The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-04-22
TAKE STRAW VOTE
ON LEGISLATION
American Legion Post BalIoting On
FOur-fOld Plan of
Benefits


American Legion is taking a straw
vote on the legion's plan of beneficial
legislation for the soldiers and sailors
who served in the American forces
during the world war. Post cards
have been mailed to all members of
the post with the request that they
notify the post adjutant whether they
favor or oppose the four-fold plan.
The four-fold optional plan of the le-
gion embraces the following:
1st. Land settlement whereby for
mer service men and women receive
$1.50 for each day of service to ap-
ply on the purchase of land and gov
ernment projects, or loans for the
equipment. End. Home aid with 81
for each day of service to apply on the
purchase of a home or farm. Bird.
Vocational training with $1.5O for
each day of service, to be paid as long
as the recipients are obtaining edu-
cation from the government. 4th. Cash
compensations with $1.50 for each day
of service, to be paid within a year
after the approval of the bill.
Up to yesterday afternoon the vote
of the members of the post was as
follows on the bill as whole: For 80,
against 1. On the first three provis-
ions: For 1, against 0.
One member of the post expressed
himself opposed to option No. 4. very
doubtful as to the practicability Of
options No. l and No. as at present
proposed, and in favor of option No. 3
provided it is efficiently carried out
and managed.
Members of the post who have not
made a return as yet. should send
their vote to the post adjutant at once.
Franklin D'Olier, national command
er( has asked every member to work
for the legislation which the legion
has presented to Congress.
The time limit to choose one of the
projects is ten years. National
guardsmen are to be compensated for
time served in 1917. after April 6 and
before being called into the federal
service.
For the land settlement project, q
board of five, of which three will be
ex-service men, will administer
fund. This board will acquire land TO
be developed. 1t will lend up to $500
to each man for improvements on his
tract. 1t will seell the land at cost
to the man and he will put five per
cent down and have forty years in
which to pay the balance. The amount
he has coming from the government,
at $1.50 day of service, will apply
as first payment.
If a man dies after undertaking the
land settlement project, the full title
of the land goes to his widow or heirs
at law.
This land is not subject to state or
municipal taxes until five years have
elapsed. After the five years title
cannot be forfeited for non-payment
of taxes but they shall be paid out Of
the fund and charged against the land
settler.
The board can make short-time
loans up to $1,000 to settlers with
which to buy live stock and equip
ment. In case of an emergency the
board can make additional loans up to
two-thirds of the service mans total
investment.
The board also~wil administer the
home aid project whereby the former
service man gets 81 for each day of
service, to apply on the purchase of
home or farm. The rules for purchas-
ing will be made by the board and
$50, 900 is appropriated, to be avail
able at once, with which to carry out
the provisions of this scheme.
Ex-service men can choose a course,
to be furnished by the federal board
for vocational training and while tax
ing this course will be paid $1.50 for
each day of service. The days of train
ing cannot exceed the number of days
spent in service between April 6, 1917,
and Nov. II, 1919. The sum of $5,-
100000 is at once appropriated by the
bill to carry out this feature.
In taking cash compensation. the
soldier gets S1.50 for each day Of his
service, to be paid when funds are
available and not later than one year
after approval of the bill. IL the serv-
ice man dies before the bill becomes
effective this widow 20 IA woman's
widower( or the children or other
legal dependents get the cash compen-
sation.
1t is provided in the bill that any
one who knowingly makes a false or
fraudulent statement of a material
fact in connection with the four pro-
jects of compensation shall be fined
$1,000 or imprisoned up TO five years.