New Britain herald., 1922-04-10
ASKS ALL AMERICAN CLAIMS BE SETTLED
Alien Property Custodian Would
 Hold German Property

Washington, April 10,-An account ing of the s350, 1000. GOO worth of enemy property held by the govern ment was given the senate today in a report, the first compiled since Feb ruary. 1919, filed by Alien Property Custodian Thomas w. Miller, in re- sponse to resolution by Senator King, democrat, of Utah.
 The final disposition of this prop erty," Mir. Miller said, will un- doubtedly have a direct bearing on the economic relations beteween this country and Europe with particular reference to the late enemy powers. The sequestered property will also have a bearing on the question of the settlement of American claims against Germany.
 l. Discussing the s415,o00, ,ooo of American claims against Germany, Mir. Miller recalled the terms of the Knox 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 satis- faction of all American claims. He asserted that congress must evolve some plan whereby American claims against Germany may be adiudicated by some proper tribunal created by law.
 There are several classes of claims against Germany" Mr. Miller said, as, for instance, those of Americans 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 is valued at one-third of a cent Tor each mark or reduction Of 720 per cent. from the pre-war value. This proposition amounts to prac- tical confiscation on the part of the German government There are also claims on file with the state depart ment for the loss of property and life at sea, growing out of submarine sinkings previous to April s, 1917.
 Would Take It in Taxes
 "If the German property were 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 to them, to give up in taxes to the German government a major portion of the funds returned One of the taxes assessed is known as the empire tax, the revenues of which are utilized by the German govern ment for its own nationals and second tax known as the indemnity tax, the proceeds of which are paid
 -eparations going to our late allies
 has been suggested that the amount of money which the German would realize from such taxation might form the basis of fund to be left in this country the same to be applied for the satisfaction of claims of American citizens against Germany when these claims are ad- judicated."
 Lengthy Report.
 Mir. Miller's report consisted or thousands of typewriter pages g1Vlng the details of about 33,o00 actlVe trusts representing property in every state and territory in the unhed States and the Philippine Islands ana Hawaii, consisting of industrial plants, steamship lines, banks, land ana cattle companies, salmon factories gold and silver mines, and thousands of parcels of real estate and securltles.
 Answering charges by Senator King that property had been selzen since peace was concluded with GernanS last July, the report declared that the last property seized was that belong ing to Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, which was seized May 27, 1921. {.