The New York herald., 1922-03-14

vided winged chariot for the ancient
schemes to increase the value of land
now held to be comparatively worth
less there was scant chance of sue
cess. Just what the land scheme is
doing in the bonus bill is a mystery ex-
planned only by knowledge and appre-
citation of the ambitions of citizens in
some of the sparsely settled western
States to let the Government pay the
bill.
| Most of the support of the land set
tlement option Of the bonus bill comes
from the West. 1t has some very
warm supporters who have transferred
to 1t the attention that they previously
centered on the bill introduced by Sena-
tor McNary of Oregon, which provides
for the reclamation of portion Of the
100000 acres of swamp and cut-over
land at a cost to the Government of
| 1870, ,000, 900. 1t costs about $500 an
acre in round figures to provide drain
age, irrigation. roadways and railways
| for the settlement of this land. and the
citizens of every part of the country
are to pay the bill.
Most of the objections to the Nc
Nary bill come from the Eastern and
Southern States who would not be bene-
ated by it. but who attribute to the
project considerable merit as some of
the Western land included within its
provisions should be made desirable as
homes for settlers.
/ Fall Approves McNnry Bill.
Secretary Fall, who was formerly a
Senator from New Mexico, approves the
McNary bill and a large number of
Senators and Representatives from all
sections of the West also favor 1t. The
Secretary declined TO comment on the
bonus legislation to-day, but expressed
pns approval OF the McNary project.
There are approximately 100000. 900
acres OF land in the public domain of the
| United States" said he. "and 100000
acres are being developed by the recla-
.nation section. There is but a small
acreage left free now for settlement by
the farmers. Preferential rights to this
land and to any other that may bc
opened up already has been given to war
veterans by an act OF Congress.
From what l have heard by mail
and from contact with individuals
believe a larger percentage of veterans
than the per cent stipulated In the
report by Secretary Mellon to Congress
would take mp farms II these were made
possible. AS a general rule all the land
fit for farming is already taken up. We
must reclaim the swamp and desert ter
ritories to get more. This entails the
cost of clearing it Of brush, the drawing
off of water to make 1t fit for agricul-
ture. developing irrigation. building dam,
to supply water when needed, as wei
as rail facilities"
The nearest approach to an estimate
that could be obtained as to the ultimate
cost of developing for farming purposes
the swamp and cut over land under the
McNary bill was $4,000. 100000. These
figures are disputed by the advocates
OF the measure and by experts who have
made surveys on behalf of State govern
ments and private concerns.
Farm Rloc Split over IL.
The land settlement feature has spill,
the agricultural bloc in the two houses
The issue Is sectional. Eastern ano
Southern adherents OF the agricultural
bloc describe the land feature as
vicious and wicked They point
out the fact that the board created by
the bill Will posses unlimited powers IL
the real estate field, In the setting ur
Of townships on a vast scale and the
launching Of irrigation and road build
ing adjunctS Critics say the state
ment OF Secretary Mellon that IL devel-
oped to it's possibilities the land settle
ment scheme might cost the Govern.
ment S1S5,625,0 100000 will align the
whole country both against 1t and tho
entire bonus program.
Western agriculturalists, on the Other
hand. are very much for the land set
Element scheme. even those who are op
posed on general principles to the pay.
ment OF gratuities TO soldiers
Representative Hawley, who comes
from the same State as Senator Nc
Nary. framed the land settlement fea.
ture Of the bonus bill. Mr.. Hawley said
Tonight the cost of carrying out tho
provisions Of the land settlement scheme
would not exceed $3.50. 100000. He ex.
planned that it was the purpose of those
. who are sponsoring the land settlement
plan II use the money derived from tho
saIe of British war bonds which are e
. be acquired by the United states Gov
ernment In the refunding operations e
raise the money to start the land prof.
ect going
One reason for the wide difference O
. opinion among both friends and op
moments of the land scheme is that th,
bill In SO loosely drawn that even com
monplace points have not been covered
For instance, there Is nothing In the bill
10 show whether IL Is necessary for tn,
veteran to live on the land or not. Ap
parenty there is no restriction on hi
selling or leasing II to persons not eligi
BILE to acquire 1t.
Tho bin is also held 20 be extromel,
vague In defining the extont TO which
state governments may be involved II
the reclamation project contemplated
IL anticipates the provision OF bonusei
by states, thereby making greater tn,
possibility of the reclamation projects
To be developed under tho national vet
erans settlement board.