Evening star., 1938-11-13
Store Sales Off
Sharply Due 10
Mild Weather
Sag IS Per Cent From
Week Ago, 5.96
From Year Ago
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

BY EDWARD C. STONE.
Due to continued mild weather
department store sales in Washing
ton during the past week averaged
decrease Of 500 per cent from the
corresponding week year ago and
were Is per cent under the previous
week this year, the Commerce De-
partment reported yesterday in re-
viewing business conditions in IS
important cities. The report stressed
. the fact that there was no apparent
reason for the trade declines ex-
cept the warm weather.
In other cities in the 5th dis
trict, where the weather was cooler,
trade ran ahead of the previous
week and cut down the margin of
loss over the like period last year.
Baltimore reported improvement
over last year; Charleston had sub
stantial gains. Reports added that
retailers had increased their orders
with wholesalers substantially.
Bank clearings In the Capital
A. were we'll ahead of last year. S26,-
103,6l2, comparing with s23,677,457
last year. Revenues of the Capt.
tai Transit Co. for the week ended
Wednesday reached $230,692. against
only $2l5,871 year ago, last years
period including four days before
the present higher fares went into
effect, the commerce report stated.
Washington Gas at New Peak.
Washington Gas Light preferred
stock scored a new high mark for
the year 1888 on the Washington
Stock Exchange yesterday, when a
50-share block changed hands at
102.
Earlier in the week Gas preferred
had been very active. During one
session IS shares sold at 1O112 and
so shares at 1914. For several
weeks this gas issue has led trading
on the exchange. At yesterdays
close, the bid stood at 10la, with
1922 asked.
At one time this year the stock
! sold as low as 81. The stock pays
dividend of $3.50 a year. WASH
ington Gas common is also listed
on the exchange, the last sale being
made at 1885. The preferred, how
ever, gets all the attention.
Union Trust Co. stock, which Is
not listed on the exchange, but is
sold over the counter, has also been
In the limelight in the past few days.
The bid for this stock has jumped
about 10 points since the bank re-
duced its capital from s2,000,0OO to
$1000,000. at the same time greatly
improving dividend chances. The
bid has climbed to SO, while the pre-
ferred price has moved up to $100
a share.
Baltz Luncheon Speaker.
The Advertising Club of Wash
ington expects large attendance at
the birthday luncheon tomorrow in
honor of Edward c. Baltz, who ends
his duties as president of the United
States Building and Loan League in
q few days in Chicago.
Alvin @. Ehrlich, president of the
= club. will preside at a Commute
luncheon and program starting at
1890 o'clock at the Raleigh Hotel.
Mr.. Baltz will be saluted by heads
of various bodies with which he has
been identified in his native city,
including DR.. Allan Davis, principal
OF Business High School, from
which Mr.. Baltz graduated; a rep
resentatlve of Georgetown Uni
versity Law School; Godfrey Mum
ter, president of the Bar Associa-
ton of the District of Columbia;
DR.. Marvin A. Custis. president, Per-
petual Building Association; A. G.
Bishop, president, District of Colum-
bia Building and Loan League;
Francis A. Murray, president, WASH
ington Real Estate Board; 10 v.
Morgan, representing the District
government, and others.
Arrangements for the testimonial
: are being conducted by Secretary
Charles j. Columbus from the
rooms of the Advertising Club at
the Raleigh Hotel.
Kraft on Insurance Program.
Harold D. Kraft, manager of the
Provident Mutual Life Insurance
Co. Offices in Washington. will
speak at the November meeting of
the Chartered Life Underwriters
Association, at the Cosmos Club, to-
morrow evening at o'clock. He
has been requested to repeat the
speech he made at recent conven-
, ton at Hot Springs, Va, on Selling
the Family Man.
There will also be a group dis
cussion Of the contract changes be-
Ing made on new contracts by the
major insurance companies, on or
before January /, 1899. These
changes are due to reduction in
interest rates on investments and
to increased longevity annuitants.
Cost Accountants to Meet.
Charles Sanford Tippetts, dean
Of the School of Business, Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh, will speak on the
"Present Business Situation" with
emphasis on cost accounting, at the
monthly meeting next Thursday
at $50 at the Annapolis Hotel.
AA4C 6NCoV Sk<C1hCA 40 q II
Of Princeton, has taught in several
different universities and has writ
ten q number of text books
and financial articles which have
brought him wide recognition. DR..
Tppetts is director of the Pitts
burgh Chamber of Commerce and
Housing Administration. President
William L. Slattery will preside at
the meeting.
Heard in Financial District.
The Richmond Reserve Bank re-
port that trade in the Capital in
the first 10 months of this year was
only % per cent under 1887 brought
forecasts that sales for the full year
will be ahead of last year. Holi-
day trade, cold weather and the
hl1pe C,ovnrpmopt nav roll oro tho