Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-15
Bills Own Property in
u. S. to Lead Slide
Under Hammer.
HOLLWEG'S ALSO
FOR HIGH BIDDER
Custodian Will Begin
Destroying Outposts
of German Kultur.

Washington, March S-Prop-
erty in the United States owned
by the kaiser himself, former
Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg, the German Junk
ers" generally and the German
government itself, will be the
first to go under he hammer
under the plans of Mitchell
Palmer, alien property custod-
ian, to sell German-owned
property here to the highest
bidders.
Mr.. Palmer's testimony to the Sem
ate appropriations committee in
which he proposed necessary legisla-
ton which was made public today,
makes plain that properties of merely
minor individuals probably will not
be sold, but that the direct purpose of
the move is to break UP the outposts
of kultur in America
told the senators, when the owner
ship of some of these great German
properties should be permanently
separated from German capital and
that the enemy might as well know
that the connection which he has
been able to maintain with American
industry and commerce is broken, not
simply during the war. but broken
never to be restored.
1.-The German empire, through its
financial operations, has put an indus
trial and commercial chain all the
way across the country and through
our insu1ar possessions. We have
become thoroughly convinced it would
be wise and highly desirable at this
time if the ownership of some OF
these properties could be permanently
taken away"
If the legislation be adopted, Mr.
Palmer stated it was his intention to
sell principally the enemy properties
in this country in which the German
government and the "junker" capital
istic class are interested and not dis
turb that of minor individuals.
The Hamburg-American and NORTH
German Lloyd wharves and docks Al
Hoboken, N. J.,Mr. Palmer told sen
ators, are a part of the German en-
pire's commercial grasp upon this
continent"
Senator Owen, of Oklahoma. said
he understood part of their stock il
owned by the kaiser, represented By
Herr Balm.
There is no earthly question about
the intimate relationship of some sor1
between the German government ano
the Hamburg-American line" Mr.
Palmer told the committee. "Nsithe1
is there any doubt about the relation!
between the German government anc
large number of other great indus
trial enterprises in this country, which
come within the control of the alier
property custodian"
Plans of the German shipping line!
to hold their dock properties for eX
tension of German commerce after
the war were disclosed by Mr.. Pal
mer, who added d.
s@That is a fair indication of the
hope and purpose OF enemy capita
that not day shall elapse when the
war is over before they again pu1
their grip upon the commerce ano
industry of America You cannor
strike a heavier blow at the enemy
today than to make him understand
that he has lost his connection with
the industry and commerce of the
American continent.
These large enterprises are aff1l
lated closely with the German gov
GorToo11 C1Ihjao
has an investment over here of a pri'
vate, individual character. we ough
not to disturb him. But these great
| industries, these great concerns
financed by the Deutsches bank, sup
ported by the junl1er class, are the
kind we ought to Americanize."
In one city Mr.. Palmer did mo-
name, he said seven or eight great
mills were entirely German-owned.
"It is part of the German trust il
this country" he said. Il am making
chocolate, in Connecticut, rails il
Pennsylvania, woolens and worsteds
in New Jersey, chemicals in New
York lumber in Florida, raising
sugar in Porto Rico and Hawaii, to-
bacco in many states in the South
making beer in Chicago, and Lead
pencils in New Jersey.
eff I must simply sit here with the
possibility of returning both principle:
and profits to the German owners a
the end of the war, I am doing a ire
mendous favor to the German empire
| our enemy.
1.-The desire is that the title as wei
as possession shall be permanent.
taken away from the German owners
American interests in Germany ar
negligible compared to German inter
ests here" Mr.. Palmer said.
"She now is doing with us exactl!
what we are doing with her." h
| added.
1t is his intention to use the pro
ceeds of the enemy property to blu!
| Government bonds