Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-06

value, possibly, of a billion dollars. is
owned by persons living, permanently
or temporarily, in Germany, Austria
Hungary. Bulgaria and Turkey. TINS
property will be managed by Mr..
Palmer during the period covered by
Mr.. Palmer will decide each case on its
merits He is both a judge and an ad-
ministrator.
The main object Of the law under
which certain kinds of property is
being taken over by the national gov
eminent" he said to the writer of this
article. "is to prevent its use in any
way by the enemies of this country.
Its secondary object is the protection
of the property
tanned from it's use sale. can no
longer reach Germany or its confed-
crates through any neutral country
For example. If partnership. corpora
tion or individual in Brazil is doing
business In the United States and in
Germany or any country that is the
ally of Germany. the American prop
erty of that partnership, corporation
or individual Will be controlled in every
way by the United States SO long as
the war continues. It's earnings will
be paid to me. and ] will deposit them
in the national Treasury. They cannot
be sent to Brazil, whence, possibly, they
might be transferred to Germany or
one of its partners.
so. you see, that the law covers more
than those persons whose countries are
at war with the United States. Many
Americans. and among them a number
of wealthy widows, were in Germany
before the outbreak of hostilities in
Europe. The women had gone abroad
to visit relatives and friends. Some of
them had children living in Germany
daughters married to German citizens.
"One of the women. the widow of 4
brewer. had immense property inter
ests here. The British navy controlled
the Atlantic. Return to America was
made impossible when the United
States Joined the rest of civilization in
it's contest with the Huns.
Now. IL the Americans in Germany,
including American heiresses welded to
Germans or Austrians. could sell their
property or obtain the revenues earned
by their property. the money. going to
Germany or Austria through any neu-
trail country. could be, and probably
would be. used by the enemies of the
United States. 1t would be within the
reach. by taxation or confiscation, of
the Prussfans.
Loyal Americans, caught and held in
Germany. merit the sympathy of their
countrymen. but we cannot permit any
property within our boundaries and
control to fall into the hands of our
foes. The property of American men,
as well as of American women, now
Residing III Germany or IN the territory
of any Of the allies of Germany is
being taken over. therefore. by the ma
tional government and will be admin
fstered by the trustee of the govern
ment carefully and probably, ! hope.
If the property business, for in
stance-is a going concern, it will be
operated as usual. II it is not prosper
Gus, 1t Will be sold, perhaps. and the
money will go into the United States
Treasury and will be used for the pur-
chase of government bonds. An accu-
rate account will be kept in every case
for the settlement that will doubtless
follow when peace is restored.
But the largest class affected by the
law Is composed of Germans who have
always lived In Germany or in coun-
tries that are helping Germany in the
war. These persons have enormous in
terests In the United States. They are
in banks. manufacturing establish
ments. railroads and mercantile under
takings. There was heavy liquida-
ton in German-owned shares and
bonds Of American enterprises at the
beginning Of the European war. Hun
dreds of millions of dollars passed by
that process from New York to Berlin.
The selling was greatly checked, how