The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-04

war. His office controls ex-German property valued at $347 100000 and administers it at an annual cost of less than one-fourth of one per cent. The congressional appropriation was cut from $455,000 for the fiscal year of 1921 to $2S0,00O for the fiscal year of 1924.
 Why Alien Property Is Held
 Every one knows, of course, that the reason why we have alien prop erty is because it is held as security for the payment by the German govern ment of claims for loss of life and prop erty by American citizens. Private property was never before taken for the payment of public debt. But the great war was totally unlike any other war in other respects and when the Europeans set the pace in this respect we had little choice but to follow. It is worth recalling, however, that Aus tria Hungary never did have trading with the enemy act, under the terms of which the European powers took pos session of privately owned property.
 There were 50,000 individual parcels of German property originally taken by the government. These have now been reduced to a total of 2S000 items. The claims preferred by Americans before the Mixed Claims commission original ly reached a total of. 100000, ,000, on behalf of 12,000 individuals. These are being reduced, however, so that the bill may approximate $250,000, ,000. This reduction will depend in large part on the spirit shown by the Ger mans. Not long ago an effort was made to settle claims for $40000,00 in gold on deposit ill German banks at the face value of the worthless German mark. It is not good business. It was worse politics.
 Some Facts and Figures
 By a recent act Custodian Miller was authorized to pay off the 2S,000 items of formerly German-owned prop. erty which total less than $10,000 each This was good business. In fact they average a value of only $754, and a trust company would charge their own er%&or managing them. The remain derN6f the ex-German trusts represents every form of business from copper mines to steamships. There is real es tate in every state of the union except four. There is $1S0,OOO,OOO in cash lying to the custodian's credit in the United States treasury, and funG of S2S.OOO,00O representing interest or exGerman funds.
 Colonel Miller has suggested tha, Congress authorize that a helpful us, be made of this money. There is nc practicable way of distributing tht SIPS, 900, 900 interest among the 5O,0OO odd potential claimants. It would cos the face of the fund to figure it out But these millions, which have in fac been withdrawn from the channels o legitimate trade, might we'll be returned to their original courses. This sun might be used to feed the suffering 1T the starvation areas of Germany or tc encourage German trade.
 Has Plan to Aid Commerce
 Likewise, the larger fund of cash or hand might, he thinks, properly bt made use of. If the German govern ment makes good for the American claims, this money will be returned tC its originate owners. Meanwhile ht thinks that some plan might be devised by which they might make use of it 1T legitimate commerce through one of tho great banks, which could demand thai the usual precautions be taken to pro tect the government. So such money in commerce would go far toward re storing Germany to economic health and as long as Germany is below pal so must the rest of the world be.
 AeuHWHIle tHere are DanKefS WnC think that the entire sum should be re turned to it's former owners. They fear that the day may come when this may prove an unfortunate precedent for us They would have our govern ment wipe the slate clean, pay the American claims and forget the whole thing.
 Many Hold Opposite View
 But there is no indication whatever that any one in authority think at all that way. There are. in fact, many who believe that banking influence may be more powerfully exerted against war if the principle is established that private property will be seized by war ring nations.
 It is always nice to get a really up lifting thought from public man. Ton Miller has had a rather variegatet career. Successful miner, ranchman rolling mill man, politician, soldier. A il clerk in Washington he studied anC became a lawyer. He graduated iron Vale
 But the best part of my education was the three months 1 spent in busi ness college" said he.
 There's your uplifting thought.