Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-21
SOLDIERS HoMEsrEADs.
Passage of q Resolution Calling for 16
Acres Without Settlement.

Acres Without Settlement.
The Soldiers and Sailors Association held
q meeting last evening at the old court house,
Dol. Taylor in the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read;
afterwards, the bye-laws formed by the ex-
ecutive committee.
H. A. Castle thought there should be a
reelection of the officers.
Capt. Starkey moved that the action Of
the previous meeting in electing officers be
ratified, and Fl. A. Castles name be added
as treasurer. The motion was carried.
The bye-laws were read and referred back
to the executive committee for amendment
Capt. Starkey then read the following res
olntion:
WHEREAS, The enactment by Congress of the
soldiers homestead law was in spirit grateful
concession by the nation to it's brave defenders
In the late war; and
WHEREAS Provisions of the present law are
such that a large number Of worthy soldiers
and sailors are deprived of its benefits, not
having the time or the means to conform to the
law and
w HEREAs It is desirable that the soldiers
homestead law should be as liberal as possible,
so as to enable the most needy as well as the
af1uent soldiers sailors to partake of its
benefits. that all harsh or unnecessary restrlc-
lions in the law should be removed as to
make it in fact, as we'll in spirit,
what Congress intended it should be, viz:
a free homestead to all soldiers and sailors
of the late war, therefore be it
RcSotre0l BY this association of ex-soldiers
and sailors in meeting assembled, that our
Senators and Representatives in Congress
hereby respectfully requested, to procure such
amendment amendments to the present SOL
IL: l. H. -,
of land to all exsoldiers and sailors of the late
war, their widows and orphans, requiring
other considerations than the production of
honorable discharge from service, and the ap-
plicant making the selection of his land, and
filing thereon, under the regulations of the
land office, and soon after practicable the
patent shall be issued
TcsOl,rd, That the secretary of this associa-
ton forward copies Of the foregoing to each Of
our Senators and Representatives in Congress
without delay, asking Immediate action there
on.
H. A. Castle spoke to the point, and gave
the whole gist of the resolution in plain
spoken terms. He said the whole idea came
down to the point that the association want
ed to secure $50 acres for speculation. If
they wanted to settle on the land they could
do it now, but they could make more money
at home.
DR.. Heichhold said the adoption of the res
olution would be the worst thing for Mime
sotians that ever happened. It would only
throw the free lands of the country into the
hands of land sharks-these great curses to
the country. Land warrants issued to sol
dlers, as the resolution read suggests, would
be ruin to the thousands and the enrichment
of land sharks.
E. Fl. Wood spoke in favor of the resolu-
tion, saying that 16O acres of land was the
inducement to enlist as soldiers, and now they
want it according to promise.
DR.. Heichhold-Where was it promised?
Mr.. Wood hope the gentleman is not
fighting old soldiers. l don't want gentle
men to get up here and tell old soldiers they
don't know what to do with their land when
they get it. He did not think it necessary
to think of what will happen in years hence.
If Congress is going to give soldiers land let
it be given without restrictions.
DR.. Heihhold replied to Mr.. Woods in
situation.
Mai. Becht would be satisfied if the SOL
diers have their 100 acres without any ex-
penses. He would have no objection to his
holding it for five years.
Mr.. Mueller thought the soldiers had the
same rights as railroads to have their land
at once.
Mr.. Wood apologized to DR.. Heihhold and
spoke imperitively for the passage of the
resolution and the free land warrant. Some
of us, he said, cannot support our children,
and this land, if sold, would help US in our
life time.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
After some remarks relative to the best
land to be located the meeting djourned I'M
til Wednesday night next