The Detroit times., 1916-02-14
CrOsser NJ e a sur e
Would Place Unem-
ployed On Lands
WOULD BUILD
UP INDUSTRIES
Government Could CO.
operate With Private
Enterprise
BY gibson GARDNER.

unique legislative proposals. bill
which actually seeks 10 do away
with the problem OF unemployment
has Just been introduced into the
house by Rep. Robert Crosser, Of
Ohio.
II is evidently inspired by the
recommendation made in tbs an
nual report OF Secretary OF Labor
| William b. Wilson. suggesting col
onizing OF unemployed workers by
the government on the lsnds-agri-
cultural, grazing and forest lands
remaining in government owner
ship.
Rep. Crosse-s bill proposes 10
create national colonization
board" consisting OF the secretaries
OF labor. agriculture and interior.
with the secretary of labor as chair.
man. which board is directed TO ex-
anime portions OF the public domain
| and the forest and other reserva-
| tions, both in the United States and
| Alaska. and to set aside such por-
tions as may be fitted for 'colonixa-
tion projects" The board is then
directed to prepare the land for use
by clearing. road building. ditching.
draining and other reclamation
works as may be necessary: TO de-
velop and supply timber. coal. pow
er, telephone and other services TO
the colonists az cost for their do
mestic use only: and TO organize
facilities for purchasing. marketing
and other cooperative activities.
When the lands are ready for use.
the board is directed to OFFER them,
In suitable parcels, to prospective
settlers. The title to the lands 10 to
remain forever In the government.
the settlers being given a permit or
lease which they have the right TO
assign or bequeath. The land IL 10
be theirs so long as they use and
occupy II. Capital invested by the
government on improvements Is 10
be repaid by the settlers in a pc
riod which may be as long as so
years. In annual installments, with
four per cent interest, after which
no charges are TO be made except
a reasonable tax charge. An equita-
BILE proportion OF this tax charge Is
to be paid to the state and county
in whose jurisdiction the project is
located; the balance of the tar
charge TO 20 into a colonization
fund" to be used to dnance new pro
jects from time to time. as is now
the case with the reclamation ser
vice fund" A bond issue Of nifty
million dollars IL provided TO supply
the first capital. the bonds to be
paid OF from the first receipts from
the projects.
The bill contemplstes the use.
not only Of agricultural. desert and
grazing lands on the public domain.
but lands within national forests.
and the proposal is that permanent
industries like cattle raising, sheep
raising. logging. ,rmbering. saw
| milling and similar industries shall
be developed on the various pro-
| jects. The colonization board is d.
| rected 10 take over the administra-
| tion OF the forest laws where colon
ization projects are located on ma
tional forests. and 20 administer
timber sale contracts so az 10 main.
tain "a continuous and sustained an
nual yield and cut OF timber within
the area OF the project"--indica tins
an intention To establish a perma
nent lumber industry instead OF the
present temporary lumber camps
with their hobo lumber jacks
which now contribute so greatly q
the industrial problem.
In addition to its work on tn
government lands. the board Is au
thorized by the bill 10 establish col
onization projects In cooperation
with any state. or private land own
er. The board would thus have pow
or 10 utilize cut-over timber land
tsuch as those in northern Mime
sota and wisconsin, and the pres
ent useless swamp lands OF Florid
, ard Louisiana The whole idea o
the bill Is that the government shal
: act as the capitalist in prepar,n
ne lands fc- occupancy. equippiu
them with necessary buildings an
improvements. the money to be pal
back on easy payments over a Ion
term of years by the settlers. wh
shall not be permitted to have th
title. but only the use OF the land
as long as they comply with the n
quirements.
The bill safeguards labor en-
ployed In the work OF preparing tn
lands. by providing an eight-hou
day. a minimum wage which sha
not be less than the current wsg
for the same class OF work in th
vicinity. the elimination Of child Ia
Dor and semi-monthly pay. Til
board In also instructed to msk'
rules and regulations 80 insure safe
| ty. TO provide for vorkmsn's' com
pensation and accident insurance