Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-04-11
Senate Gets Full
Accounting Alien
Property Custodian

Washington, April 10.-Account-
ing of the $350,0O0,O0O worth OF
enemy property held by the govern,
ment. was given the Senate today in
a report, the first compiled since
February. 1919. filed by Alien Pro-
perty Custodian Thomas w. Miller,
in response to a resolution by Sena-
tor King, Democrat, of Utah.
The final disposition of this
property" Mr.. Miller said. will un-
doubtedly have Il direct bearing on
the economic relations between this
country and Europe, with particular
reference to the late enemy powers.
The sequestcd property will also have
n hearing on the question Of the set
tlement of American claims against
Germany"
Discussing the s415, 100000 OF
American claims against Germany.
Mr.. Miller recalled the terms OF the
knoI-Porter peace resolution, indi-
eating that no disposition should be
made of enemy property held by the
United States until the German gov
ernment had provided for the salts
faction of all American claims. He
asserted that Congress must evolve
some plan whereby American claims
against Germany may be adjudicated
by some proper tribunal created by
law.
There are several classes OF
claims against Germany" Mr.. Miller
said. "as for instance, those of Amer
leans whose cash was seized by the
German custodian and who are now
being offered the return OF their
money at the deprecated value OF
the mark which today is valued at
Onc-third of cent for each mark
OF a reduction of 7cO per cent from
the prc-war value. This proposition
amounts to practical confiscation on
the part of the German government.
There are also claims on file with the
state Department for the loss Of
property and life at sea. growing out
of submarine sinliings previous to
April 6. 1917.
'1ftthe German property We're re-
turned today without any conditions,
the tax laws in force in Germany
would require German nationals or
other people under the Jurisdiction OF
the German government. whose prop
erty was returned 10 them to give up
in taxes to the German government
a major portion Of the funds return
cd. One of the taxes assessed is
known as the empire need tax, the
revenues of which arc utilized by the
German government for it's own ma
tionals. and second tax known as
the indemnity tax, the proceeds OF
which are paid into reparations going
to our late Allies.
ut has been suggested that the
amount OF money which the German
government would realize from such
taxation, might form the basis OF n
fund to be left in this country, the
same to be applied for the satisfac-
ton of claims OF American citizens
against Germany when these claims
are adjudicated"
Mr.. Miller's report consisted OF
thousands of typewriter pages Civ
ing the details of about $4,000 avtice
trusts.
The report said that the last prop
crty seized was that belonging 10
Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, which
was seized May 27. 1921.
Responding to inquiries for details
of salaries and fees paid in connec-
ton with the enemy property the re-
port showed the following list:
Attorneys fees paid prior to March
4. 1921. $2,138.546; attorneys fees
paid since March 4. 1921, $116.469;
salaries or officers and directors OF
corporations previous to March 4,
1921. $1,574,017: salaries since March
!, 1921. s132,435; paid for accounting
and appraising previous to March 4,
1921. s1,oS4,s59; paid for the same
since March 4. 1921. sans: paid for
advertising and printing previous to
March a, 1921, s258,067.