Court Opinion

ID: 9538096
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:30:20.792599+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:29.606495
License: Public Domain

DOOLING, J.
I concur. The respondents’ argument, as I understand it, is that the determination that persons whose names are unknown are nationals of Italy etc. is no real determination at all. “How,” respondents say in effect, “can the Custodian validly determine without knowing who the heirs are, or even how many, that they are Italian nationals ? ’ ’ The argument is impressive, but it is only valid if we can say that under no circumstances could such a determination be reasonably made. The act places the power of determination in the President or his nominee, the custodian. It assumes that he may make mistakes in his determination and hence allows for relief from such mistakes by section 9. (Central Union Trust Co. v. Garvan, 254 U.S. 554, 567-568 [41 S.Ct. 214, 65 L.Ed. 403].) “The reservation,” says Justice Holmes, speaking for the court in that ease, “implies that mistakes may he made and assumes that the transfer will take place whether right or wrong.”
I assume that the custodian in making such determinations is entitled to act on reasonable probabilities as are courts in civil actions. I cannot say that under no circumstances could the custodian determine that it was reasonably probable that *105the unknown heirs of an Italian decedent were nationals of Italy. If he has the power to make such a determination that is the end of this case.
A petition for a rehearing was denied November 24, 1951.