The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-23
WOODRUFF SEEKS
 INVESTIGATION OF
 M|LLER'S OFFICE
Charges Maladmlnistration by Alien Property Custodian. Prompt Denial Is Made
 by Official
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Washington, June 22.-Demand
 for congressional investigation
 of the office of the alien prop
 erty custodian was made in the
 House tonight by Representative
 Woodruff, republican, Michigan,
 who charged thnt the aggregate
 vafsIe of the properties held by
 the custodian as shown by his
 latest report was .snearIy a quar-
 ter of II billion dollars less than
 we might reasonably expect to
 find fhere."
 MT. Woodruff introduced a resolu- tion for an investigation. declaring that charges of amladministration. discrimination between alien enemies and American citizens whose property was seized and payment of excessive fees to attorneys nave been so ire quent as to create a condition which cannot be ignored without grave in- jury to the good name of our coun- try
 MT. Woodruff estimated that the earnings returned by the seized prop critics during the past four years amounted to 100,000,000, which added to the value of enemy property, would make total of sS00,000,000 to be ac- counted for as against $575,00O,000 given in Custodian MiHer's report.
 Only an impartial investigation. the Michigan representative declared. would disclose how much "of this shrinkage is due to depreciation through administration, how much to sale of properties below their reasonable value, how much to prac- tical gifts to officials, friends and fa- vorites of the custodian's office.'
 Miller Denies Charges
 Prompt denial was made tonight by Thomas ". Miller, the alien property custodian. Of Mir. Woodruff's charges that disproportionate fees had been paid to counsel, that trusts had been disposed of at unreasonably low prices and that enemy property had been released while property to which American citizens hold title remains sequestered.
 Tn GStatement issued as soon as Mir. Woodruffs speech was made public Mir. Miller declared that he "held no brief" for his predecessors in the of flee of custodian, but asserted that this office is not equipped with ap- propriations or personnel to turn itself into a District Attorneys or prosecuting attorneys office."
 Would Correct Errors
 'If any mistakes have been made by this office under the incumbent" the statement said, i've will be only too glad to correct such errors, should they come to our attention by public notice, or as a result of our own in- vestigation.'
 Criticism of Custodian Miller for1 failing to investigate charges against his predecessors administration was coupled in the Woodruff resolution with the allegation that alien enemy property holders who know where to seek proper influence avoided the seizure of their property. while American citizens and neutrals in E large numbers" were deprived of control of their holdings.
 Mir. Woodruff said MT. Miller Sought to persuade the foreign af- fairs committee of the House to write into the peace resolution a provision which would confirm, ratify and make incontestable atNlaw, or in equity, all seizures, sales and so forth of his predecessors in office as well as sales thereafter to be made"
 Rejected Proposal
 The committee, "of course, very promptly and very properly. reject ed,'' he said.
 Examination of the report recent ly submitted to Congress by Custo- dian Miller would show, said MT Woodruff. that five of the most conspicuous of the patriots" Serv- ing with the custodian's department. received but the insignificant sum of s697, ,000 for their prodigious la bors." Some of these lawyers, MT. Woodruff charged, repeatedly rep- resented claimants before the GUS todian's office at the very time they were employed by the custodian"
 MT. Woodruff referred to the case of H. Upmann & Co.,, bankers of ,Ha- vana. as typical of those which re- quired special investigation. Cuban newspapers estimated that the con cern had spent upwards of S1.000,000 to secure release of its property, the Michigan member said. noting that this came one year after it was seized and despite the positiveness with which the former alien prop orty custodian made out a case justi- lying seizure" He quoted from A. Mitchell Palmer's report as Custo- dian, characterizing Upmann & Co. as "the best ally Germany had in Cuba
 In reply to the criticism IS to fees paid to counsel, Mir. Miller declared his office had disbursed s117ooo in this manne rsince March 4, 1921, "as compared with over, $2,oo0,000 paid under the previous administration"