, 1922-08-03
SPOKE
TO THE LEGION
State Convention at Torrington Had
Many Problems Sstisfactof-
lily Explained

tl6lL ~ Hlo uUUlC SldlC dllCI q PIo
longed absence made necessary b!
the long session of the house of rep
r~esentatives, of which he is floor
leader, was the invitation extended
by the American Legion to address
that organization at its state con
vention recently held at Torrington
In addition to Mr.. Mondell's ad.
dress to the Legion he was busily e n
gagged while in Torrington comforting
with the ~ex-service men who are
settlers under the Fort Laramie Unit
and, in order to fully inform himself
as to conditions, took a drive over
the unit. He evinced great interest
in this project. with the construction
OF which he has had so much to do;
and expressed much pleasure at the
progress that had been made and at
the splendid outlook for growth and
development
During the visit to the project and
the evening before in Torrington, Mr.
Mondell discussed with u people
and with the ex-service men on the
project many matters of interest to
them and to the community. In
answer to inquiries as to just what
might be expected in the way of leg
islation which would enable the set
tiers to secure the means of improv-
ing their farms and notifications OF
the terms Of payment under the Rec
lamation Act, Mr.. Mondell said that
he believed that a thorough consid-
Grafton Of the terms of the reclama-
'tion law was necessary with a view
Of bringing about such changes in
terms and conditions as would en-
able the entrymen unit holders to
not only meet their obligations to the
government without hardship but
would also furnish them credits for
essential improvements.
Terms May Be Modified
Modification Of the terms OF
payment, additional assistance In
preparation Of lands for cropping and
additional credit where necessary for
improvements, were among the more
important matters that must be con-
xdered and Mr.. Mondell stated that
he contemplated giving all these
mntters special and particular study.
He suggested that 1t would be i'm
possible at this time for any M to
predict Just how much might be ac-
comP1dEhed or how speedily the nee
essary notifications might be Sc
cured, hut he assured settlers OF the
fact that he was alive to the neces-
sity OF relief and would use his best
efforts to secure It.
Rechmntion M1tters
CONGRESSMAN Mondell was asked
numerous questions with regard to
the operation Of the new law, which
he was largely instruments In Sc
curing, under which the Federal
Land Bank can make loans on rec
lamation projects and answered these
-,1u<f1~u an faD nc thu nrncanf DO
cisions under the act rendered pos
sible. He promised to take UP with
the Land Bank officials at Omaha
the needs Of the settlers on the
North Platte project and to urge
very prompt attention to and consid-
Grafton of the matter Of making loans
on the project as applications might
be made for them. Asked with re-
gard to reclamation projects gener-
ally, Congressman Mondell called
attention to the fact that the Ad-
justed Compensation or Soldiers
Bonus Bill which he engineered
through the House Of Representa-
tives contained a thorough and COM
plete reclamation law with a recla-
nation provision, which, IL enacted
into law, would afford additional
funds for an extensive development
Of reclamation in the interest of ex-
service men and also afford means OF
granting further assistance in de-
velopment and improvement than Is
now possible under the reclamation
law. He called attention to the fact
that the Senate in reporting the bill
had eliminated this wise and bene-
ficial legislation and expressed the
hope that the sentiment Of the West
would demand that when the Bonus
Bill was taken up for consideration
in the Senate a reclamation program
be made part Of the plan.
Asked as to the status OF the
Guernsey Dam on the North Platte
project, Mondell said that he had
earnestly urged the early undertake
ing Of the project, that he had been
informed that contracts had been en-
tered into or at least agreements
reached with regard to the use or
purchase Of all of the lands to be
covered or utilized in connection with
the project and that he would con-
tinue to urge the early beginning OF
the work Of actual construction.
The Bonus Bill
In his talk at the Legion conven
ton Mr.. Mondell outlined the legts-
lation of Congress in behalf of the
ex-service men and expressed his
very great qualification at having
been able, first as a member OF the
Committee on Appropriations, and
later as Floor Leader. to assist in the
enactment of laws and in the making
of the appropriations for the benefit
of the men of the service. Mr.. Mon
dell outlined the status Of the Bonus
Bill, calling attention to the fact
that the Bonus Bill had passed the
House first in the 66th Congress and
later, several months ago, in the
present Congress. He expressed the
hope that the Senate would. in the
neal future, take up the Bonus Bill
for consideration and pass 1t.