The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-04
WOULD GIVE
 SOLDIERS FIRST
 RIGHT TC LANE
Public Lands Committee Reports Such Bill To
 House.
ONE OF MANY
 SUCH MEASURES
Is Supplementary To Lane Bill Passed At Last
 Session.

Washington, D. C., Sept 4.-Pro- ferred right of entry under the homestead law on the opening or restoration of public land 10 entry would be extended dischargod sol diers. sailors and marines under a resolution favurably reported by the House Public Lands Committee
 The resolution was introduced by Representative Scott Ferriss, of Ok Iahona, ranking Democratic mem bor of the Public Lands Committee, with the strong endorsement of Sec retary of tho Interior Franklin K Lane
 The resoIutiou provides that here sfrsr. for the period of two years following the passage of thi5 act on the opening of public or Indian lands to entry, or the restoration to entry of public lands heretofore withdtawn from entry, such opening or restoT- alton shall in the order thereof, pro- vide for a period of not less han sixrv days before the general opening of such lands to disposal in which officers. soldiers, sailors or marine eS who have served not less than nlrety days in the Army or Navy of 'he United States in the war with Ger many shall have a preferred right Of entry under the homestead law, If duly qualified hereunder, except as against prior existing valid settlement rights"
 The resolution Is one of several pieces of Legislation for the benefit of soldiers being urged upon the RepdA- lican majority in Congress by officials of the Administration and by Demo cratic neTnbeT Of Congress
 a RF zfaIrV rrT was prepared in Inc Department of the Interior. and reasons for it's pas gaEs were E-t forth by Secretary Lane in a lesler t1 Representative Ferris. in which ne s-.l-
 "It ls believed that some tangible and beuodcia- legislation for dis charged soldiers, returning from the recent war with Germany, should be provided in our subsequent disposi- .tion Of public lands so far as com patfbIe with the substantial develop rnsnt Of our present unused pubic domain
 '-The present resolution, in my 3udruent ia well calculated to ac- corapush the purpose above eEpres-7- cd. simply according preferred rlgh' of entry for a period of sixty days fo~ the next two years to the discharged soldier or EAIIDT WIltll any bA bAA public lands are opened or restored to entry by general order.
 The area of such lands will doubt loss fan short of satisfying the de- mand for homes that will ultimately be made by the returning soldier, for he should he given, so far as we can. inc first opportunity to make a selection thc-e1ron.
 From time 10 time ing :re nsx. year or t1sp. as n the past, there - entry of lands formerly in forests, O. withheld for irrt=ation CT newly s.-vryed Ian ig with respect to which tue soldier could be given special crr s:derato' under ti.is Jcsnt resoln- Ion. to which may ne added p ':- :s'e ors1ings of T. dian rands es veil as iar Gs that may be ,l1ss'fe. as agri- 2uiiuTni. emhraced within :h9 old CrcSsn and California land gram and fHe Coos Bay Wagon Road grant, nou revestec in tho United St1tas.
 As a wIrsing proposition. this joint resolution presents no admin istraslve difncultes, and if enacted will become immediately effective, feature which should not be over looked in it's present consid eration. Again, favorable action upon this proposition cannot operate to seriously retard the development of our public lands. a matter not to be disregard