The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-12

she compensates Americans for prop erty illegally destroyed.
 Speaking for myself, and, I think the American people, said the Sena- tor, If the German people ever get any compensation it will be after they have compensated the American peo- | pie for the millions-I would even say bil1ions-of dollars worth of 1 property they have ruthlessly destroy. | ed"
 Quoting from statements of A. l Mitchell Palmer, the Alien Property Custodian, when he. appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee in urging the legislation, Senator Martin said many of the German owners had returned to Germany and now are waging war on this coun- | try.
 Senator Stone of Missouri, Chair man of the Foreign Relations Com | mittee, said that examination of the treaty of 1799 and various authorities on international law convinced hir1 that the amendment authorizing the sale of enemy property in asking that He said his purpose in asking that | consideration of the amendment when called up last Saturday be postponed was to permit him to make this in- | quiry, for if the amendment conflict co with the treaty he did not think 1 the United States "shoul1 follow [ tsd example in the treatment of our obligations as scraps of payer" The proud thing in our history is fa0& hat heres, even if it might be to it's great disadvantage, to it's solemn faith and pledges" Senator Stone added. T wanted to look into this matter. As a result of my Investigations I con- cluded that this legislation was proper and hence was taking no part in the discussion"
 1 Senator Dillingham; objected to the amendment on the ground that the committee had not had time to inves- tigate the need for taking of the Ger man property.
 | Senator Martin interrupted to say he had just been informed by MT. Palmer that the reason for this legis- lation was that large expenditures were necessary in connection with the docks and he did not feel that such a large amount should be spent until after title to the p-operty had been handed to the government.
 The amendments were defended by Senator Underwood of Alabama, who said the tackfng of such measures to an appropriation bill was the speedy way to get them through Congress.
 Denying that the provision would orNd said if it had been violated the viola ton occurred when the original Alien Property Custodian Law was passed
 Tt is no more a violation to sell the property than to take it, he said. Senator Underwood said the treaty If 1928 with Germany did not revive
 the property clauses of the 1799 treaty with the Kingdom of Prussia, the latter agreement being the only
 treaty now recognized by this gov
 ernment as being in effect. It pro-
 vides that property of German ner-
 chants III the United States should
 be taken out of the country within
 nine months after the outbreak ot
 war.
 'eThe German Emperor demanded
 
 receiving free passports" continued
 the Alabama Senator, "thtt he should
 srant protection to German property
 in the United States-a threat, o1
 course, that the representative of the
 American Nation had too much cour'
 age to yield to. But it showed the
 concern of the German government
 to protect property of its citizens ir
 tbis country.
 And why? Because it is entirely
 probable that the German Emperor
 himself, holding in the names ot
 other persons, owns large part 0,
 the property involved
 Senator Underwood urged adoption of the amendment so as to strike {
 blow at the classes of Germany tha gre urging on this war and continuing the autocracy of Germany The proportion of American prop erty in Germany to German property in the United States is about one tc one hundred, Senator Underwood said and where Germany strikes one blow at us we will be striking a hun, dred at her.
 Surprise over the debating of this question, in view of Germany's utter disregarding of treaties or property rights not only of the countries she has Invaded but also those of neutrals was voiced by Senator Poindexter o1 l Washington.
 While the Senate is wrangling or the question of taking German prop erty the German government is levy q ing tribute on the citizens of countries s captured by her despite their treaty rights or law" said Senator Sherman a of Illinois. "They are not debating what are the rights of American property, but what they can take and what they can hold"
 In urging his amendment provid- ing for public auction sales of enemy < property, prohibiting private negotia- < tions, Senator Frelinghuysen said his % purpose was to protect American mi. E nority stock interests in German
 owned corporations. He also urged . that the Allen Property Custodian Act & should be subject to review.
 Senator Martin opposed the amend.
 ment (which is subject to a final vote
 later) on the ground that it migh- & oo+io-