commander and the executive committee, and to make it more. detailed and specific.

The first action of the committee was to indorse the action of the national commander and the legislative committee. We then proceeded to a consideration in some detail of some legislation to present to you gentlemen for your consideration.

Gentlemen of the committee, at the outset, we will have to beg your indulgence for the imperfections of phraseology and presentation. None of us is accustomed or experienced in presenting matters to legislative bodies. We come from the farms, the mines, and the shops, and none of us is in any sense skilled at this work, so, with that explanation, please overlook these crudities which will undoubt edly appear. We did the best we could to put in some definite, concise shape, this presentation for your consideration.

Before proceeding to the bill, it may assist you in an understanding of the matter to make this preliminary statement. We conceive that the American Legion is organized for a twofold purpose. The first is service to our community and our State and our Nation. The second is the mutual helpfulness to the men of our organization.

We believe that if you gentlemen, and if the country at large, will give our organization the proper encouragement and interest, and bear with us in what may be our mistakes, that our organization will be a great force, and I believe it will be the greatest force, in the country in promoting good citizenship and sound thinking and stabilization of government. We believe that it will do more than any other force to combat this dangerous unrest that is spreading through the country, and will do more to combat the fallacious doctrine of hate that is being promulgated by the I. W. W. and kindred organizations. With that brief preliminary statement, I will proceed to read the text of the bill, as we have drawn it up. Again, gentlemen, I want to repeat that we do not pretend that this is in any sense a finished product. We have endeavored the best we could, by discussion lasting over many hours, by men from absolutely every State in the Union, and absolutely every walk of life, as it were, and absolutely every grade in the Army, to present to you what represented the composite idea upon which the large majority agree, and the final vote on this bill, as presented to our entire executive committee, was 47 for and 5 against.

That was absolutely representing their rights. Any man that objected to any phrase in it, or any paragraph or any title, was not asked to vote on it.

Mr. GARNER. That was not the final vote on the various propositions, considered separately; after you got them all together in a final vote on it, that was their vote?

Mr. SCRUGHAM. Yes, sir.

Mr. GARNER. But on the consideration of the separate propositions there was a different vote than that, was there not?

Mr. SCRUGHAM. Yes, sir. That is readily available as they went through it.

Mr. GARNER. Before you get through, you, or some one, I presume, will put in the record the vote on the various propositions, because your statement would carry the inference that that was the vote affecting all of them, so I think the various votes on the various propositions ought to be put in the record, that is the vote on each one of these separate propositions.

Mr. SCRUGHAM. If that is requested, I will give it to you now from memory, and later on it can be corrected. On what was known as titles 1, 2 and 3, the vote, as known, was unanimous. On what is known as title 4, the vote, as I recall it, was something like 42 or 43 to 9 or 10, something like that.

Mr. GARNER. The vote of the committee was unanimous for titles 1, 2, and 3, and so the real vote on title 4, on the final adoption, you might say, was about 42 to 10, is that correct?

Mr. SCRUGHAM. We do not regard it in that way. The whole sentiment of the committee was that the bill must all stand together; in other words, to do any good, it was the idea of all of our men, from the industrial districts and elsewhere, that we must all stand together, and that we must not in any sense allow the impression to be given out that any consideration of any details represented the sentiment of the committee. In other words, I believe in justice to everybody concerned, the Legion stands, through its executive committee, lined up on the bill, as a whole, and I am quite sure, bearing in mind that this is in good faith to the men from the industrial districts as well as from the farms, that for the protection of ourselves and our country, that we ought to stand together.

Mr. GARNER. But what I wanted to bring out was the fact, as I understood it, that there was no opposition to propositions 1, 2, and 3, as submitted by the commander, and that the only opposition which developed was on the so-called compensation feature. That is correct, is it not? Is that statement correct, that there was no opposition to 1, 2, and 3, but the vote was unanimous?

Mr. SCRUGHAM. No, it was not unanimous until the final vote. Mr. GARNER. What was the vote on these separate propositions? Mr. SCRUGHAM. In the final vote it was unanimous, and notwithstanding that in debate and we debated on this for two daysthere were various sentiments expressed, on the final vote; as I stated, it was unanimous.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you got that in detail, and will you state it to the committee, or would you rather make your statement first without interruption? Of course, this information asked for is proper and correct, but are you going to make that in your statement, and would you prefer to make your statement without interruption? Mr. SCRUGHAM. Would it be agreeable to incorporate that in the statement, Mr. Garner?

Mr. GARNER. If the gentleman had stated that he wanted to continue his statement until he was through, I would not have interrupted him, but when he made the statement that there were five votes in opposition to the entire program, I did not want that statement to go without showing that on a separate vote with reference to proposition No. 4, there were more votes opposed to it than four.

The CHAIRMAN. I am not objecting to that at all

Mr. GARNER. If the chairman does not want me to ask the question, as he has interrupted me from continuing along the same line which I had started on, I will not ask any more questions until the chairman or the gentleman permits.

The CHAIRMAN. Do not misunderstand me. The information you ask for we all want, but the gentleman had requested me for permission to make his statement without interruption, and I wanted to

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know if he would explain those points in his statement, or would prefer to be interrupted, or would prefer to go on and continue his statement without interruption.

Mr. FREAR. Conceding that there were 8 votes against, let us find out what the statement is that the gentleman has prepared. I think all members of the committee are anxious to get that. Let us concede for the sake of argument that half of the votes were against. Mr. GARNER. It is not necessary to concede anything. We want the facts.

Mr. FREAR. That is just for the sake of argument, and not a fact, and in order to get the facts.

Mr. GARNER. I presume that what the committee wants is the facts in the premises, and I was trying to get those facts. Now, of course, if you do not want to give the facts

Mr. SCRUGHAM. We want to give them to you as well as we can, and I will say to you in all sincerity that we will do the very best

we can.

Mr. GARNER. In explanation of my questions it must be stated that when we started out Mr. Fordney did not inform the committee that the gentleman desired to make a complete statement before we interrupted him. If he had, I would not have interrupted him.

The CHAIRMAN. I should have said that. Pardon me for not making that statement.

Mr. SCRUGHAM. Is it satisfactory to all that I read the outline, as given?

The CHAIRMAN. Proceed.

Mr. SCRUGHAM. I may omit short phrases for the sake of expediting the matter.

(Mr. Scrugham thereupon proceeded to read the suggested bill referred to, as follows:)

DRAFT OF BILL SUGGESTED BY NATIONAL BENEFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION.

A BILL To be known as the National Soldiers Land Settlement, Home Aid, Vocational Training, and Adjusted Compensation Act, and to provide land settlement aid or home aid or vocational training or adjusted compensation to those who have served in the military or naval forces of the United States during the war between the United States and the Central Powers between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and have been honorably separated or discharged therefrom or placed in the Regular Army Reserve, or are still in the military or naval service; and to provide land settlement aid for citizens of the United States who served in the Army or Navy of our Allies in the war against the Central Powers between August 4, 1914, and November 11, 1918, and who have received an honorable discharge or its equivalent.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That all those who have served in the military or naval forces of the United States during the war between the United States and the Central Powers between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and have been honorably separated or discharged therefrom or placed in the Regular Army Reserve or are still in the military or naval service, shall be entitled to and shall have the right to exercise their option in receiving the benefits mentioned in one and only one of the following titles: 1. Land settlement aid. 2. Home aid. 3. Vocational training. 4. Adjusted compensation, each as set forth hereafter. Provided, That the rights and benefits conferred by this act shall not extend to any person, who having been in the military or naval service, shall have refused to render unqualified service or to wear the uniform of a soldier or sailor of the United States.

That was designed to shut out such as the conscientious objector or other persons whom we deemed to be slackers. The bill then continues:

The time for exercising such option shall be limited to ten years from the date of the approval by the President of this act: Provided further, That the time of service

of officers and men of the National Guard of the several States performed during the year 1917 subsequent to April 6 and prior to their being drafted into the service of the United States shall be included in computing the total length of their service under the terms of this act.

TITLE I.

SECTION 1. That to provide employment and rural homes for those who have served in the military or naval forces of the United States during the war between the United States and Germany and her allies and have been or may be honorably separated or discharged therefrom or placed in any reserve thereof, all of whom are hereinafter referred to as "soldiers," there is hereby established a fund in the Treasury to be known as the "National Soldier Settlement Fund," hereinafter referred to as the "fund. There is hereby created a board to be known as the National Soldier Settlement Board, hereinafter referred to as the "board," which shall be appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate. Said board shall have full control and administration of all functions arising from and created by Titles I and II of this bill. Said board shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Interior, who shall act as the chairman thereof. Of the remaining four members of said board, not less than three shall be soldiers as defined in this bill, except that no one shall be appointed who shall have been retired from the regular Military or Naval Establishment for age or longevity of service. The members of the board, except the Secretary of the Interior, shall be appointed for a term of four years and shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by law.

SEC. 2. That the board is authorized to use the fund for the purpose of this act. They may acquire by gift, purchase, deed in trust, or otherwise, the necessary lands for soldier settlement projects, hereinafter referred to as "projects," and may utilize and dispose of by contract or patent public lands suitable for such purposes.

No projects shall be finally selected and no lands shall be acquired, however, unless the price to be paid and the conditions under which they are to be acquired shall be approved by (a) a representative of the governor of the State in which the lands are located; (b) an appraiser designated by the Federal Farm Loan Board; and (c) the board: Provided. That if the governor or his representative shall fail to act, then the land commissioner, or the person or persons performing the function of land commissioner in such State, may act in his stead.

Projects shall be selected with a view to the development of one or more projects in each of the several States in which feasible projects may be found: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior, with the approval of the President, may withdraw such public lands as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of this act.

SEC. 3. That the board is authorized through such agencies as they may provide to engage in such undertakings and do and perform such work as in their opinion is necessary for the permanent development of the lands of projects, and when they deem essential to place in condition for use and cultivation, including the building of essential public roads.

The board shall, so far as possible, utilize the services of soldiers in adiainistrative and other work for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.

The board may also, through agreement with soldiers, make provision for necessary improvements, but the amount of the loan from the fund shall in no single case exceed $1,500, nor be in excess of three-quarters of the cost or value of the improvements. SEC. 4. That the lands of projects shall be subdivided into farms or ranches suitable for the support of a family and in the discretion of the board into smaller farm workers' tracts. Dedication of tracts may be made for community and other public purposes. Town sites suitable for the purposes of the project may be established, developed, and sold for the benefit of the project under such rules and regulations as the board may prescribe.

SEC. 5. Preference in the allotment of lands shall be given to those who have been employed and rendered substantial service in the development of any such projects, and as between applicants with a view of safeguarding the soldier settler and the United States, so far as practicable, against loss or failure. The board shall make regulations general in character, or applicable to specific projects, as to residence and use or cultivation with a view of carrying out the purpose of making the soldier settlements the home of the soldier purchasers.

SEC. 6. That sale prices shall be fixed with a view of repaying the total cost of each project, and the price fixed for each farm, tract, or lot shall represent as nearly as practicable its selling value compared with the other units of the project, the aggregate not to exceed the total cost of the project, not including, however, such administrative expenses as are hereinafter provided. Approved applicants shall at the time of

entering into contract of purchase make a first payment of at least 5 per centum of the sale price. Applicants who have served in the military or naval forces of the United States shall be allowed a credit of $1.50 per day for the total number of days of their military or naval service between the dates of April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1919: Provided, That no credit shall be allowed for any time served on a subsequent reenlistment after receiving a discharge subsequent to November 11, 1918: Provided further, That the benefits under Title 1 are selected by the applicant, as herinafter provided: And provided further. That all of such credits shall be applied as a first payment on the contract for purchase of land selected by the applicant. The balance shall be paid in amortizing payments extending over a period of forty years or less at the option of the applicant. Sums advanced for improvements shall be repaid in amortizing payments extending over a period not to exceed ten years or less at option of applicant. All amortizing payments shall bear interest at the rate of 4 per centum per annum, payable annually, computed from date of contract. The contracts for the sale of the farms, tracts, and lots shall provide for cancellations and forfeitures of payments made under the contract for failure to comply therewith, according to such regulations as the board shall prescribe.

It is further provided that American citizens who served in and were honorably discharged from the military or naval service of any of the nations allied against the Central Powers between August 4, 1914, and November 11, 1918, and who have been repatriated, shall be eligible for the benefits of this title of the act, except that they shall receive no per diem credit for military service as stipulated for soldiers in the service of the United States.

SEC. 7. Patents or deeds to project lands issued within five years from the date of contract of sale shall contain the condition that no transfer, assignment, mortgage, or lease made during that period shall be valid without the approval of the board, and no transfer, assignment, mortgage, or lease of any right, title, or interest held under a contract of sale shall be valid at any time without the approval of the board. The board shall make all necessary regulations for the carrying out of the provisions and purposes of the foregoing sections of this act and for safeguarding the interests of the soldier-settler and of the United States, and is authorized to issue patents or deeds for the lands embraced in farms, tracts, and lots within projects.

Every patent issued under the foregoing sections of this act shall expressly reserve to the United States a prior lien on the land patented superior to all other liens, claims, or demands whatsoever, for the payment of all sums due or to become due to the United States or its successors in connection with such lands under any project provided for in this act.

Except as herein otherwise provided no lands acquired under the provisions of the foregoing sections of this act shall in any event become liable to the satisfaction of any debt contracted prior to the issuing of the patent therefor: Provided, however, That such exemption shall not exceed a period of ten years from the date of the contract or purchase.

Provided, That in case of the death of any soldier, who has entered into an agree ment for the purchase of land under the foregoing sections of this act, during the period of his occupation of said land, and before the completion of his contract with the board, the full title to such land shall without further payment vest in his devisees, widow or heirs at law, according to the statues of the State wherein said land is situated, provided that if the rights under said agreement are devised to a person or persons other than his widow or one or more of his heirs at law, then the same shall pass to said devisee or devisees only upon payment of the balance due thereon.

That is the feature that we thought was necessary for the protection of the widow or dependents of a man who went in there in good faith and died before completing his contract, because the cost of the project would be comparatively small, and we have some insurance statistics covering the subject.

Lands acquired pursuant to the foregoing sections of this act shall not be subject to State, county, municipal, and local taxation and assessment until after a period of five years from the date of the execution of the contract of purchase in proportion as the amount paid bears to the purchase price. If the purchaser shall fail to pay such taxes or assessments, the same may be paid from the fund hereby authorized and charged to the purchaser with interest at the rate provided by law for delinquent taxes in the State in which the land is located and shall be a lien on the property assessed.

SEC. 8. That the board is also authorized to make short-time loans from the fund, not to exceed $1,200 in the aggregate, to a soldier settler for the purchase of necessary