Show THE RECENT DECISION it may seem somewhat singular that the whole business of the country should have been held up as it were for so long a period seemingly awaiting the decision of the supreme court of the united states in the case of the standard oil company the facts are however that large donled interests and even those who have smaller sums to invest were waiting for this cause feeling that they had some reason real or imaginary for hesitating in their investments the decision had been discounted in the general market of the country and naturally the reaction showed a better tone and increased confidence money was quickly set free and where borrowers were trying to secure funds some months ago on ample security and were refused they could easily be accommodate last week on the same security banks were willing to grant the accommodation As one beneficial result of the decision the stock markets in the east quickly responded and advanced within the first hour after the opening call on the morning following the decision an average of about per share on the new york market there seemed to be a wave of confidence sweeping over the country all business enterprises responded to the better feeling and the money which has been saved during the period of economy through which we have been passing was ready for investment in new lines there is a general recognition of the great importance of the decision on the whole business of our country it has been considered that the sherman act so far as it had not been construed has been quite a drawback to the business of the country many plans which have been held up awaiting some definite construction will now be put into effect there are yet some decisions that are being awaited but the action of the court in this case leads men to express their greater confidence although there are some who do not feel that the court should have read into the law the word unreasonable however there may be some amendments which will remedy the deficiencies and make the act definite the business barometer of the new york exchange showed on saturday after the decision of the supreme court was announced noun ced a record of on the saturday preceding the decision it stood at this indicates something of the general improvement in the investment market it would seem as if the whole country would continue to show improvements in view of this decision and in view of the prospects of abundant crops this season |