Woodson v. Deutsch Gold Und Silber Vormals, 292 U.S. 449 (1934)

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Woodson v. Deutsch Gold und Silber

Scheideanstalt Vormals Roessler
No. 795

Argued May 3, 1934
Decided May 28, 1934
292 U.S. 449

CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEALS

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Syllabus

1. The proceeds of enemy property, seized under the Trading with the Enemy Act, are subject to the disposition of Congress. P. 453.

2. The original Trading with the Enemy Act, coupled with the Acts of March 4, 1923, and May 16, 1928, plainly discloses a reservation to Congress of power to appropriate the property seized or its proceeds, as far as might be deemed necessary, to the payment of expenses incurred in the seizure and subsequent administration. P. 454.

3. The Act of March 28, 1934, provides, inter alia, that no suit shall be instituted or maintained

against the Alien Property Custodian or the Treasurer of the United States, or the United States, under any provisions of law, by any person who was an enemy or ally of enemy as defined in the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, . . . nor judgment entered in any such suit heretofore or hereafter instituted, for the recovery of any deduction or deductions, heretofore or hereafter made by the Alien Property Custodian from money or properties, or income therefrom, held by him or by the Treasurer of the United States hereunder, for the general or administrative expenses of the office of the Alien Property Custodian. . . .

Held that the Act is applicable to a suit already pending in this Court when it passed, and operated to ratify deductions from amounts paid to an enemy owner, and that it infringe no constitutional right of such owner. P. 454.

62 App.D.C. 344, 68 F.2d 391, reversed.

Certiorari, 291 U.S. 657, to review the affirmance of a decree overruling a motion to dismiss in a suit against the Alien Property Custodian and the Treasurer of the United States.