Evening journal., 1918-06-06
ASKS LAW TO RETAIN
PROPERTY Seized
Custodian Palmer Wants
Power TO Give Final Tital
TO American Buyers
WOULD END ALL
UNCERTAINTY

WASHINGTON, June 6.-To carr.
out comprehensive plans to Amerlcan-
izs Gesman-owned Industry IN IN,
United States and free this nation or
any German economic advantage a
Mitchell Palmer, the Alien proptrty Gus
todan, is seeking legislation from Con
gress vestng in him title. right anC
interest In eaomy property in thil
country.
Mr.. Palmer appeared before the Hous,
IntersmtSis Commerce Committee yes.
terdsy 60 explain The necessity for
granting him his sweeping power. lle
urged the speedy passage OF bill
amending The trading with the enemy
act 20 the end that property Of Ger
mans resident ln this country may be
sold 70 Americans.
This additional legislative authority
ts necessary, Mr.. Palmer told the COM
m,iiee, before many millions OF dollars
On Gerfnon-owncd holdings ln the
United Stalcs can be transferred to
american citizens and German-owned
Industry reorgsnized under American
Plans and control Unless title is vesl-
ed 81 The Allen Property Custodian,
Mr. Palmer asserted. there would be no
real certainty that property sold While
TIE war In progress would not be re-
turned TO the enemy owners through
Ltgation after the war
As explained by Mr. Palmer, under
the alien properly act claim may be
presented after the property has been
disposed OF by him. Therefore. the
alien property custodian IS unable to
give a clear title 10 tangible properties,
snd there Is a loophole which might
make II uncertain whether the prop
erty Of German citizens resident abroad
would remain ultimately IN the hands
OF the American buyer.
The amendment proposed by Mr.
Palmer requires In effect that all claims
to any rights In German-owned prop
erty shall be presented within thirty
DAYS after the property is offered for
sale, and that these claims shall be sub
ject to final jurisdiction Of the alien
property custodian. After these claims
are settled the title and al rights In
the property shall be vested in the
alien property custodian.
Mr.. Palmer said that. acting under
the proposed amendment, he could give
a clear title TO property sold by him,
hliu lldl uiltoo SUCH hNNUNilAN WiIt
given TO him the properties could not
be sold TO advantage. But above every
thing else, Mr.. Palmer explain
I'd, he sought TO obtain by the legisla-
lion security against the German prop
srty being restored 20 the enemy own
IT'S after the war by litigation. In
pther words, the broad principle aimed
II is the Arnericanlzatlon OF German IN.
iustry In the United States-to drive
put OF this country the vast network
pf German-controlled industrial activ.
ty
The committee was assured by Mfr
Palmer that II this legislation should
be enacted before the end Of the wal
every yestige Of German-controlled In.
1ustry would be IN the hands of Amer
lean capital, where II could rest for all
lime. The legislation, he said, would
remove a problem which counsel had
been wrestling with for months. Il Is
held that the trading with the enemy
act rs at present construed gives too
much protection Of complicated legal
procedure TO an enemy or ally Of an
enemy. Within a very short time, un-
der the amendment. Mr. Palmer
thought, industry controlled by capital
close TO the Hohenzollerns would be
transferred, and important mills and
industries sold, with lndlsputable u-
ties, to American business men.
The amendment reads In part that
"every right, title and interest and
power Of the enemy or ally Of an en-
smy, and even alien, charge or inoum-
brence OF the enemy. on property re-
tulred 60 be conveyed, transferred, as
Ilgned, delivered or paid over TO the
lien property custodian, shall vest In