The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1920-03-12
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session 81 The New Mexico |nflslo-
iuro tho following "a 1cnl Tor your
information
The state convention OF ihel
American Legion held nj Alhu-
gurrQuc IN October. 1859. passed
resolutions laforlne land settle
mcni for cx-servIce men IN New
Mexico and ufsinE The legislature
n take action. with lhol end IN
view. No other beneficial leglsla-
ton was endorsed aud the cnnven-
lion went on record against solicit
lalion OF a cash bonus.
Al The Time Of the convention no
ono anticipated . special session Oh
Tho legislature Accordingly The
convention took no action toward
creating a legislative committee TO
draw up bills cmbodylhg iis ideas,
When tho special wac caiIsd how
ever, u seemed advisable 10 make
an effort 10 carry out the resOlu-
tions regarding soldier settlement.
At The request Of The state officers
Of The legion, The governor included
soldiers settlement IN the Caf FOR
the session. A bill was prepared
by the beet legal talent avail
able with The advice and assistance
Of members Of the lenioE. 10 COM
ply 80 far as possible with the
wishes Of Dur last slate convention.
This bill established a board OF.
three ex-servico men 10 carry out
settlement Of ox-sorvice men on
land. with the most liberal terms
which the state constitution would
allow. Tho bin provided for a
bond issue Of a million dollars, bO
be- voted on by the people next No
vember with the federal govern
ment or BY The state alone n con-
prcss failed 10 act No board was
10 be appointed and no money TO
be available until the people had
voted on the bond issue.
There Is no need 10 discuss Tho
details Of this bill, because Il was
defeated In the house OF repre-
s~enlatives and never reached The
senate. Tho bin mentioned was tho
only n supported by the officers
OF the legion.
After the defeat Of the above bill
= substitute was introduced Ia the
senate and later passed by both
senate and house Of representatives.
This Il the present Soldier Settle
mcnt Act a copy Of which will be
sent 10 your post You will notice
by the present bill a. passed. that
II eliminates the bond issue Of n
million dollars and an appropria-
ton OF 10000 IA substituted TO be
used In cooperation with the federal
government when and not until.
congress passes soldier legislation.
II cogress fails 10 act there will be
no board and no land settlement In
this state. Moreover The money ap-
propriaied will be little more than
enough 10 take care Of office ex-
penses. and cannot be used directly
IN aid Of the ex-service men Of the
state.
The officers OF tho American To-
gion present Ia Santa Fe felt that
the bill was inadequate and refused
10 endorse Il. They made only one
suggestion, namely, that preference
should be given 10 ~cx-servicc men
IN The appointment Of a majority
Of the board and not merely Of one
member rs originally provided.
The reason the suggestion was
made was 10 make sure that the
board. II ever appointed. should
not be used by politicians for po-
litical purposes. This suggestion
was adopted. With one exception
tie American Legion had no re-
sponsibility for the present bill.
The bill Is frankly a makeshiu.
n congress passes beneficial legis-
laiion at this session II will prob
ably call on the states TO bear a
share OF the expenses involved
This bill will compel the legislature
at ~ next regular session 10 re-
peal the present act and pass a
new one corresponding 10 the pro-
visions Of the federal act. In the
meantime, however, n Is worth
while trying 10 have the present
law administered in such a way as
10 give the service me whatever
benefits Il Is capable Of giving. OF
course the board may never be APP
pointed, but II Il should be, the
American Legion should be In al
position 10 e that u accomplishes
as much preliminary work as pos
sihle before adequate funds are
available. This will depend largely
on getting first, proper men np
pointed on the board. and. second
every possible suggestion from The
posts as TO The best way Of direct
ing Tie activities OF The board until
the present act is amended.
Post commanders M requested
10 give the above Information 10
their posts AZ their next meeting
and forward 10 me any ideas the
members OF the post may have on