Republican farmer., 1919-09-05
WOULD GIVE SOLDIERS FIRST RIGHT ID LAND Public Lands Committee Reports Such Bill To
 House. ONE OF MANY
 SUCH MEASURES Is Supplementary To Lane Bill Passed At Last
 Session.

CCSOlO11s
 Washington, D. c, Sept. A.-Pre- ferred right of entry under the homestead law on the opening or restoration of public land to entry would be extended discharged sol diers, sailors and marines under a resolution favorably reported by the House Public Lands Committee.
 The resolution was introduced by Representative Scott F'erriss, Of OK lahoma, ranking Democratic mem bcr of the Public Lands Committee, with the strong endorsement of Sec retary of the Interior Franklin K Lane.
 Tho resolution provides that "here- after, for the period of two years following the passage of this act, on the opening of public or Indian lands to entry. or the restoration to entry of public lands heretofore withdrawn from entry. such opening or restor- ation shall, in the order thereof, pro vide for a period of not less nan sixty days before the general opening of such lands To disposal in which officers. soldiers, sailors or marines who have served not less than ninety days in the Army or Navy or The United States in the war with Ger many shall have preferred riSn- or entry under the homestead law, If duly qualified hereunder, except as against prior existing valid settlement rights"
 Tho resolution Is one of several pieces of legislation for the benefit or soldiers being urged upon the ReouS- lican majority in Congress by officials of tho Administration and by Demo cratic members of Congress.
 The original draft of the resolution was prepared in the Department of the Interior. and reasons for it's pas sage wero set forth by Secretary LaEe in a letter to Representative Ferris. in which he said:
 'It is believed that some tangible and beneficial legislation for dis- charged soldiers, returning from tEe recent war with Germany, should be provided in our subsequent disposi- ton of public lands so far as com patibIe with the substantial develop ment of our present unused public domain
 "The present resolution, in my Judcment, is well calculated to aC- Couplish the purpose above express ed. simply according a preferred right of entry for a period of sixty days for the next two years to the discharged soldier or sailor when any of our public lands are opened or restored to entry by general order.
 The area of such lands will doubt less fall short of satisfying the de- mand for homes that will ultimately be made by the returning soldier, for he should be given, so far as we can. the first opportunity to mako a selection thc-cfrom.
 From time to time during :ne rayt year or ESQ. as n the past, there Wi toubtl'ss be son,e res~ ~0caJion to entry of lands formerly in forests, O. withheld for irr.--atiou or newly s.,rvr-ed Ian is with respect to which t'lv soldier could be given special C'rs.deratior under tLts jcint resoIu- '.ou. t0 which may pc added pD.;~ :I. Q oT,lings of T. dian lands as well as ,lr .s that may be .llssifie1 as agri- auIJuraI, embraced within :h. o1I ,rt ren and California lan5 gram and tHe Coos Bay Wagon Road grant, now revesteC n tho United Stlt1s
 As a working proposition. this joint resolution presents no admin lstrativo difficulties. and if enacted will become immediately effective, q feature which should not be over looked in it's present consideration. Again, favorable action upon this proposition cannot operate to seriously retard the development of our public lands, q matter not to be disregard ed, for were t otherwise l might hesitate to recommend it's approval.
 The proposed measure therefore meets my approval as presenting a substantial provision in the interest Of the returning soldier"
 The resolution in no way con nicts with the provisions of the Lane soldier homestead bill. passed by the House in the last Congress but Killed because of the Republican filibuster fin the Senate. and which has been re- introduced in the House and is now called the NondelI bill. T. rather sup plements that measure, and gives pri- ority right for sixty days during the next two years to soldiers who wish co take up public land, but who may not care 10 enter tr rto a colonization scheme such as is provided for in the Mondell bill.