The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-15
Big Scrap
in
Congress
Hot Fight in Prospect Over
Proposed Legislation for
Return Of German Prop.
erty Seized During War.
Many Favor Retention

Washington. Jan. IA big row
in congress Is brewing over proposed
legislation to return to the owners
at once large part OF the German
property sequestered by the United
States during the war.
heated controversy has arisen
over the question OF relinQuishlng
the alien property in advance OF the
settlement of American war claims
against Germany and the question OF
applying any part OF the seized prop
erty to the satisfaction OF American
claims, even though payment Of these
claims by the German government
ran hardly be expected for many
years.
The administration bill. drafted by
Thomas W. Miller, alien property
custodian. with the approval OF Presi-
dent Harding. provides for the return
Of properties valued at less than So.
900 and for the return of not more
than $4,000 worth OF larger trusts.
II Is provided that none of the pat
ents. such as the dye and chemical
patents, shall be returned at this
time.
Amendment Predicted.
Representative Graham. republi.
can. Illinois. who is one Of the influ.
entail republican members of the in.
terstate commerce committee, ex-
pressed the belief that the committee
will amend the bill TO provide not only
for the, return of property valued at
less than $4,000, but for the return of
80 per cent Of all trusts valued at
more than $4,000.
Mr.. Graham favors also the imme.
date return OF all Austrian property.
He thinks 10 may be desirable. fur
thernore, to provide for the return of
such patents as are not involved in
the litigation over the legality Of the
sale OF dye and chemical patents by
the alien property custodian to the
chemical foundation.
Democratic members OF the COM
mittee. with a single exception, are
understood to favor the return OF all
alien property. 1t is indicated that
the democrats will make a partisan
issue Of the matter on the floor ce
the house. advocating the return OF all
alien property in the immediate fu-
ture.
Many Favor Retention.
Most of the republican members OF
the commie.Ae favor the retention OF
sufficient operty as a guaranty for
TIE paynlv.f Il claims Of Americans
against the German government,
which are now being adjudicated by
ha y,,fxr rx.S oil nf,,-c
the republican members Of the COM
mittee, Representative Sanders OF In
diana, is disposed. however. 70 take
the democratic view that alien prop
erty should be returned at once.
Thep roperty hSld by the alien prop.
erty custodian at the present time is
valued at about $3.50. 900 900. In case
the pending bill should be passed in
the form in which 1t was introduced
by Representative Wjnslow, republic.
an. Massachusetts,. chairman Of the
committee. il would mean the return
OF property valued at possibly si5.-
900, 900. II the bin is amended TO pro.
vide for the return a all property
valued at less than $4,000 and so per
cent of larger trusts. and for the re-
turn OF all Austrian property il
would mean that approximately $780,
100000 worth would go back to the
original owners. leaving about $780,
100000 worth in the hands Of the
alien property custodian. The Aus
trian property is valued at only about
50. GOO 900.
1t has been estimated that tho
Claims OF Americans against the
German government, which are being
filed with the mixed claims commits
sion, VIII aggregate nearly $1,000. .ooo,-
o0o
1t is the opinion OF those conyersant
with the subject. however, that these
claims will be whitfield down ulti.
mately TO less than 800. 600, 600. It
is believed. therefore. that II the
pending bills were amended TO provide
for the return OF SO per cent Of the
property valued at more than 10000
there would still remain in the hands
OF the allan property custodian a suf-
ficient amount as a guaranty for the
payment Of American claims.
The situation regarding patents has
many ratifications. and cannot be ad.
justed easily. Representatives OF tho
War and Navy departments have
urged that nothing be done regarding
the patents until a further study has
been made of methods which can be
provided 10 prevent monopolization OF
these patents in the future.