The New York herald., 1922-03-14
Mellon Puts Cost at $780,
620,0OO,0O0 if All Vet
Grams Choose Plan.
VOTES SEEN IN PROJECT
Col. Mulberry Sellers's Dreams
Reduced to Legislation, Is
View Of Critics.

Special Dispatch to THE New YoHx HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., March 13
Members of Congress are just be-
ginning to wake up to the importance
of the land settlement" feature of the
bonus bill.
The description of the amazing pro-
visions of this section of the measure
printed by THE New York HERALD on
Sunday and Secretary Melons analy-
sis of the bonus measure have con-
tributed to provoke many questions
regarding it.
In Eis letter to Chairman Fordney
the Secretary presented some startling
facts and figures. relating to the possi-
bilities Of the land settlement" prof.
ect. For one thing he showed that If
all of the 100000 service men ex-
ercised the option under the land set
tlement scheme the possible cost to
tie Government. Cat maturity would
be $1S5, 1926, ,000, 900 and not $1,000 ,000,-
600 for the whole bonus project as
previously estimated by Treasury ex-
perts on a cash bonus basis.
Cost in Three Years. .E
Exhibit d. transmitted to the Ways
and Means Committee by Secretary Mel
Ion, showed that the cost of carrying out
the land settlement scheme in three
years (1924-25-2s) would be S1,495, 600,
600, divided as follows:
1924 .s495. 00o. 900
1925 500, 600. 900
ls2S ............. ....... soc, 00o,0O
The Secretary said 1t was impossible
to estimate what proportion of the vet
Grams would avail themselves of the land
settlement option. But he called atten-
tion 20 the fact that the land settlement
plan provided for the development. OF
reclamation projects at cost that "is
sure to be substantial"
TT Is estimated" says the Secretary
that about $10O. 100000 per annun
would be required after 1929 If these
reclamation projects should be pressed.
The staggering figures included in the
letter of the Secretary to Chairman
Fordncy sustain the declaration made
by Senator Borah in recent speech or
the bonus raid that there is no way oi
telling just how much it would cost the
Government. The Idaho Senator said
his guess was as good as that Of any
other man. and he would net be sur.
priscd II the various bonus schemes In.
cludcd in the "fiva way" plan ultima;el,
cost the people $50, 600, 600, 900 and per.
hans $4,000. .000,0o
Senator Borah's Comment.
The estimate of the Treasury expert.
that the exercise of the land settlement
option by all of the ex-service mer
would roll the amount up to SIS5,625.
100000 inspired Senator Borah to say
to-day that his own figures were ICON.
servative." Several Senators and Rep.
resentatives have indicated their pur.
pose to demand further explanation ol
the many antiquities that appear II
the land settlement feature of the bonu.
| bill--if it ever comes up for consldera.
| tion.
Information obtained at the Treasury
Department to-day throws an entirely
new light on the land settlement grab.
An official of that Department sale
| of It:
This Is hardly a bonus proposition
IL establishes very expensive board
| with the Secretary of the Interior as tn,
executive with authority TO make set
| tlement projects for the reclamation and
settlement of the lands by means Of irri
cation. drainage. &C.. including tn,
building of public roads within tn,
projects. The projects are then to be di
vided into farm workers units, towr
sites, &C.. and are to be sold not only
10 veterans but TO any American either
that fought against the German Gov
ernment and its allies.
VIII Prove Very Expensive.
"The privilege is granted to veteran.
1 to use their net cash bonus base in par
payment for the lands. It Is doubtful
whether this will prove very attractiv,
to veterans. If II does 1t will prov,
very expensive to the Government, a,
the soldiers bonuses will pay yer,
small part OF the cost of the scheme. r
allows twenty-five years inAwhich tn,
purchaser can pay for the Yand, ant
excuses veterans from payment tw,
i years only. This would seem to indcat,
that the bonus would pay less than
per cent OF the cost.
: "Based on the assumption that 2 pe-
| cent. of the veterans make this choice
their cash base will amount to $4,000.
900 and the total cost would be full,
| $1,000. 600. 900. That is. the cost OF tn,
land sold to the veterans would b,
about 100000. leaving abou
s4.000.000 as the cost of the land I,
be sold TO repatriates."
Experts who have examined the bill
hail Il as an old friend in a new garb
They confirm the opinion of the Treas
ury experts that this is hardly n bonu.
proposition" In some official and legfs
lative quarters II is described as /
land grab, pure and simple" which 1,
intended to attract business to section,
Of the West and Southwest where ther,
vet remain vast stretches Of waste land.
whose owners have for years tried /,
devise some scheme for making then
profitable.
The Government figures show tina
there are approximately 10000. 90,
acres OF swamps and cut over land ii
the United states. On many occasions
In the past schemes have been submitted
to Congress TO finance for the benefi
OF private individuals vast domains O
this kind. Some OF these schemes hnv,
been likened 10 the visionary project,
| ~ HTp1 MulbCrry SolIaraU that .bo 4. ..