The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-24
MUSCLE SHOALS
 WILL HAVE DAM Bill Passes House by an Im-
 nsRSs Majority BURTON OPPOSES WARMLY
Richardson, Assisted By Underwood and Bankhead, Finally Succeeds In Getting Through Measure Sati-
 factory to the President.

Washington, February 23-(Special.)- The big majority received today by the Muscle Shoals bill is quite tribute to the standing In the House of Representa- tive Richardson, the bills author, as well as Representatives Underwood and Bankhead, who ably assisted him in securing the favorable result.
 Representative Burton who opposed the bill, is chairman of the rivers and harbors committee and one of the most influential republicans in the House. That he should be unable to master his own side against the measure speaks well for the Alabama members
 Relish Action Against Railroads.
 Preceded by debate which indicated no hesitancy but rather a relish in taking action against alleged railroad combina- ton, the House agreed without opposi- ton today to the Tillman-Gillespie reso- lution directing the interstate commerce commission to make an immediate in ouiry and report regarding alleged re- straints of trade on the part of certain railroads in handling of coal and oil.
 The resolution was not in the form in which it passed the Senate and will go back to that body for it's second action. The debate occupied an hour, and con- sisted of a succession of speeches in de- nunciation of alleged practices, and in dorsement of the proposed investigation.
 MT. Grosvenor of Ohio characterized 1t as a rehuke to the recent 'puerile" re- port which had been made by a certain railroad official. MT. Gillespie of Texas said that if what he had heard was true, the commercial brigandage of tonight put entirely in the shade the hold-up man of the frontier days MT. Townsend of Michigan, wh9 presented the resolution from the committee, discussed the condi- tions which in his opinion made it a necessity.
 Sounds Note of Apprehension.
 The only note of apprehension was from MT. Mann of Illinois, who called attention to the law which exempts from prosecution persons who may testify in the inquiry. In this manner he said the guilty officials, if any such were found.
  was explained that the resolution in no way changed existing law on this point and the belief was expressed that in making the Inquiry the commission would exercise discretion in getting It's inror- nation from sources which would not exempt possibly guilty parties.
 The House devoted the remainder of the day to minor matters, and passed several bills. among which was the Ia nous Muscle Shoals dam bill which was before the House from the President, who returned it with suggestions rom the ,-etary of war as to amendments. The bfn ermits the creation of an im- mense water power in the Tennessee riY- CT in Alabama and has been pending be- fore Congress for several years.
 Muscle Shoals Dam Taken Up.
 The Muscle Shoals power bill returned by the president at the request of the House was taken up on motion of MT. Richardson of Alabama for the purpose of amending 1t to meet the objections as to the location of dam on the Tennes- see river in Alabama.
 After Mr Richardson and MT. Wagner of Pennsylvania had explained the bill, MT Burton of Ohio spoke against 1t. He first called attention to the great value of water power It would soon be more valuable than now and would equal the value of all our silver mines, and he would even predict that it would equal the value of both the gold and silver mines.
 The power which could be secured at Muscle Shoals, which he said, was being given away would be more than $2, ,s96 coo a year. It was one of the most valuable water power locations in the country He believed such valuable concession should not be so quickly given away. It was setting dangerous precedent.
 A defense of the bill was made by Mr. Hepburn of Iowa. He admitted the great value of the power if. as he said, 1t was located near some large city instead of q great wilderness.
 The government had given away a hun dred such concessions without ever get ting farthing for them. This was an experiment and the capital seeking it should not be discouraged.
 The bill was passed by rising vote of 113 to 30.
 Proceeding under call of committee the House passed the following bills:
 Other Bills Passed.
 Amending the revised statutes to pun ish persons impersonating public officers in the land office service; to protect game birds by making it unlawf to disturb birds or their eggs on certain reserva-
 
 tions.
 MT Lacy of Iowa said the reservations referred to were certain uninhabitated islands in the Gulf of Mexico and the lakes of the north.
 Bills were passed to require s75 worth of work annually on mining claims and s25 worth of work on roads and trails for each mining claim in Alaska; allowing foreign ships to clear from American ports without examination certificates when the countries to which they belong American certificates of inspec- ton; to prevent foreign built dredges op- erating in the United States. except dredges now at work in the United States under contract.
 The bill to incorporate the Lake Erie and Ohio Ship Canal company was read The question of it's consideration was rais- ed and a roll call secured on it by MT. Burnett of Alabama. The vote stood 1l2 years and 66 nays, less than quorum. When the speaker announced that fact MT. Payne moved an adjournment This was carried and at 4:55 o'clock the House