Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-08-15
LAND BILL FOR SOLDIERS
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS

The following is an extract from a
communication received this week
from Rep. Addison T. Smith:
After more than two months con-
sideration by the Committee on Pub
lie Lands of the House of legislation
to afford an opportunity for the re-
turning soldiers to enter agricultural
pursuits, House Bill 497 has been
favorably reported to the House of
Representatives and is now on the
calendar awaiting consideration.
am sending you copy of the bill and
the report of the committee, which
also embodies the views OF four mem II
bers in opposition to the BILL
The opposition to the proposed leg
! islation is largely based on the theo-
| ry that it will attract farm labor
/ from the Eastern states and will al /
so increase the food supply to such an /
extent as to result in reduction of |
profits to the farmers. Both OF
these reasons are so selfish in their I
character that I do not think they !
will appeal to the majority of the /
members of congress.
| Other legislation is now pending |
! which will be beneficial to the SOL |
/ diers who may not care to go on the |
| farms, but l feel that the bill upon
which the committee has agreed will
be step in the right direction and-l
will enable tens of thousands of the
II young men to get farm home un-
n der conditions which will enable
them to make themselves practically
independent in few years.
The gist of house bill No. 487 is
to the effect that all soldiers, sail
ors or marines who served honorably
during the recent emergency shall be
entitled to receive benefit therefrom
in the form of long time loan for
the purpose of buying farm land.
II There is no stated amount to be
loaned each man for the purchase of
land but the bill does state that the
properties are to be purchased by
| the ex-service men under the direc-
ton of board composed of. rep
resentative of the governor of the
state wherein the land is located; an
appraiser designated by the federal
farm board and the secretary of the
Interior.
Projects shall be selected with the
view to the development of one or
more projects in each of the several
states in which feasible projects
may be found.
The bill provides that through a
greement the man may borrow from
g. the government for necessary i'm
provements $500 or three-fourths
J of the cost of value of the improve
ments.
Men who have been employed in
the development of any project will
be given preference under this act.
Just what lines of work employ
ment" means by this bill is not
known.
The sale prices of every tract will
be fixed with the view that they may
. be sold for as much or more than
the original purchase price and also
with the end in mind that the men
may become independent in a very
, short time. All sums advanced by
the government may be paid within
, a period not to exceed ten years and
at the time of final payment the pur-
!, chaser receives a full deed to the
, land.
Y Lands acquired under this act are
to be subject to regular taxation at
! ter . period of five years from the
; date of contract of purchase.
= Also there is embodied in this act
the authority to make short time
) loans to the settlers for the purchase
OF necessary livestock and equip
/, ment. Provision is made for the
! payment of such loans within q per-
iod of five years with interest at 4
, per cent, amounts payable annually.
: In case of emergency the secretary
of the interior may postpone the
payment of any part of these loans.
, Besides the above this bill also
carries an appropriation for carry
ing out the purposes of the act. ~
=