A Hearst newspaper attempt to mix Federal Judge Meekins of Elizabeth City up in the Alien Property Custodian scandal might have created something of a sensation in Elizabeth City this week, but the publication by the Hearst newspapers wasn’t news.
That Judge Meekins got upwards of $10,000 in fees while he was liquidator of the Enemy Insurance Companies under former Alien Property Custodian, Col Thomas W. Miller, is the charge made by the Hearst newspapers, and it is insinuated in true Hearst newspaper style that there was something wrong about that. The story goes on to say in part:
The Hearst Account
“As trustee and liquidator for enemy insurance companies to which he was appointed by Col. Miller, Judge Meekins received $10,000 a year salary and living expenses of $600 a month at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
“While drawing this money, Meekins collected a $7,500 fee from the Prussian Life Insurance Company, a concern under his direction. It was paid for legal services, it is explained.
“while serving as liquidator, Meekins also was made one of three Government trustees of the Roessler-Hasslacher Chemical Company then under control of Miller.
“The trusteeship paid a salary of $3,000 a year. The trustees were to act in a capacity similar to that of an executor of an estate.
“While receiving this salary from the funds of Roessler-Hesslacher Company, Meekins arranged a conference between Assistant Secretary of the Treasury McKenzie Moss and attorneys for the company. Moss was assistant to Meekins which the latter was general counsel of the Alien Property Custodian’s office.
“As a result of the conference, income tax returns for the company and two of its subsidiaries, the Perth Amboy Chemical Company and the Niagara Electro Chemical Company were consolidated at a saving of more than $700,000 to the concerns affected.
“Attorneys for the companies offered to split the $100,000 fee received for the work with Judge Meekins, allowing him one-third, or $33,333.
“Meekins states that he felt that sum was too high, but that he did receive $20,000.”
Not News Down Here
What the Hearst papers publish at this late date is news three years old to readers of The Independent. What the Hearst papers published was substantially published in this newspaper back in 1922 when Judge Meekins was made a trustee of the Roessler-Hasslacher co. with a salary of $3,00 a year in addition to his salary of $10,000 as manager of the Enemy Insurance Companies. Judge Meekings was not a government employe, was not on the government’s pay roll at all and made no bones about taking the trusteeship. The fact was published in this newspaper at the time and was a source of gratification to Judge Meekin’s friends.
. . . .
From the front page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Friday, Nov. 13, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn83025812/1925-11-13/ed-1/seq-1/
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