Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-06-20
STATE
CAPITAL
New Farm Plan.

Aue GuumllNte uhtueQ recently ny
Governor Harrington to cooperate on
behalf of the State OF Maryland with
ihe Federal Government in placing sol
Hers on farms, is opposed to the provi-
sions Of the pending Mondell bill, so
'ar as 1t would apply to this State,
At a meeting in the office Of former
State Treasurer John NJ Dennis. when
he committee organized. this opposi-
ion 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.
ntttee on Public Lands. The resolu-
ions set forth an alternative plan ia
,ored for Maryland.
The Monden bill, which It is under
itood carries out the plans prepared by
Secretary Lane, OF the Interior Depart
nent cOntemplates the appropriation
If s5OO.0OO,OOO. with which swamp
ands. cut-over lands and the like
would be reclaimed by soldiers, after
which modern community settlements
would be established in center Of areas
1f certain sizes, with the farms sur
rounding the settlements. The Mary
and committee does not believe that
,lan would work in Maryland 1t holds
hat there are only about eight coun-
les of the % in the State in which
tuch lands could he found
What is needed in Maryland. the
committee believes. is NOS 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-
Eironments. Therefore. the commit
zee recommends that the funds to be
lpportioned to Maryland be made
AVAILABLE for loans to soldiers to pur-
,hase farms along the lines laid down
the Farm Loan AcA or, as II is gen
srally 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
existing act. the committee would have
authority given it to loan soldiers as
much as 100 per cent on farm property
this State. To that end 1t would
nave the Mondell bill amended. and
also 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
Il is felt they would have no difficulty
IN borrowing enough money on their
,wn paper and in their own commu-
aities to purchase necessary equip
nent and supplies.
Resolutions Adopted.
The resolution adopted by the com
mittee, in part. follows;
Whereas, Said commission has met,
carefully canvassed the situation with
n said State and has carefully consid-
sred the availability of all land within
he State, and having discussed the
conditions within said State, its land
resources. general topography and
availability in connection with the
.erms of the proposed 'Mondell bill
nave reached these conclusions:
"That it is the opinion of said com
mission that there is not in the State
If 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
lands possibly available for coloniza-
lion under the terms of the 'Mondell
oil' will not be satisfactory to the re-
turning soldiers OF 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
training swamp or marsh lands VIII be
90 great as to defeat the purposes OF
the Act; now, therefore, be 1t
"Resolved, That we urge Congress to
20 amend the aforementioned bill that
those States wherein the conditions
are such that the moneys cannot be
nsed economically through the coloni-
cation plan the commission in those
States be authorized to make loans,
ander proper safeguard, to qualified re-
turned soldiers who desire to farm for
the purpose OF purchasing or develop
ing farms under proper supervision.
I'VE 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"