The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-07-01


on the Ground at Washington-Fu
Their Appropriations Will Be Called
for Later
WASHINGTON, July Am, attack on
the soldiers farm land bill of Representa-
tive Monden tWyo), Republican floor
leader in the house, has been launched by
Representative Nichols Mich in a state
ment which he made public Hearings
on the measure Were completed recently
by the public lands committee Of the
house and favorable report was ordered,
although opposition to the bill developed
during the hearings. In some quarter
the assertion was made that the meas
ure may cause fight in the Republican
representation in the house, the east lin.
ing up against the west. The statement
Of Representative Nichols follows:
IN the name of the soldier an attempt
is now being made to have congress enact
the most gigantic land reclamation laws
probably proposed in any country III the
world
The preliminary appropriation it pro
poses to authorize is the staggering sum
| Of $500, 100000 Such colossal scheme tc
| develop the swamp arid and cut over
lands would never even have received Sc
rious consideration had not the patriotic
| impulses OF a grateful people been ap
| oil ht-f .
IRE indicating that it was designed pri
marty as an aid to the soldiers to OWL
rural homes
In the name Of the soldier, but strange
ly enough paid and employed by a pr
vate land corporation, professional pub
lefty agent has been at work ia Washing
ton for weeks attending regularly tn,
meetings OF the public lands committee o
the house and sending broadcast through
out the country propaganda showing wha
wonderful opportunity viii be given tn
returned soldier. In the name of the sol
der many other influences have bee
brought TO bear on persons concerne
with this legislation that could easily b
traced to private interests
with the United States facing IA
tional debt almost beyond the imagins
ton, with the people of the country bun
, dened with taxation, we are invited
, appropriate S500Q00.Go0 as a starter for
soldiers aid plan that it is admitted cas
not possibly take care of more than AZ
proximately 100000 OF the 4,50aG0o me
who participated in the war
, But it Is pointed ont by many pc
{ sons favcrng the bill, that congress vi
undoubtedly be called upon for addition
al appropriations from time to time il
: the purpose Of extending the operation
, Of the scheme And SO at the rate
Sjo0000,000 for every 100000 soldiers,
is proposed gloriously TO reclaim all Il
IDLE lands OF the country
but let rs sec what it Will do for Il
: soldier In the FIRST place. it will he ne
cssaly for the soldier to have about 81 p
in order that he may make ali initi
payment on the farm, Improvements al
st&l> Personally | cannot imagine Sc
| der with that amount of money in cas-
| paying it ont for the purpose of goil
| on farm settlement situated either
J the swamp land OF the South or the il
mense arid lends Of the West.
But if the soldier is without none
as he is in al probability will be, he VI
receive employment from the governmel
! and viii be paid perhaps 81 day.
: ceaseless toll and unremittmg labor
: the exercise of prudence and by sacrifc
;, he is expected to he able to save enou!
= in from three to five years to pay til
= 81 POO the government viii require as
V initial payment.
! after he has developed these Ian
= and reclaimed the country by these met
: DDS he will be permitted To nav the 90
7 ernment for the farm lie Is allowed
s settle on and which he has reclaimed
} his own labor.
Why pin this great land reclaimi
q scheme on the soldier? IF this appropr
II ton of $500 600 is authorized to Ia
t care of or to aid 100000 soldiers it
y quite apparent that there will be noth
l. Doing for the millions of boys who "
r see no advantage for them in this pr
posal."