Author:  "Mike & Laura Marshall" <marsh21@home.com> at Internet
Date:    12/11/1999  8:05 PM

Subject: S7-24-99

I want to comment on the above referenced proposed rule change.  The NASD now 
requires all OTC small cap companies to be fully reporting to stay listed.  This
was done to protect the small individual investors.  However, the biggest 
problem with investing in small companies is not the companies themselves , but 
the market makers.  They are a bunch of greedy, ruthless and manipulating low 
lives.  They are free to short stocks even though regular investors cannot. 
They can purposely hold down the price of a stock to suit their own needs.  I 
have lost more money through price manipulation by market makers than anything 
else.  They can also set the spread at whatever they choose to.  I have seen 
some at 200 to 300%.  
     
So, if the intent is protect us individual investors, then the rules about 
shorting need to be changed.  The companies' have been cleaned up, now let's 
clean up the market makers.
     
Thank you, Mike Marshall  (no affiliation)  marsh21@home.com