Meade County news., 1917-10-25

0WnerHhlp OF properly DetWeeu thS OAitON
States and any foreign country or be-
tween the residents OF one or more for
eign countries by any person within the
United States" The reserve board al
ready exercises virtual control over gold
and silver exports.
The secretary OF the treasury's vested
authority to prevent transmission OF in
formation to an enemy, either to or from
the United States will be exercised by the
secret service. The secretary may grant
permission for this transmission when he
wishes.
81 further authorize the secretary OF
the treasury" says the President In his
order, ito grant a license under sucp
terms and conditions as are not inconss-
tent with law, or to withhold or refuse
the same to any enemy or ALLY or enemy
insurance or reinsurance company doing
business within the United States through
| an agency or branch office or otherwise
which shall make application within thirty
days of October Q, 1917 (the date the act
was approved.)"
The censorship board is entrusted with
"the censorship of communication by
mall, cable, radio, or other means OF
transmission passing between the United
States and any foreign country from time
to time specified by the President, or
carried by any vessel or other means OF
transportation touching at any port, place
or territory OF the United States and
bound to or from any foreign country"
"Among the most impor rtant and far
reaching provisions of the enemy act"
says an official statement explaining the
law, ARE those dealing with the taking
over by this government of the custody
and control of enemy property within
the United States.
"The property affected by these pro"
visions is that which Is located in the
United States and belongs to any person
or corporation that is an enemy or ally
OF enemy within the definitions Of the
act referred to above, except those lic-
ensed to continue doing business in tho
United States. German subjects and the
subjects OF her allies resident In the
United States, do not, from the mere fact
of their nationality, fall within these
definitions
Must Report "Ensmy" Stock.
"The act makes It the duty of every
concern within the United States issu-
Ing shares of stock within sixty days af-
ter the approval OF the act to report to
the alien property custodian the names
of such OF its Officers directors and
stockholders, as are known to be or
reasonably believed to be enemies or
allies Of enemy and the amount of stock
or shares owned by each.
"The act provides In addition, under
severe penalties that every person In the
United States holding any property for
an enemy or ally of enemy or for any
person whom he may have reasonable
cause to believe to be an enemy or
ally of enemy must report the fact to the
alien property custodian within thirty
days after the passage of the act So also
any person in the United States indebted
In any way to an enemy or ally OF
enemy or to person who he has reason
able cause to believe is an enemy or
ally of enemy must make a similar
report"
The alien property custodian may re-
quire a transfer to himself of any prop
erty held for debt owed to an enemy or
enemy ally and any person so holding
any property or so owing any money, may
transfer such property or pay such money
to the custodian with his consent.
Property or money transferred to the
alien property custodian will lie held un-
til the end of the war and then dealt with
as congress shall direct. All funds or
ready money may be invested in Liberty
Bonds and held in such form.
Attorney General Given Power.
The President has delegated to the at
torney general the power to direct the
payment of claims against enemy prop
erty. In the hands of the custodian upon
the consent of all persons interested.
The definition OF an "enemy" or "ally
Of enemy is explicit. Any person re-
gardless of nationality who resides with
in the territory of the German empire
or the territory of any of its allies or that
occupied by their military forces is ex-
pressly made an enemy or "ally OF
enemy" by the act. Even &tizens of the
| United States remaining within such ter
ritoly are regarded as "enemies" or al
| lies of an enemy"
An "enemy" or tally of enemy" doing
business within the United States before
November 5. may apply for license to
continue to do business in the United
| States.
"The main application of these pro-
Visions" the official statement says, will
he to German or ally of German con-
Germs. which are doing business in the
United States through branch houses or
agents, such as insurance or re-insur-
ance companies. Such an enemy or ally
Of enemy may continue TO do business
within the United States until such ap
plications are acted upon"
individuals not Affected.
The license provisions of the act do not
| apply to Germans Austrians, Turks or
Bulgarians doing business in the United
| States and having no business connec-
tons with interests actually operating In
| Germany or her allied countries. Thus
| thousands OF allen enemies having small
business establishments in the United
| States need not apply for license to con-
tinue operation, unless they have deal
ings with companies having connections
on the enemy or ally Of enemy terri
| tory
The act authorizes the President to
declare all these alien enemies subject tc
licease regulations but he has not ex-
tended the provision to these persons by
his order.