The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-06-27
STATE
CAPITAL
New Farm Plan.

AQQapOllS-
The committee named recently by
Governor Harrington to cooperate on
behalf of the State of Maryland with
she Federal Government in placing SOL
1iers on farms, is opposed to the provi-
sions Of the pending Mondell bill, so
.ar as it would appfy~to this State.
At a meeting in the Office of former
State Treasurer John M. Dennis, when
:he committee organized, this opposi-
lion was made manifest in resolutions
adopted and forwarded TO Senators
and Representatives in Congress from
Maryland, the Speaker Of the House
and the chairman Of the House Com
:nfttee on Public Lands. The resolu-
ions set forth an alternative plan ia
7ored for Maryland.
The Mondell bill, which it Is under
stood carries out the plans prepared by
Secretary Lane, of the Interior Depart
nent contemplates the appropriation
If $5O0,0OO,O0O, with which swamp
iands, cut-over lands and the like
would be reclaimed by soldiers, after
which modern community settlements
would be established in center of areas
Of certain sizes, with the farms sur
rounding the settlements. The Mary
and committee does not believe that
plan would work in Maryland. 1t holds
that there are only about eight coun-
les of the % in the State in which
such lands could be found.
What is needed in Maryland, the
committee believes, is not more farm
and, but more farmers. Also, the
committee believes that the returning
soldiers, desirous of going on farms,
would rather live In the neighborhoods
to which they have been accustomed,
and in which they know the social en-
vironments. Therefore, the commit
Zee recommends that the funds to be
apportioned to Maryland be made
available for loans to soldiers to pur-
chase farms along the lines laid down
n the Farm Loan Act, or, as it is gen.
orally known, the rural credits system.
Instead, however, of the borrowing
limits of about so per cent. on land and
about 20 per cent. on building in the
sxisting act, the committee would have
authority given it to loan soldiers as
much as 100 per cent. on farm property
N this State. To that end 1t would
nave the Mondell bill amended. and
llso would have necessary amend
,nents made to the Farm Loan Act.
BY thus fully financing soldiers in the
purchase of farms, the committee be-
ieves that the soldiers financial prob
ems in this State would be solved, as
1t is felt they would have no difficulty
ln borrowing enough money on their
swn paper and in their own commu-
aities to purchase necessary equip
uent and supplies.
Resolutions Adopted.
The resolution adopted by the COM
uittee, in part, follows:
"Whereas, Said commission has met,
carefully canvassed the situation with
IN said State and has carefully consid-
,red the availability of all land within
The State, and having discussed the
conditions within said State, it's land
resources, general topography and
availability in connection with the
.erms of the proposed 'Mondell Dill,
have reached these conclusions:
S"That it is the opinion of said COM
mission that there is not in the State
,f Maryland, outside Of perhaps eight
counties, lands adaptable to which the
provisions of the bill as now drawn
might be applied; and
Whereas, The utilization of the
,ands possibly available for COLOMBIA
.ion under the terms OF the 'Mondell
oilI will not be satisfactory to the re-
turning soldiers CT to the people OF
he State as the utilization OF already
improved agricultural lands not now
adequately farmed for lack OF labor
and capital.
"And whereas, in the opinion OF the
commission the delay incident to
clearing cut-over or timbered lands or
draining swamp or marsh lands will be
10 great as to defeat the purposes OF
the Act; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we urge Congress to
20 amend the aforementioned bill that
those States wherein the conditions
are such that the moneys cannot be
used economically through the colonl-
cation plan the commission in those
States be authorized to make loans,
under proper safeguard. to qualified re-
turned soldiers who desire to farm ror
che purpose Of purchasing or develop
Ing farms under proper supervision.
1--WE further recommend that the
Farm Loan Act be so amended that
loans may be made to qualified re-
turned soldiers up to the value OF the
land as appraised by the Federal Farm
Loan Bank appraisers"