The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-02
LANE LAND BILL Is
CALLED NEEDLESS
House Minority Report Says
Soldiers Are Finding Jobs
without It.
is RECLAMATION SCHEME
Selfish Interests Said to Be
Behind $500,000,000
Project Now.
Special Despatch to THE suS.

bpectdi DeSDdtch 70 Ihh oVN'
WASHINGTON, Aug. /. The FIRST
blast in the fight against tho Lane Land
Bill was fred late to-day when the
minority report OF the House PUBLIC
Lands Committee was fled in the House
The formal report of the majority mem
bers of the committee. urging adoption
Of the measure by Congress, was put
in also.
The main points brought out in the
report, which does not pretend to cover
all Of the objections to the Lane bill,
are these
That the measure, IL adopted.
would discriminate against millions
of men who fought in the war.
That 1t would impose on af~eady
heavily burdened taxpayers another
item of half billion dollars.
That this amount is out Of all
proportion to whatever good may
come of the plan.
There is no real lack OF employ
ment for demobilized soldiers. wit
messed by the labor shortages in
cities and on farms.
Not more than $4,000 soldiers out
or the 100000 formerly under arms
could benefit by the measure.
The average soldier, to profit by
the provisions Of the bill, would have
to have $1,000 Of his own.
The scheme. originally meant to
provide work and homes for SOL
diers, has become a great reclaim
alton project.
In part the report states:
The scheme proposed In this bill was
first conceived in the fear that after the
war was over millions of young men
would return to this country and find
themselves out of employment. This fear
was entertained by the Secretary Of the
Interior, who six months ago pointed
out that men of vision who could look
forward six months would realize their
responsibility in the matter Of provid-
ing jobs for the returned soldier.
MANY men Of standing had the same
apprehension. But some economic phe-
nomena occurred. Three-quarters of the
soldiers have returned to civil life and
there is great shortage of labor in
the cities and on the farms. The first
three words descriptive of the bill are
to provide employment but 1t was
acknowledged before the committee and
is printed in the hearing that this fea-
ture of the bill does not obtain at the
present time. The fact was admitted
by every witness who testified before
the committee, including Director Davis
OF the reclamation service, who has had
as much to do with the general PROPOSE
ton as any one man.
yet this bill, stripped OF its very
vistals, as far as its urgent necessity is
concerned, deprived of the original ex-
cuse given for its birth, is still urged upon
Congress-. Now 1t is offered as an ap-
probation of the soldier, a reward for
his service and what he endured,
The United States must not discrimi-
nate In dealing with the soldier. II
helpful legislation is enacted it must be
for all The testimony IN the printed
hearings of this committee shows that
while this bill authorizes an appropria-
ton of $500, 900, 900. not more than SO,-
600 soldiers of the 100000 could be
provided for in the expenditure of this
amount Of money. Only those soldiers
who care to go on a farm would be
aided; only those soldiers who care to
i've In community centres would receive
consideration.
But let us examine how much Is
l.
sands who come within its scope. The
average soldier by the provisions or ,n,s
bill must have, 1t Is admitted by the
proponents of this measure. approx
mately $1,000. He must make an mi
tai payment on the price of the farm
OF per centum of the sale price. He
VIII be loaned for necessary improve
mentS $1,000 only after he has invested
a quarter OF that amount himself. hs
will be loaned $1,000 for the purchase
OF necessary live stock only after he
has put into It a quarter of that amount
himself. II a soldier is penniless he will
be given Job on one of the great
projects.
Loses All If He Can't Pay.
TT Is claimed that on a wage of from
W to "a day he will be able to sunnort
a wife and family and in from three Ia
nve years save the $1,000 that 1t will he
necessary for him to pay down before he
Will be allowed to settle on one Of ths
farms he has worked to reclaim, II The
projects have been completed. but the
men who worked on It have been unable
to save the money for initial payment. Il
viii be no concern OF Uncle Sam.
IT must be remembered that the sol.
der must pay back to the Government,
every cent he borrowed with 4 ne,
centum interest, and the total cost of The
farm must also be paid. 1t is not only
possible but probable that the cost OF
the farm to the soldier will be greater
than what farm would have cost him
outside Of the Government project and
nearer to markets.
The testimony of the proponents OF
the bill shows that the scheme which
was originally to provide employment
for soldiers has become a great reclama,
ton project But such a colossal plar
for reclamation OF lands would never
even have been seriously considered had
it not been possible to link the name OF
the soldier with It, And soon the in.
evitable selfish interests appeared. Mer
who have much to gain in the upbuildlns
of certain localities began to talk about
helping the soldier the while he laboret
industriously in behalf OF this bill which
proposes not to reclaim public land:
only but for the most part that the
Government shall buy the land that they
shall afterward reclaim and sell to Tho
soldier. A publicity agent was put tc
work spreading propaganda all over the