Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-02-10

III tbs SdPdStIy as trust OHlCSr TOT
Alien Enemies-Property Estimated
at $114,ooo,ooo Already Has Been
Returned to owners-Some Problems
Left Over for the Next Congress to
Decide.
Within five years the United States
government will have returned to that
army Of lei and ome classed as
alien enemies every vestige Of the Ger
man and Austrian property seized dur
ing the war by the alien property GUS
todian. Uncle Sam is gradually closing
up shop in his capacity as trust officer
for alien enemies, a role which he fit
ted with such precision to detail and
exacting thoroughness during the war
period.
While it is known that a snug for
tune Of at least 100000, 900 reposes
in the Golfers of the United States
treasury to the credit Of alleged enc
mics of the United States, Francis P.
Caravan, alien property custodian, an
nounced that about 20 per cent Of the
property confiscated has been returned
to the owners directly upon the au-
thorization of congress. More than
$4,000 trusts are being handled by his
office at the present time, and these
trusts represent property seized which,
with interest, amounts to a staggering
total. In the work Of his Office Mr..
Caravan has directed the return to the
former owners of property estimated
at $114,0OO,O0O. In many cases the
identical property itself vas returned,
but in many other instances, where
such a course would be manifestly i'm
possible, the proceeds from the sale
Of the particular property in question
have been turned over to those law
fully entitled to receive the funds.
New Congress to Decide.
Just how far Mr.. Caravan can pro-
coed in the matter of restoring these
claims for funds and property must be
regulated by the incoming Republican
congress. The amazing work performed
by Mr.. Caravan, and Mr.. Palmer before
him. will never become public knowl-
edge because the officials who direct
this work are Jealous that the records
be kept secret from the eyes of the
prying observer.
If the funds were all returned as
soon as authenticated claims were
presented there would be little left for
Mr.. Caravan to do but to perform the
ministerial duties incident to such q
task. 1t would no longer involve his
discretionary power to decide a claim,
the payment being made upon proof of
its just equity and the right of the
owners to become possessed Of it
again. In hundreds Of cases, however,
the original foreign property owners
have died and the government must
see to it that their heirs and proper
personal representatives are refunded
what is due them.
Representative Pope Caldwell of
New York is the author of a bill re-
Gently introduced in the house which
would restore every cent Of the con
tiscated funds without any further de-
lay. 1t would have the virtual effect
of wiping o the office Of the alien
property custodian and placing in the
hands Of a bureau the task of sending
out checks in response to claims ap-
proved by a competent trust officer IA
miliar with the details Of the individ-
ual claim for money.
Congress has to date provided that
the following classes of persons are
eligible to put in claims for confs-
Gated property:
First-CitiZens of the United States
and the neutral powers. (This class
may largely result from changes made
in the status of citizenship since the
wary
Second-To German and Austrian
subjects who overwhelmed in the Unit
ed States, provided they still are resi-
dents of the United States.
i Third-To American born women
who married German subjects prior to
April 6, 1917, in the event, however,
that their property was not received
from a source which had German or
Austrian interest.
Two Bills Prepared.
Two bills are now being considered
by the house committee on interstate
and foreign commerce which have for
their object the strengthening of rights
of women who have made alliances
with German subjects.
The latest report which Mr.. Garvan
made to his governmental superiors is
enlisiltening in many respects. in that
1t serves to show in a concrete way
what has been accomplished. About
5000 of these cases" said the report,
referring to the trusts which the Of
flee has created, ARE being covered
by reports in which the administration
has not yet reached the stage uf v:lu.
alton. When the entire number OF
trusts reported shall have been iiiially
opened IN the books and the r~endiuSt.
ment of values consequent upon ap.
praisal shall have been completed. II
Is safe to state that the total value OF
tho apnpny nrnpapt,, in ~, l..a ~