Imperial Valley press., 1919-04-16
INTERIOR CHIEF
REVIEWS FIGHT
FOR SERVICE MEN

Although Congress adjourned with
out bringing to vote the proposed
legislation which, if enacted into law,
would have made it possible for the
Department of the Interior to begin
work Immediately on the construc-
ton of soldier-settlement and provide
work and homes for thousands Of our
returned soldiers, sailors and marines
on reclaimed land the fact that the
bill was favorably reported in both
the House and Senate, and the nation
wide approval of the plan as evidenced
by the hundreds of letters of endorse
ment received daily at the depart
ment, have led Secretary Lane to take
the stand that there is every reason
to believe that a similar bill will
be favorably considered at the COM
ing special session of Congress. He
is accordingly continuing the pre-
, lminary work Of investigation as
far as the limited funds at his dis
posal will permit, and is also en-
deavoring 10 ascertain for the infor-
nation CT Congress the attitude to-
ward the plan of as many men in the
service as he is able to reach through
the distribution Of questionnaires at
the various camps and naval stations
throughout the country.
Secretary Lane is in thorough ac-
cord with Congressman Taylor, Of
/ Colorado, the author of the bill in
troduced at the last session of Con-
eress for putting the soldier settle
ment plan into effect, who said:
81 can only say to the House and
to the country, and to the many
thousands of our splendid boys who
will be sorely disappointed by this
failure of the House to pass this bill
en- act upon this subject. that | will
/ reintroduce the bill on the opening
day of the next session of Congress
and push the measure with all the
energy | possess, and | sincerely hope
and believe that it will be speedily
enacted into law. And | also hope
that instead of the appropriation be-
ing for 500, 100000 it may be five
times that amount; because even
then we will not, in proportion to our
wealth and resources, be doing near
/ ly as much for our returning soldiers
as is being done by Canada, Austria
liza and all other English speaking
countries. | am not only confident
that this measure will be adopted.
but | firmly believe it will go down
in history as one of the great CON
structive policies of our country"
/ Many of the state legislatures have
not met recently, but large num-
ber of the states have already taken
action by appropriate legislation on
! by the appointment of committees
/ to cooperate with the federal gov
eminent in Connection with the sol
dicr-settlement plan Of the depart
Iment. The action so far reported to
the department IS summarized in the
! following statement:
/ Arizona-An appropriate bill for
"o-oreration with the United States
has heen introduced.
California-Th Breed bill was in
! trodTced January u for referendum
TO the neone of the state to carry
ia $10,000,00O bond issue. 1t carries
also a $4,000 appropriation. Anoth-
or bill has been introduced by Sena-
tor Breed. permitting cooperation
with the United States and CARRYING
-" direct appropriation of $1,000,000
/ The legislature passed a Joint resolu-
ticn URGING the ADOPTION bv Congress
of soldier-settlement legislation.