South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-24
URGES SPEEDING
LAND SETTLEMENT
Charles w. Holman Attributes
H. L. c. Partially to Slow
ing Up in This Respect.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, March 23.-De-
claring that the high cost of living
is in no slight degree traceable 10
the slOwing-up Of land settlement,
Charles w. Holman, Madison, Wis,
secretary of the National Agricul-
tUral Organization society, urged the
establishment of land settlement
boards in each of the states Of the
union, in a recent address before
the economies conference in the
University Of Minnesota. such
legislation is needed TO supplement
the federal farm loan act" declared
the speaker, and il would go a long
way toward meeting the present
acute land hunger" Holman urged
federal legislation TO provide loans
to state land settlement boards for
such purposes. These boards should
be empowered to take second. third,
fourth and even fifth mortgages
which could be repaid by the pur-
chasers on a longtime amortization
basis 1.-The federal farm loan act"
he declared. does not alter the
status of the United States as being
the one nation that has made the
least progress in dealing with its
land question.
The presence of so large a num-
Der of tenants-almOst 40 percent
of the entire farming population
and i'm some sections outnumbering
home owning farmers. brings us
face to face with the inadequacy Of
the national land system. The sys-
rt.e1
causes. The good lands have been
absorbed by private owners, the
westward march OF settlement has
stopped with the Pacific ocean. and
"a general reverse movement of pop
ulation is now taking place. Yet
only about one-third of the available
tillable land of our nation is in cul-
tivation, although the prices of po-
tatoes have scared beyond all
dreams, and America is witnessing
a decline in the production of cattle
and shortening up Of the rate of
increase of hogs Wheat produc-
ton has declined while the popula-
ton has increased 81 percent in the
last Ii years.
Sees a Two-fOld Problem.
Let not unthinking optimists
fool us with the idea that an inves-
tigation Will correct the fundamen-
tails. or that control and regulation
of our commodities. The cause lies
deeper Somehow, in some way we
must attack the problem by making
it possible for more people TO go on
TO the land, and make it possible for
the people who do go TO earn a liv-
ing and a little more-enough to
pay out their farms
The speaker declared that the
administration of land purchase di-
vides into two distinct phases: CD.
the settlement of new lands. includ-
ing reclamation work and the dis
posal of the unused lands of the
government; CD the sale of tenant
operated farms TO would-be owners.
He urged the following plan for so
luton of the general problem:
A comprehensive investigation Of
the whole question by a presidential
committee authorized by congress.
This committee should ascertain the
true status of the tenant farmer and
the settler under existing conditions
and should report constructive laws
for their benefit.
The creation by state legislatures
of special land courts with power TO
determine the nature of rental con-
tracts The court should have both
judicial and economic functions.
They should be empowered with ad
ministrative arms. and they should
have power to gather evidence in
dependently of either landlord or
tenant.
A federal commission 10 admins
ter the policy of the government in
the disposal of the unused farming
lands still in the governments pos
session. Such commission should
have all the power that is now vest
ed in the conGested districts board
of Ireland, and its function should
be extended 20 include power 10
purchase and reclaim all lands
where such work is needed. and 20
resell these reclamation projects on
long time 20 settlers with proper
administrative restrictions so as TO
insure the success of the purchaser
and the public welfare.
Federal and state land commits
sions TO aid tenant farmers and
others TO find and purchase cheaper
lands These commissions should be
empowered to value and purchse
such lands from private owners un-
der voluntary sale. and to resell
them 10 the tenant purchasers on
long time and with necessary re-
strictions as TO farm management in
the earlier years OF occupancy.
| These commissions should have au-
thority TO furnish expert guidance
and technical instruction 10 the pUr-
chasers not only in farm manage
ment but in the organization Of the
business side Of farm operations in
Guiding sale OF produce and pur-
chase of farm supplies.
Accompanying such legislation
should be a sound valuation system
based upon net income Of farming
! land rather than from alleged cap
, italizatiOn value.