Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-23
CUSTODIAN MILLER
kSSA|LEO IN HOUSE
y BY REP. WOODRUFF
chargss OF Maladministrati ation
Alec lncludes Former Heads
OF the Bureau.
ASKS CONGRESS INQUIRY

ASKS CONGRESS INQUIRY
Washington. June as.-OnerinG q
s>sc,ution for a Congressional investi-
gAtion Of the off'ce Of tho Alien Prop
ePty Custodian. Representative Wood
vun. Republican. OF Michigan declared
In the Nousc yosssrStay that the value
n the property held hy the custodian
~as nearly quarter OF billion dol
Mrs lcss than We might reasonably ex-
pert to md there"
He went on TO aeecrt that IL would
REQUIRE a careful inquiry to show how
much 81 mis- shrinkssc was due 10
"herr~cis,ion through mniadministrr-
tion, how much 30 sale of properties
below their reasonable value. how
much 20 practical gifts 20 officials.
friends and favoritcs Of the custodians
ONCE"
HN charges against the conduct Of
Tho ONCE were directed against all the
mon who had been Alien Property
Cus,odians--A. Mitchell Palmer and
rnneN =. Garvsn. Democrats. and the
present incumbent. Thomas w. Miller.
Republican.
ils w NtAi \ NtSAtlNdN WAS
his fourth attempt 20 bring this mat .
ter before the House. In April ne and
Representative Johnson Of South Da-
ko,a began 10 urge an investigation
Of contract< and expenditures by the
War and Navy Departments and Alien
Property Custodian. and the failure
by the departments IN question and
tNo Attorney General 20 prosecute
frauds in tnie connection. This move
led - the promise by Attorney Cen
ersl Daueherty 10 take UP the prose
eution OF war frauds. Yesterday Mr.
Woodruff asserted that the Attorney
General vns the adviser of the Alien
Property Custodian. and tha, any dere-
lic'ion IN the cuNtodian'e ONCE mus.
b. eharcd by Mr.. Daugherty and his
predecessors.
Cites Reiterated Charr~s.
In urging the Investigation. Repre-
sentative Woodruff said:
1T has hecn frequently and Definite
ly charged by newspapers. magazines
and other publications OF responsibili-
", md by members OF both houses ot
Congress- and by individuals in pri.
vste lsfe, that properties ot enormous
value have been cold by tte custodian
20 favored purchasers. IN some in.
stances. 20 ineligible and illegal pur.
chascrs. NJ prices far below their rea
son1hl value. that prodieious fee:
had been paid hy the Custodian tc
lawyers, many ot whom ware repre-
sentine the Custodian and represent
Ing allen enenies al the same time
tbat maladminHtration was frequent
and VAS palpahle; that the rrinci
pies OF law and Of fair dealing. whicf
should control the conduct Of IN,
Trustees in dealing with trust prop
erty had been disresArded In a man.
ner 50 open and nASrrnt a. to mani
fest cynical deregard and contsrnp
Tor public opinion. or the opinion ans
the responsibility Of Congress.
Members Of this House, a. we'll q,
members of the other HouAe OF Con.
sress have called public attention Il
the conditions 20 which am referring
haSe been abused by the persons re
sronsible for these conditions. And
one may almost feel justified IN III.
conviction that these men must fee
sure q immunity as the result os con
ditions or commitments Of which tn,
public r. ignorant. And UP 70 thi
time. | regre; 20 say Official non-action
by the present custodian and Attorne,
General and the silence and patlenc
U Congress. has given 20 them tha