The sun., 1918-07-05
Frustrating schemes to Conceal Ger
man Property.

Frustrating Schemes to Conc cal Ger
man Property.
1t is obvious that allen residents Of
the United States whose countries are
at war with us cannot prudently be
allowed to use any Of ,Aeir property
to our injury. In order to prevent
| this, the law known as the trading
with the enemy act empowers the
Allen Property Custodian. A. MrrcH-
ELL PALMER, formerly a member of
Congress from Pennsylvania, to seize
the property Of allen enemies in this
country who have been ascertained
to be dangerous persons and hold 1t
in trust 80 as to insure the Govern
ment against Its being used for hos
tile purposes.
On the other hand, the Government
does not propose to take away the
property of German or Austrian resi-
dents here who IRE peaceably dis
posed toward the United States and
are not suspected Of any intention to
utilize their property for the benefit
Of our enemies. MIR. PALMER has ex.
pressly declared that there Is no rea-
son whatever why peaceable German
| or Austrian residents SHOULD be con.
cerned about their property here
whether real or personal, or their
funds, such as cash in banks, postal
savings. securities or other. Invest
ments." 1t is property which Is held
here for the benefit OF persons actu-
ally living within enemy territory that
is liable to be seized by the Alien
Property Custodian.
Although Mr.. PALMER has adminis-
tered his Office with praiseworthy dis
elimination and consideration for the
rights of aliens. there hive been many
bold and carefully contrived combina-
tons and conspiracies to evade the
trading with the enemy act and to
conceal, transfer and spirit away prop
erty which is justly liable to seizure
under the law. THE Sun recently eX-
posed the case of Dieckerhoff. Raj
fioer & Co., importers and manufac-
turers of notions In this city. who
contrived a scheme to transfer large
amount Of enemy property to cor
porations which gave notes for the
purchase price. These notes were to
be made payable three years hence,
by which time 1t was supposed the
war would he ended and the prop
erty could safely be returned to its
German owners. Numerous other at
tempts to evade the statute have been
detected By. Mr.. PALMER. Indeed, his
success in this direction has been so
great as to discourage further efforts
of the same character. Enemy aliens
here owning considerable amounts Of
property are coming to see that their
| wisest course is to make frank adj
mission of the facts to the Federal
authorities and thus not only avoid
the imposition Of severe penalties but
diSO SVCuiC hil pkolCi NohoiuCAu tAoA
and absolutely fair treatment In re-
spect to the control and management
of their property.
Mr.. PALMER properly emphasizes
the important fact that the United
States does not intend or wish to
make any profit out Of the foreign
owned properties which 1t has thus
been compelled to seize as a measure
Of self-protection. We are merely in
sisting that they be not utilized to the
disadvantage Of this country. As
has already been suggested, there is
no occasion for any apprehension on
the part Of peaceable German or Aus
trian residents; but 1t cannot he toler-
ated that, as in the case Of the Schultz
& Koerting Company of Philadelphia,
an immense plant owned by Germans
interned as dangerous persons should
be transferred to a purchaser for a
promissory note payable in 1887! This
plant, which earned $500, 900 last year,
Is now doing work for the Govern.
ment under the direction Of the Alien
Property Custodian.