The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-04
WOULD GRANT
T0YANKS
D. w. Ross Appears for Bill Civ
ing Preferential Rights
to Soldiers.
ASKS BONDS BE TAX-FREE
Measure Provides for $780,
100000 Issue to Be Sold
In Ten Years.
ASKS BONDS BE TAX-FREE

Opening Of public lands of the ma
tion to soldiers with preferential
entry rights was advocated today
before the House Ways and Means
Committee, having soldier aid legis-
lation in charge.
ID. w. Ross, Of Berkeley, Cal,
reclamation engineer, apparel before
the committee on behalf of the Smith
(Idaho) land bill which provides
preferential rights for soldiers in
claiming waste land for development.
The bill provides for $3.50, 600, 900
bond issue to be sold in ten years for
the rcclaiming of land.
Asks Tax-Free Bond.
The bond suggested by Ross would
pay IA per cent and be tax free.
what effect would tax free bond
bonds, whicK are,faxsbie?.. a Chairman
Fordney asked.
THE reason for the taS free pro-
vision is TO make interestso low thar
II would be easy for the settlers to
take the loans" Ross said.
The bonds would be issued under
the same conditions as the farm
loan bonds" Ross continued
Chairman Fordney asked that the
cost per acre for reclamation, the
| number of soldiers who would be
benefited by the act and the benefit
| to the country be furnished
Congressman Smith read state
ment in behalf Of his bill. He said:
Little Needed From United states
at is assumed that any 1egisla lion
that may be agreed upon for tho
benefit of the returned soldiers VIII
contain a provision for land settle
ment
.The only bill for soldier relief
which has been given serious consid-
eration-the Mondell bills devoted
entirely to the interest of those SOL
diers who desire to engage in agri-
cultural pursuits. But, because of
| this large expense, much opposition
| developed to the Mondell plan.
| with view of overcoming this
| opposition and making ample funds
available, i have introduced a bill un-
der the provisions of which very lit
tie will be expected OF the Federal
Government in the way of financial
help"
| ,tdItntF Js oWtns secretary OF ING
Southern Commercial Cong gress. asked
that any legislation passed for
granting lands to soldiers include cut
over lands OF the South"
| Former Gov. William Spry. of Salt
Lake City. Utah, representing the
Western States Reclamatson Associa-
tom outlined the extent of the public
lands available in the West on which
| soldiers would be able to live well
and develop the land under conditions
which would take the boys back to
the farm"
To Ask Aid in Economy.
| Increased salaries for Government
| employees, additional grants to rail-
/ road employees during the last six
! months of Government guarantee to
| the roads, and Increased demands for
funds to establish a system OF com
| pulsory military training must be
| taken into account in the awarding OF
| a bonus for ex.service men, members
| OF the House Ways and Means Com-
mittee having the question in charge
today declared.
I'VE must take into consideration
the part the soldiers will take in sup
porting us in campaign to decrease
the obligations of the Government,
Congressman Henry T. Rainey, Demo
orat. of Illinois, said today. 81 intend
to asked the representatives OF all the
organizations advocating the soldiers
bonus ~ they will support us In an
economy program that VIII decrease
taxes"
"The country Is taxed now TO q
point where we cannot AND TO add
additional burdens. VS. draw
the line somewhere" 1taincy declared
The attitude OF the service men Is
that tho bonus 70 the soldier should
bo taken care Of before the additional
pay for any Government employe OF
other employe. The officials OF the
organizations here 10 support th'
bonus cannot place their feeling In th'
matter in the record Of the ways and
Means Committee hearing because oi
their not having Instructions on the
question They give this view As
their personal opinion OF the viii ol
their membership. They give two
reasons for this.
I Tho worker who did not 20 tc
war enjoyed a bonus In the form o.
increased wages during the war.
2--Tho former service man. nov
working, would receive some bcnef
from Increased salaries now, but
would still bo handicapped for hi'