Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-07
RETAIL BUSINESS
REPORTED NORMAL
IN CAPITAL STORES
Merchants Observe Little
Difference in Spite of
Bank Holiday.
EMERGENCY ACCOUNTS
OPENED BY MANY BUYERS
Board of Trade Cites Strategic
Position of Washington in
Getting U. S. Pay Roll.

Retail trade in the Capital moved
along on an even keel yesterday ana
merchants anticipated even less ten
sion today with modification of the
Governments banking restrictions. 4
While some business houses, includ-
ing grocers and restaurateurs, took
steps to cope with emergency situations
by setting up charge accounts, the ma
jority of retailers reported an exceed
ingly good" day, taking into considera-
ton all untoward circumstances.
The department stores, laying en-
phasis on the use Of charge accounts
and encouraging new ones, functioned
at a steady gait officials said. Drug
stores, with their soda fountains, usual
" considered fair barometer OF street
trode. reported a normal amount OF
business, following a recapitaulation Of
the days receipts.
Ready to Take Scrip.
In many instances, merchants said
they stood ready to recognize scrip IN
payment for merchandise, when this
substitute for cash is issued in the Dis
trict. Checks continued to be accepted
from responsible sources In payment OF
bills. Money was on hand to meet
pay rolls, several of the business Con-
Germs reported.
Secretary Woodin's orders permitting
the withdrawal of funds from banks
for the purposes of assuring a steady
flow of foodstuffs through the markets
met with the approval of produce deal
ers in Washington market places this
morning. While the exact method OF
handling these funds by the banks had
not been worked out, merchants felt
confident the revised regulations would
facilitate the handling OF food supplies.
The directors of the Washington
Board of Trade, in statement issued
following a conference yesterday, an
nounced there is no reason why bust
ness should not continue as usual IN the
District"
I'VE cannot too forcefully emphasize
the comparatively strategic position Of
Washington in reference to the present
financial situation" the trade body
stated.
Confident Of Credit.
THE Government pay roll itself as
sures the community OF a reasonable
circulation of currency, and We have
every confidence that the bankers will
undertake to provide an adequate means
of circulation which will permit the
fullest conduct of business in this city.
We are confident that the business men
will extend the fullest measure OF credit
to their deserving customers.
THE fact that on Friday, IN the race
@ To no yiy,y C
system on a legal holiday or restrictive
basis, the banks in Washington were IN
the main functioning normally Is a
source of greatest satisfaction.
I'VE feel assured that adequate ma
chinery for the conduct of business and
business credit is being rapidly worked
out as fast as the suddenness OF the
situation permits"
Formal Endorsement Of President
RooSevelt'S action in declaring bank
ing holiday came from the Federation
of Business Mems Association in the
form of a statement last night. Arthur
Clarendon Smith, president OF the
group, said the members are ready to
extend credit, at the same time >ex.
pressing confidence in the country ana
its Government.
Business as Usual.
An optimistic statement was issued
in behalf of the Hecht Co. department
store Yesterday by Charles B. Dulcan,
ST.. vice president and general mer-
chandise manager, in which he declared
that the situation was business as
usual with that firm. He said 4,5OO
units of merchandise were sold In one
department before l pm.
Apprehension among the buying pub
lie appears to be less today than week
ago, when things were up in the air,
according to Edward D. Shaw, secre-
tary of the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association. Now that they
know exactly what the situation Is"
Shaw said, the people are adjusting
themselves to it."
The coal merchants division of the
association, Shaw said, decided to post
pone any change in the business policy
of its members for the time being. Fol-
lowing a session yesterday afternoon,
the group expressed the feeling that
conditions for the present do not war
rant any deviation from established
policies.
Barber shops, cigar stores and soda
fountains continued to do a normal
amount of business, canvass of these
fields revealed. In some instances,
slight decline was noted in barber shops,
according to George Miller, head Of the
Union Barber Supply Co., but In the
majority Of cases trade continued as
usual.
Grocery Business Normal.
The Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., and
the Sanitary Grocery Store-Plggly
Wiggly chains reported their cash poll
cies would continue unchanged for the
present. Both reported no apparent
unfavorable effects on their business:
Edward Yonker, president OF the
latter group, expressed the belief that
tension is materially lessened by the
opening of the banks for the transaction
of certain business
Independent grocers affiliated with
the United Food Stores and District
Grocery Stores reported no noticeable
fuctuation in their Monday business.
Morris L. Kraft, president of the United
Food Stores, said grocerS were estab-
fishing credit for known customers and
welcoming new accounts. The same
was said for the District Grocery Stores
by I jacobson, president.
Sidney Lust, operating several theaters
in nearby Maryland and Virginia, an
nounced that credit books were being
issued for the Cameo Theater in Mount
Rainier and for the Arcade Theater In
HyattSville.