Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-25
PALMER DENIES CLAIMS
Of INEFFICIENT ACTIONS
Presents Affidavit From Subordinate
to Alien Property Custodian Re.
futinE His Charges.
DEFENDS COURSE IN OFFICE
Tells Senate Committee lie Did Not
Take Over Turkish Holdings for
Fear of Rcprisals and Upon Advice
of Wilson.
DEFENDS COURSE IN OFFICE
lBy Associated Press !

- WASHINGTON. July IA. Mitchell
I,,,l before the Senate Judiciary
subcommittee today renewed his fight
| for Senate confirmation Of his nomi-
! nation as Attorney General and again
! Vigorously defended his administers
| ton as alien property custodian. He
| rcnlicd to charges of improper admin
! iStratton Of alien enemy property. made
ny Harold bennington. New York
diana attorney. holding position in
the alien cuStodian's Office.
Mr. remington. appearing before tho
committee in person. declared that as
inc Department of Justice must pass
on many acts and claims Of the alien
property custodian's office. Mr. Palmcr's
highly improper.
General charges OF improper admin
istration were made by MIR. kcnnard
IN statement recently submitted 20
the committee by Senator New. Re
publican. and answered today by Mr.
1,aimer; who presented an affidavit
previous statement. Mr.. Palmer stated
that Mr. kennard after making his
repudiatinG affidavit before officers of
the property custodian had promised
10 appear before the committee, but
could not be located today.
Courts Must Decide.
Answering MIR. RcminStons state
ment that tho Attorney-General must
pass on claims OF owners and creditors
OF enemy property seized by the alien
property custodian. MIR. Palmer argued
That justice OF the claims could not
bu, must be determined by The Fed
eral courts in regularly instituted
legal proceedings
In reply TO Mir. Rcminston's asser
ton that Mr.. Palmer's construction of
the custodian's powers were enron
eous. the Attorney-Gcncral replied that
these powers had been upheld in every
Federal court in which they had been
tested. MIR. Remington. the Attorney
General said was attorney in seizure
nf.I t,.,h Ia, i
been defeated in two cases.
Mr.. Palmer declared there was moth
ing inconsistent in his Jurisdiction OF
claim for property made against the
alien property custodian.
Never Passed on Claims.
Declaring that he had never passed
personally on single claim, as such
matters were handled by subordinates.
MIR. Palmer added:
Besides these claims must be settled
by Hesitation OF Congress after peace
Is claimed have no doub, that
TO prevent men from occupying incon-
Sistent positions
senator Sterling. Republican, OF
there was some dclicary OF ethics in
the situation"
kd Ksfsrfi"E Mr 10 the sia'sme"t of Mr.
learned that Horace Stnwell. of Ander-
SON Ind. an uncle OF kennard had
mad Senator New present Remarks
tive session. kennard was said by the
Attorney General 10 be IAN inconspic-
uous $1,000 clerk" in the custodians
office, and not in Il position 10 have
Information bearing on his charges
one OF Mr. kcnnard's charges. MIR
Palmer stated. was that he PaimerI
mad failed TO siezc property OF Turkish
! subjects IN this country.
Feared Turkish ReprixnIs.
I'm the first place Mr. Palmer re-
pied, there wasn't very much Turk
ish property in this country. Besides.
there was a very good diplomatic rca-
Scn-icar OF barDarous rcprisals upon
Americans in Turkey. The Prcsidnni
approved or my course in that natter
Mr.. Pa liner said he did not know MIR
kennard. but yesterday caused otIi
Gals of the custodian's Office 10 make
al! inquiry regarding his statement
When called before the onicials. A!r
Palmer said. Mr. Kcnnard admi,,rd
that many Of his statements we're un
true.
To charge made in the kcnnard
statement that he had appointed lin
cons picuous' men as trustees for enc
my property. MIR. Palmer said 700 such
directors had been appointed, and th,i
al were bankers. merchants and 9TH
ers prominent in business affairs Of
their communities. The Attorncv-t;cn
erai viii appear before the committee
again tomorrow.