The Alaska daily empire., 1921-03-16
SOLDIERS BONUS PLAN PROPOSED
 CALLS FOR LAND
Cetchell Introduces Memorial Asking for Land Bonus
 For Ex-Service Men.

In House Joint Memorial No. 5, introduced this morning by M. Getchell, is contained tho American Legion's plea for a land bonus for eX-service persons of Alaska who served during the great war. Mir. Getchell. who is a war veteran and member of the Afford John Brad ford Post, American Legion of this city, presented the memorial, he said this morning, as covering the wishes of Alaskan eXscrvice men.
 Represents Desires of Legion,
 Department Commander J. P. Walker, of the Alaska Department Of the American Legion, said today that the request for the land bonus represents the desire of an over whelming majority of ex-serviceI r,en and Legion members through oi { the Territory. The memorial asks that Congress pass such legis- lation as to enable Alaska to give each eX-service person, fee simple title to any l60 acres of l3nd from the public domain now subject to Homestead entry, to which no valid existing rights have attached and including agricultural lands located i'll National Forests in the Territory
 No Opposition Expected.
 From expressions made by var ious members of the Legislature, the sponsors of the memorial anti cipate no opposition in either House and an early passage is predicted. The question of a bonus for Alaska ey-service men has been generally discussed during the past year and several months ago the Eeaiquart- CTS of the Legion Department sub mitted questionnairea to members of every post in the Territory asking a.n expression of sentiment on the Kind desired whether in cash or land. The Legionnaircs expressed themselves overwhelmingly for the land bonus plan.
 Terms of Memorial
 The memorial follows:
 Whereas, many of the states have adjusted the compcr sation to per- sons in the military service of the United States or her Allies in the World War by paying to said per cons a bonus from the respective State treasuries, and
 Whereas Alaska out of a total white population of less than 30,- 900 white persons is officially cred tied with 2,223 registrants who. were inducted into the military service, and it is estimated that fully 1,500 additional young men flet Alaska prior to induction and voluntarily enlisted in the service, either the army or navy, thereby .iving Alaska a larger percentage of service men in proportion to- total white population than any State in the Union, and
 Whereas, the Territory of Alaska is desirous of compensating her eX- service men and women as liberally as any of the States so far as within her power lies, and
 Whereas, the funds in the Ter litorial Treasury are inadequate to- GulIllI Ol lllt pstS iilCil oI b So'il bonus; and further that the Terri tory has no powers to raise fundsi by the sale of bonds as is being done in the States of the Union, and
 Whereas, the Territory of Alaska is rich in the possession of public lands. the title to ninety-nine per cent of which rests in the Federal Government,
 Therefore, we, your memoralists, do hereby most respectfully petition that such legislation be passed as to enable Alaska to give to each ex-ervice person enlisted, inducted, or commissioned from Alaska, a fee simple title to any one hundred and sixty (160) acres of land from the public domain now subject to home stead entry, to which no valid exist ing rights have att; ched, provided that if such lands lie within the National Forests, upon classification the s-me shall be designated Gs moro suitable for agricultural than for timber or power-site purposes. And fret no restrictions be imposed as to residence or improvements but that title shall pass as eXpeditiously IS possible upon application 10 any lC cal land office within said Terri tory by an eX-service person for specific tract of land containing one hundred and sixty G60) acres or less The same to be in compact form and one such filing by said ex-seryice person for a less portion than one hundred and sixty G60) acres ;ball exhaust the rights con veyed by this legislation.
 Tho present laws governing sur
 Continued on Page seven.)