OCR Text |
Show EyjEllOl BE RIGHTS OF EH PROPOSED Smith Land Bill Approved by Former Engineer Ross of U. S. Reclamation Sei-vice i WASHINGTON. March 4. Extension Exten-sion of preferential rights of entry on all public lands to former service men I was urged before the house ways and j means committee today by D. AV. Ross, Of Berkeley, Cal.. former engineer In Itlie United Slates reclamation service. He approved the Smith land bill providing pro-viding for a bond issue of ?350,000,000 to be sold in 10 years for the reclamation recla-mation of public lands. The bonds would bear -y2 per cent and would be tax free. "What effect would a tax free bond have on -lVd per cent Liberty bonds which are taxable?" asked Chairman Fcrdney. : "The tax free bond would be the most salable and Hie provision would make interest so low that settlers would take the loans," was 'the reply. Representative Smith, Republican Idaho, author of the bill, told the committee com-mittee the only other land bill the Mondell measure, created too large an expense as five hundred million dollars dol-lars would have to be appropriated to ; carry its provisions into effect. "It is assumed that any legislation . for' the benefit of returned soldiers will contain a provision for land set-Itlemcnt," set-Itlemcnt," Mr. Smith said. "Very little help will be expected of the govern-Iment govern-Iment in (he way of financial help un-jder un-jder the bill I have introduced." |