New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-23
Woodruff Asks Inyesiiga.
ton, Asserting Huge
Fees and Favoritism Are
Eating Up Properties
Attorney General
Also Denounced
OfficeAccused of Attempt.
ing to Cover Up Facts
by Action in Congress

Trom Tte Tribs-es Wnshi-g'oH Bsreaa
WASHINGTON. June 2-sweepinr
charge o. Irregularities in the present
and ra-; administrations n the Alien
Propcriy Custodian's of'-c were made
io-nigh, 90 the House by Representa-
tive Roy q. Woodruff. Republican. Of
Michigan. lie introduced a resolution
calling for a special Investigation o.
all Transaction in connection with the
handling Of the scizsd properties.
Based upon the reports Of former
cusfodians as 20 the value Of the seized
property and amount of its earnings
during the last four years, the recent
statement ~ tho present custodian that
tho property amounted to Sbl5.0oO,ooo
rs nearly % quarter of n billion less
than go might reasonably expect 20
find there" said representative Wood
run.
Some NJ .hc ne'y charges he made TO-
night include:
The sale 81 enormous properties 20
favored purchasers. in some instances
% incl r.ble and Illegal purchasers,
NN IEANf" AHf M'a"sH A+N'Na ahHt'Ntt7
able value.
Payment n proG rious fcc7 by tnc
custodian - lawyers. many OF whom
wore ronrcscniing tnc custodian and
representing alien enemies az the
same time.
Frequent ana -aipsble" n.alad-
miuistration and disregard Of "thc
p~irci9lev ~ law md fair dealing.
q L.. H aa..f-.N fL4 aAmHffrf
the trustee IN dealing wi'f trust
property, in p mannc. 50 oren and
farrant as 70 manifest cynieal
disregard and content for public
oninion. or the opinion and the re
sronsibility o. Congress. and for the
possibility of civil and criminal liza.
bIiiv arising out o. this eoursc o.
conduct"
Custodian Denlc7 Charges
Discussing tho alleged shor,agc of 4
quarter billion dollars Representative
= oodrrf continued:
How much Of this shrinkage is duo
% doDrcciation through malndministra
ton. how much is due to the sale Of
-,o-.-;ies Far below their reasonable
vairc. how much Is due 10 wasteful ad-
rniuistration. how much is due TO prae
teal aifts 10 officials. friends and
fnvoritcg II the custodiAn's Office, such
"a ths Chemical Foundation ease and
others OF like character. / an unaole
- saw said he "Only an impartial
invertieation will difciofe the truth
and obviously that can be got only
through appropriate action by Con-
gress or ono Of its branohes.'
In reply 20 Mr Woodruff. issued
soon after tho latter took his seat
Colonel Thomas ". Miller. the Alien
Prcporty Custodian. said. in answering
this particular charge, that he does not
know wig his predecessors place GER
tain valncs on property they had seized
bat Il is proner 10 say that the seem
ing dcnrcciation in the values Of prop
erty BE- due to the depreciation IN the
market value 81 stocks. bonds and other
securifics held by this Office which Is
not estimated on their face value.
"No Broncrtics have been sold hy the
nroscnf Alien Property Custodian, said
Mr. Miller. with the exception Of small
nioces Of real estate, and only when
The income from the property was IN
rrGicicri - pay taxes and improve
r,ertg REQUIRED By municipal author
,irs and .hc assent of the late enemies
bag fcca obtained IN every instance
,ytcro 81. was possible. No lawyers are
cmnlovcd b. this administration who
on one side rcprcscri 'he custodian ard
on tho other fii' represent alien IN
tcrcstf.
$4,000 Properties Involved
"t IS not true 'Aat the present ad-
n,iais,ration ~ M Office. with rcsp.ei
"a fa~-vcrs' fees A. we'll a. me ethics
~ :hc Profession. IS d scandal rndcf
the tr,s.n' adm.nistrai.on of THIS Of
feo In the report of .fis office 10 the
senate on ADr.l 10 Of th's year we
showed 'hs, . total o. approximately
$4,000 had been paid in lawyers iee'
riocc March {. 1921. as compared with
over 1900 600 paid under the previous
We arr operating ap-
nroxira,e'y s3.CDO active trusts IN TINS
oAfcc. scattered from the Philippines 20
Nv, Fng,and. which includes every
class q business imaginable and our
actions with regard 20 these lawyers
fees 90 not warrant such an aeeusa-
ton Evidently the Coagre3sman max
Inc tho charge believes the false figures
which have appcsred in the public
rr,es q late without any foundation
~ fa.t. We ftand on the report that
a, made % the Senate on April lO'
1922 cororia- this question, and we
,avc acted honestly and fcarlessiy ms
. ,,r.t,e fcr ne alien interests In the
prcpcrtv administered by ;his once
unarr the trading with the enemy act