The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-13
GERMAN CLAIMS
GIVE CONGRESS-
HARD PROBLEM
Bill Making II Possible to
Close Accounts Hoped For
at This Session

Washington, Dec. l3.-LR-Con-
gress is hardened to problems which
are knotty and complex by nature
and also to those which become so
BY discussion. But the prize mess
OF the year is to be found in the Ger.
man war claims.
The house ways and means COM
mittee is hoping to find something to
recommend and it is hoped that be-
lore the present congress dies next
March bill may be passed making
IT possible to close up the accounts.
American citizens have a bill
against Germany for death, injuries
and property losses sustained during
the world war. Approximately 800
million dollars worth Of German
private property rests in possession
OF the alien property custodian. The
bulk is composed Of bank deposits,
stocks. bonds. mortgages, real estate.
factories and legacies to German ma
tionals whose payments have been
withheld pending the settlement of
awards by the mixed claims commits
sion to American nationals.
Governments Debts
On the official side the American
nationals for ships seized in Amer
lean ports when the. United States
entered the war, for German radio
stations operating on American ter
ritory, and for certain patents seized
under the trading with the enemy
act, which were turned over to the
army and navy departments. The
value Of these German private claims
against the American government has
not yet been fixed. They will be made
the subject of an adjudication indie
pendent of the procedure adopted by
the mixed claims commissions in de-
termining the awards to American
claimants.
As result Of prolonged hearings
before the ways and means commit
tee it is believed that the way has
been paved for an equitable solution
to protect alike the interests of Amer
lean claimants and the rights of Ger
man nationals.
American nationals already have
been awarded $14O.Ooss0U while
claims still awaiting ADJUDICATION
will bring the final total up to $780,
100000. The awards bear five per
cent interest. lndcmnification for
deaths and personal injuries to the
amount of $500, 600 has been award
ed American claimants.
The heaviest reimbursement to
American nationals is that awarded
to American Underwriters for losses
paid by them on ships and cargoes
destroyed by German submarines. 1t
amounts to roundly $4,000, 900, of
which $14, 100000 represents interest
calculated up to January l, 1927.
American industrial plants, ware
houses. merchandise stocks which
were destroyed or seized by German
military authorities in the war area,
constitute some Of the numerous other
items in the catalogue of American
claims.
Value of Prosperity
The original value Of German
private property seized by the United
States is estimated by German off.
cials as exceeding $500, OO0, 900. Large
parts of those assets have been
released by the alien property custo-
dian, either because they were held
illegally or belonged to neutrals or
residents in former German terri
tory which was lost to Germany
through the treaty of Versailles.
One of the largest claims held
against the American government by
German nationals is that for about
100 German ships seized in Ameri.
can ports. They were commercial
vessels with m approximate gross
tonnage of GOO, 1000. In suit brought
before the United States court Of
claims the German owners placed the
value Of the fleet at approximately
$500, OOO, 900. Among the vessels were
the pick Of the North German Lloyd
and neutrality-suspicious. passenger
fleet. The value of the German radio
station at Sayville, Long Island, and
Of various German patents taken by
the American government also awaio
adjudication.
There is an apparent desire on the
part both of counsel for American
claimants and German nationals TO
show a mutually accommodation" at
titude in order to bring about .
Il Is now believed that with the
aid of congressional appropriation
OF 100000 to which would be
added $25, 0O0, 900 unallocated interest
accruing from German private prop.
erty, and $24,OOO,O0O to be credited
the United States on September !.
1927, on account Of its share OF Ger
man reparations under the Dawes
plan, a sufficient fund would be MADE
available to dispose at once Of an
awards to American nationals under
100000. They constitute ninety-six
per cent of the total NUMBER OF
American claims against Germany.