query was whether the
manufacturer agreed with Henry
Ford that the sale of cars on credit
had been overdone.
1.-THE sale Of cars on credit has not
been overdone," answered Mr.. WHY'S,
provided the dealer uses his head in
establishing risks. Time payment will
always be an advantage to the buyer
and to the seller as long as 1t is not
used as a weapon to drive a. buyer up
into price class which is beyond his
means"