The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-06-21
FINDING A FARM
FOR THE FIGHTER
CONGRESS-, SEEKING NEW
HOMES FOR DISCHARGED
AMERICAN SOLDIERS

WASHINGTON, ID. s., June 16.-
Especial Correspondence of the
Observation-Disclosures that the in
terror department bill for settling
discharged soldiers on land will be
passed an the extra session of on
gress, in spite of the opposition
focusing on it, is expected by men,
bers of both the house and senate,
although there are wide differences
of opinion as to certain provisions.
Representative Mondell, the re-
publican floor leader who is spon-
sor of the measure, says that the
sentiment of the country is strongly
behind the general plan of his bill.
He says the principal objection is
the cost involved, probably $780,
900 900 for the first year and a
similar amount extra for every year
for at least five years.
Congressman Evans of Nevada has
endorsed the bill and in speaking of
1t said to the correspondent for the
Tribune today: 81 am strongly in
favor of the spirit of the bill. 1t is
of special interest to Nevada because
SO per cent of the land in our state
is government owned
He pointed u that the eastern
impression that Nevada is a desert
state is grossly incorrect. There
are many sections in Nevada where
soldiers could do well on the land
he said, "if given government assist
ance the first few years as proposed
by this legislation. The land only
needs development. For those who
doubt, / call attention to the a
velous results obtained on the Car
s~on-Truckee river project"
Since the bill was drafted by the
interior department last year several!
alterations have been made in IN
eort to embody desirable features in
other soldier-settlement bills, OF
which nearly a dozen have been in
troduced altogether. Special atten-
ton has been given the principles of
the department of labor settlement
bill, introduced during the last ses-
sion by Congressman Clyde Kelly oil
Pennsylvania. The idea of CON-
munity settlement has been empha-
sized and to prevent the allotted
lands from getting into the hands of
speculators a clause has been in>
serted preventing alienation without
the consent of the secretary OF the
interior for ten years after allot-
ment to the soldier.
The department of labor, how
ever, is not entirely satisfied with
the measure oven now, holding that
in the administration of q measure
of this character the department OF
labor and the department of agricul-
ture should both have a say, instead
of all authority being vested in the
interior department, as the Mondeil
bill provides.
Opposition to tie Mondell bill, as
developed in the hearings on it now
going on before the house public
lands committee, centers on the fear
that only poor quality lands would
be taken, and that all the burden OF
making these lands fit for farming
would be shouldered on the returned
soldiers, many of whom would be
entirely ignorant of the hardships OF
farming under the best of circum-
stances.
AS a safeguard, however, against
palming off absolutely worthless
land on the soldier-settler it is pro-
vided that no lots shall be portioned
out until the conditions of acquisi-
ton have beer approved by (a) a
representative of the governor OF the
state concerned; CD an appraiser
designated by the federal farm loan
board, and Co the secretary of the
interior.
The Mondell bill provides that at
the time of purchase 5 per CEN OF
the sale price shall be paid by the
soldier. the balance to be paid with
4 per cent interest in installments
extending over a term of 40 years.
The settler would be enabled to &C
uuire short term loans not to exceed
$500 from the government in the de
yaIonront of his land.