The daily banner., 1919-07-03
Governor Committee
Against Lane Plan

IFTOH1 Inc NtaTylduu II dLi1l
! In our issue of last week, discuss
ing the Maryland plan for rehabli1ta'
ltion of returned soldiers and sail
ors, we gave summary of the Mary
land plan, which was drawn up by 9
number of men interested in the best
lpossible means for carrying on the
work of providing farms for return
ed soldiers. This plan had the sane
tion and approval of the State Board
of Agriculture, and from the action
taken by the committee recently ap-
pointed by Governor Harrington, al
the request of the Department. of the
Interior, it seems that all forces irl
Maryland are united in the belief
that the Lane plan falls far short Of
/ fulfilling it's purpose to advantage
and with efficiency.
1 This is clearly borne in the reso'
lutions the Governors Committee Tess
4 Gently passed, and because of theif
clearness we append them herewith,
Every farmer should read these, and
through his community club, grange
or other organization, make his
stand known. We also invite any
discussion they may care to make
through the columns of The Mary
land Farmer.
The Committee Resolutions.
/ Whereas. There is now pending be
fore Congress a measure populaTly
known as the "Mondel1 Bill" which
in terms provides for Soldier Settle
ment on agricultural lands under the
colonization Plan;" and
Whereas, The several States have
been requested through the DepaTt-
ment of the Interior to provide cons
missions to supervise and report on
the availability of lands for this purs
pose within their borders; and
Whereas, The Governor of the
State of Maryland in pursuance oI
such request, has designated a Com
mission composed of seven citizens
of the State of Maryland within said
State for that purpose; and
Whereas, Said Commission has
met, carefully canvassed the situa-
ton within said State and has care
fully considered the availability OF
all lands within the State and hay-
| ing discussed the conditions within
said State, it's land resources, gener-
al topography and availability in
connection with the terms of the
proposed ..Mondell Bill.'' have reach
ed these conclusions:
That it is the opinion of said Com
mission that there is not in the State
of Maryland, outside of perhaps
eight counties, lands adaptable To
which the provisions of the bill as
now drawn might be applied aAll
Where's. The utilization 81 De
lands possibly available for colonial
tfon under the terms of the Mondell
Bill'' will not be as satisfactory to
the returning soldiers or to the peo-
| pie of the 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-oyer or timbered lands
or draining swamp or marsh lands
will be so great as to defeat the pur-
poses of the Act; now, therefore, be
| it
Resolved, That we urge Congress
| to so amend the above mentioned bill
that those States wherein the condi-
ltions are such that the monies can
not be used economically through the
Colonization Flan," the Commits
sion in those States be authorized to
make loans, under proper safeguard,
to qualified returned soldiers, who
desire to farm. for the purpose OF
purchasing or developing farms un-
der proper supervision.
We further recommend that the
| SbI LII AOoA <ASL NC oO eeAAA1AA0SA SN~NSe
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.
And be it further resolved, That a
/ copy of these resolutions be sent to
the Speaker of the House of Repre-
! sentatives, Chairman of tie House
Committee on Public Lands and to
each Senator and Congressman rep
resenting Maryland
Soldiers Settlement Commission
for Maryland:
John M. Dennis, Chairman.
VIM. J. Frere, Vice Chairman
Clement s. Ucker.
William McKenny.
A. F. Woods.
Samuel L. Byrn.
4