The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-05-16
To PROVIDE
FREE LANDS
FOR SOLDIERS
IDAHO CONGRESSMAN INTRO
DUCES BILL TO HELP SOL
DIERS WHO RETURN
ADDISON I. SMITHS BILL
WOULD HELP STATE OF IDAHO
AS WELL AS HEROES WHO
WILL NEED ASSISTANCE

| WASHINGTON-One of the large
questions which must have early con-
sideration by congress is the reentry
into civil life Of the million or more
men who will be discharged from the
army and navy after the war is over
A large percentage of the returning
soldiers and sailors will find it diff
cult to adapt themselves to their for
mer occupations, and in many instan-
ces their places will have been occu-
pied by those who will be loath to
step aside. Many of them will pre-
fer to try their fortunes in other lines
of activity than those they followed
before the war, and will be anxious
to avail themselves of the opportun-
ity to enter upon new enterprises.
Fifty years ago, when the Civil
War closed, there were millions Of
acres of public land open to settle
ment, and a large proportion of the
soldiers took advantage of the bounty
of the government and entered upon
these lands in the middle west and
beyond. But without reclamation,
there will be no vast area of fertile,
unoccupied land as was available at
the close of the Civil War. It will be
necessary, therefore, for congress to
enact legislation which will more
rapidly aid in the development of the
arid lands of the west, and of the
swamp lands ofe the south.
This important subject has been
engaging the attention of members
of both branches of congress, and of
economists and publicists.
Congressman Addison T. Smith, of
Idaho, has introduced a bill which
provides a comprehensive plan Of
reclamation of the arid and swamp
lands, and which will give preference
right of employment on these pro-
jects and of entry upon the land to
honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors.
25,OOO,0OO acres of arid and swamp
land within the boundries of the
United States which can be reclaimed |
for a nominal price per acre. Great
reservoirs have been built in the |
Rocky Mountain country to conserve
the flood waters which are now being |
applied during the growing season
to thousands Of acres of arid land,
and hundreds of other such reservoirs
can be constructed, and millions of
acres of land reclaimed, and millions
IF acres Of swamp land drained, when
legislation is enacted.
Congressman Smiths bill provides
for the formation of districts under
state laws containing arid or swamp
ponds on such districts at a rate of
interest which will be attractive to
.apital, and the interest and principal
o be guaranteed by the federal gov
where the projects are con-
tructed under the direction of the
With such a guarantee,
private capital could be easily OBJ
aimed, and the work of reclamation
ould Immediately be commenced. No
appropriation would need to be made
~ congress. and the expenses of
eclamation would be charged against
he land
Congressman Smith has introduced
supplemental bill to be added as an
which provides that re- {
urning soldiers shall be given pref
renee employment on these great
eclamation projects, and also be
'iven the preference right Of entry
or one year, such entry to be made
trough an agent. This would enable
eturning soldiers to at once have |
elected for them an entry through
he state or county defense council, ;
r county officer, and have the oppor- s
unity of entering upon the land in {
erson within one year. This con- !
Iteration which it is proposed to ex-
end to the soldiers and sailors who
re honorably discharged will meet
18th popular approval by the people S
hrtughut the country and will be
ut poor recompense for the serv- G
e which they have rendered. +
The most liberal legislation is be- i
lg enacted in Canada, Australia, I