New-York tribune., 1918-03-23
Agreement Made
On the Sale of
Enemy Property
Conferrees Accept Riders
to Urgent Deficiency
Bill

WASHINGTON, March 22.-Legisla-
tive riders to The urgent deficiency ap-
propriation bill authorizing the sale of
enemy property and acquisition by the
government o. German owned ship ter
minals at Hoboken, X j.. were accept
ed late to-day by the House conferrees,
completing agreement on the bill be-
tween representatives OF the two
houses
The principal difficulty of the con-
lerrees was on the Senate amendment
providing that sales Of enemy property
should be only at public auction. A
compromise on this provision was
reached in an elaborate substitute
drafted by Chairman Sherley OF the
House Appropriations Committee, which
provides that private sales Of enemy
property shall be held by the Alien
Property Custodian only in special
cases and after public notice by proc
!amation. IN other eases public sale
by open competitive bidding or at pub
lie auction is required.
Revised Bill Carries Billion
Another Senate rider, providing for
endorsement to men in the military
service Of personal property lost while
travelling at sea or on shore or Incl
dent to military operations through no
negligence Of their OWE, also was ac-
cepted by the House managers after
cons iderable dispute and amendment.
This provision resulted from loss Of
property by men aboard the torpedoed
steamer Tuscania
Increases in many appropriations
made by the Senate were considerably
reduced by the conferrees, although
no substantial cuts We're made in any
one item. The bill, as revised by the
conferrees. carries about 81, 100 900 600
The conference report will be pre-
sented tomorrow in both houses 1t
will be acted upon first in the Senate,
and, according to the conferrees, the
riders dealing with enemy property
Will not be subject to point of order
in the House, although that body has
not yet considered the legislation.
countrywide inquiry to ferret out
information regarding enemy holdings
will be started by A. Mitchell Palmer,
alien property custodian. Special in
spectors Will be sent to investigate
every case in which there is indication
that existence of enemy funds has not
been reported. Violations of the law,
it is declared. will he dealt with Sc
verely. The penalty for failure to re-
port is q fine of $4,000 or ten wears
imprisonment. or both.
Mr.. Palmer day called on the pub
lie 10 send to his office Information re
garding enemy holdings and will de-
pend on the people generally to help
enforce the law.
M. Palmer tonight issued this
warning:
81 have boen patient and indulgent
with delays in the past. as | felt that
in a large measure failure to comply
with the law was to be attributed to
lack Of actual knowledge OF it's require
ments. now feel that the day Of
grace is past.
"Many other people seem willing to
take advantage OF the situation created
BY the war 10 withhold from the gov
ernment the use and benefit of funds
and property belonging to enemies
which, il TUNED over as it should long
since have heen, would now be en-
gagged in fighting democracy's battle
with the serried hosts of Uundom, and
lessenlng 10 a Ver:- appreclable extent
the everincreasing burden of taxation
in one form or another that the patri-
otic peoplr ci the country are being
called upon to bear.
"This sort of thing has got to stop
and am going to stop it even if have
to put few of these people in Jail
where they Will have plenty of time to
remember with regret the folly and
futility OF forgetting with profit to
themselves"
Mr.. Palmer announced the appoint
ment of the following New York men
to bureau posts in his office:
Assistant to director, Bureau of Ac-
counts-John Z. Cooper, formerly chief
accountant in the Bureau of Rapid
Transit with the New York City Pub
lie Service Commission.
Attorney, Division of Insurance
Hartwell Cabell, formerly OF the law
firm of Cabell e. Breckenbridge
Attorney, Division OF Court and Pri-
vate Trusts Samuel n. Leiterman.
Real estate expert, Real Estate De-
partment-Frank A. Walker. formerly
a member of the Brooklyn Board OF