New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-14
LAND COUNTIES FOR SOLDIERS.
10 q, Edil9r Of IN, Tribuns.

To NJ Edii0r OF IN ITiyhAe
SIR: Early in the present session of Congress a
bill was introduced 10 the House OF Representatives aud
referred to the Committee on Public Lands providing for
very large land bountes 10 soldiers and seamen
The aggregate number whom II promised bounty was
223659 and Il called for 339O3G0 Of land, for
which warrants were be issued and made assgnabe
like those Of Mexican The effect OF throwing
upon market this immense issue OF warrants would
bring Wn their price low that il would be pitiful
mockery OF the just claims Of the soldier while
ators would buy them up IN vast quantities and make
them the basis OF new and most fearful monopoes or the
public domain. These and kindred facts were forcbly
set by the Committee in adverse report accom-
panied by bill which they offered as substitute: aud
fees required under the Homestead law shall hal
be remted m the case case .,' o1 ,I aGnoFa aoI
dltons OF settlement and improvement are adhered 10
IL was similar report from the same Committee early
haf wears ago that defeated the project land bountes
at that time and opened the way for oi providing ana
eguang bountes IN money at the rate OF s per month
Anniber land Bounty bill has been reported in the
House from the Military Committee, which attempts to
tb ~ assignabe land Warrants there shall be
issued 10 the soldier certificate OF Indebtedness fof the
% h ed oDIv nv the solder or s heirs and be pay
able only in land This effect, though in other words
ls e p, r. for Granted as WILL Tor the sake OF
The areumsnthat the enable character these
certificates 70 be preserved, II must stu DC perfectly
g.nd 70 those who really need it for cultivation
such OF our soldiers farmers, and actually want
homes the public domain can nave them under the
Homestead law; and under the House amendment re-
ferred to- which will doubtless pass the Senate the sol
der can have home without money and without price
Probably but small fraction OF soldiers and seamen
desire 10 go West and settle the public lands but those
OF them who do would OF course seek title under the
law and their certificates IN the purchase
OF other and additional lands TO be held Tor some inden
mite time Tor IN the price OF course therefore,
the lands taken under this bill would be held back from
settlement and tlage since no man ma. would buy them ZEN
cal estimate from the War department which has been
sent 10 the House shows hat tae Dill VIII require tIo,
O5 500 acres. after first deduetng tue amount OF pouhes
authorized by the act OF July ~ 1890 Local oCuntes re-
% SgSf' reduce this sum- but the aggregate amount
NAV safely be set down at from one TO
area. enough almost FOR an Empire s to be withheld
from tage and productive wealth In order that the sol
der who needs his bounty now n money may at some
future time get Il in the price OF HE land, which kept
idle M the nations expense. ~ Is sad We arc not able 10
tpsu reply that stil less able dedicate soil
tude from OOOO00O0 20 l5OO00OO) acres OF land which
else might be carved up into small homesteads to be
titled by their owners, and made the basis Of revenue
and national wealth The country Is not rlch enough
ZION of It's aud Its opportunities and could much
better Afford 10 pay the soldier reasonable bounty IN
Bus the truth is that should the proposed bill become
law the certificates OF indebtedness cOud be made as
fbe commissoner OF the General Land Office in which he
speaks of this bill In the light OF actual facts
The act OF September -, $780, granting bounty iaius
20 sodiers who had served IN any OF TIE wars IN when
the United statos had been SSnd1eu psSaS
houd be located by the soldier or his heirs thus prevent
inc their assignment and sale This provision gave such
General dissatisfaction that Congress passed the act Of
March a. 1882 authorizing the transfer OF any warrant
then issued or ~ be issued. -
The flies aud records OF this Office show that not one In
500 OF the issued and placed IN the hands
of the soldiers their heirs have been located by them
or Tor their and benefit and further that although
the said OF March 81 1852, made such warrants as
sguabe 10 Is safe that not exceed ten per
cent OF them have been used by preemptors as asgees
I'm payment for actual settlements the most part halhg
been used 10y persons 20 acquire title 10 the puoe "S
for speculative purposes. ,
should the bill under consideration become q law ana
NV future egsatiOn be modified t0 make the certn
gnable available the soldier or bis heirs
without becoming settlers the public lands there Is
no reason that can be suggested by TINS once WHY re-
suts like those IN respect 10 the past ISSUES may no nc
Looked FOR IN egard 10 the certificates contemplated py
the present measure, the effect OF which would 20 70
transfer to nonresident propreors large D0des Oh ue
public domain. . -. ..,,b. r,,o
do not believe the case admits OF single aouDt Inc
rreat body OF soldiers need their bounty now ana
Tot The promise OF AT some In the uncertain futures
and II the relative handful OF the soldiers OF our exeah
war were strong enough 20 carry bill through congress
making thelr WARRANTS assigpARle. quite certain We