Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28

dividend requirements and, If one may
Judge from the signs Of the times, the
turn for the better has not definitely
set in.
Under these circumstances one lis
tens with interest while a combination
Of big trust company, heretofore I'M
mentioned, and a national bank like
wise unmentioned, are referred to as
ripe for the "persimmon" pole.
There may be nothing more than ru-
NOR in the report and yet one never
knows what may happen in prolonged
siege of dry weather. II the Sugges-
ton should pass the rumor stage and
become q fact the total resources OF
the merged institution would not be
far from $50,000,000.
The Riggs National Bank, the out
standing financial institution in the
city, has total resources of $50, 700.0
Washington Gas Awakening.
After the quiet, peaceful career of the
local gas company for so many years,
prospering in quiet way, accepting the
will of Congress in the matter of re-
tanning it's capital stock at the amount
named half q century ago, owning the
entire stock of the Georgetown Gas Co.,
and perhaps Of the Rosslyn Co., but
unable to operate as economically as
possible, through refusal of Congress to
permit the operation of all units as one
corporation, the company has now as
sumed the aggressive, is forcing busi-
ness, seeking benefits, natural gas. re-
arranging schedules, ETC., and promises
to be an active entity In the future.
Gas bills are the smallest items In
the household economy of today. Other
meters may get on rampage once in a
while, but the gas registers are very
Sedate and rarely vary their speed.
MergenthaIer's Earnings Fair.
Mergenthaler Is one of the great in
dustrial corporations that have not
shut down their plants. The fiscal
year of the corporation is fast drawing
to a close and the earnings for the
period will show a very fair condition,
with business on the mend, and the
able for the current quarter with the
advent of October. Moreover the cor
poration's position in cash and Gov
eminent bonds is very strong, while its
balance sheet is clear of obligations
something not many industrial COM
panieS can show at this time.
Prices have been sagging on Mercy,
but that is just sample of the pres
emit order of things, when the best Is
considered none too good. The news
paper business is good and Mercy Is
distinctly newspaper setter.
A Clever Trick.
Bank bandits have to be rather smart
these days to make decent haul and
get away without melting the entire
town to- follow in determined effort
to even up an outrage.
Here is the latest story from one OF
the Southern States. A fine looking
young man approached the paying tel
Ter of a bank in one OF the moderately
large banks and said: We'll, here ]
am. You see the gun. Over there on
that bench are eight men, all ready
to shoot 1t out with you. am also
ready and I have three men outside, so
IL YOU want to start something, just
start. But you would better take this
flour sack and quietly put all the cur
rency you have and any non-registered
Liberties. These men Indicating the
eight men on the stooD will wait for
some time after am gone to see that
I get away and to quiet any disturb
ance, so don't start anything"
After waiting for some time, the
cashier called the police station and
in jiffy had the eight men under ar
rest. But there wasn't a gun on any
of them and they were loud in protests
that they were not thieves, but honest
men out of work, who had been told to
wait In the bank for the return of the
bandit who was to furnish them work
a-plenty.