The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-23

M
 ( cussion of bill relating to oulio- ing A dam in the Warrior nVer' in Alabama, Representative oscar Ihoer- wood and Representative Ollie James hau sharp little personal tilt. IL was sn,ootbed over. as two sensible gentlemen .r. wont -to smooth such things o<er. by each withdrawing his remarks concern ing the other, and all was thought to pe serene, and probably was, between 'ne two principals. But in his Commoner this week Colonel Bryan takes up the ouarrel for James and says some things about Underwood which are calculated to cause irritation in places where ai should be smooth and harmonious.
 Briefly stated, the trouble between 'he two Congressmen came about III .ais way: Provision has been made Tor the building by the government Of a nurhoei of locks and dams in the Warrior river 10 open up the great coal fields which the stream penetrates, and work is in progress n, aome of them. Later surveys have convinced the engineering department that instead of building four or these dams not vet begun one high, dam Will do for all. making a saving in first cost of several hundred thousand dollars. A nower company which has been formed and has secured the rights from the state of Alabama to build 8 dam for power oe- yelopment in tributary or the riNer above navigation made propositloh 10 utilize the overflow of the big govern ment dam for power purposes and to pay for the privilege A bill providing for the one dam in place of the four orlgihaiiy contemplated and granting the power company the right to use the overflow Tor 50 wears was being discussed in the House. It was attacked on the ground, principal | ,v that 50 years was too long time for a franchise to be given. underwood
 was for the bill, not because or the water mower franchise, which he declared was merely incidental, but because he wanted | the Warrior river to be rendered naVlga- ble as soon as possible. He said 1T the hill was not passed at this session he would insist that the work should proceea under the former plan for four dams, wi'h I their additional cost
 l At this point MT. James LOOK part 'p the discussion He wanted to know or | Underwood if it was quite fair to say l ,o the House that unless we pass piii | y,viny a franchise to company for halt L.. century. with no limit upon the amount that it shall charge the consumer TOT this
 noner insstence is going to be made that certain work shall go on which Will involve an expenditure of SO0OW or $S"'- oO out of the treasury more than would
 he expended if we give away this right. to which we do not agree; that unless we 1 turn the people over to the insatiate nav of the monopoly. which we are unwilling
 to do, he is going to insist that s3OooOo or s4OO. 900 more shall be expended l To this Underwood replied; My friend l from Kentucky has just come out of a
 successful campaign for senator, where play to the gallery has purchased votes,
 but will say to the gentleman from Ken lucky that to claim that one company controlling one water power is monopo- fly. to answer me with the proposition that
 am pleading for 8 monopoly, when have just stated to him that there are | i've water powers in use, and that the 1 smoke that comes out of these coke
 ovens is the power to produce electricity, for him to say these things is not fair
 
 proposition to put to me-
 James made rather tart reply, ana
 then Underwood said: My answer to the
 gentleman a moment ago was provoked bv what he said. 1 do not think it was iustifed. and I wish now. in justice to him and to myself. to withdraw what l
 said"
 James then withdrew his remarks and the affair cloEed.
 Rut Colonel Bryan finds in. the incident ground for charging that Underwood
 "plays to those'w occupy seats in the
 parouet and private boxes" In other
 words, that Underwood is acting for
 "predatory corporations" He wants to
 know why "he impugned the motives oI af fellow member of the ways ana
 means committed although Mr. under-
 wood might claim that the kentucklai
 WAS the aggressor and that he first iH'-
 nurned the motives by implication al lea. .t. of the member from Alabama.
 If is a matter of regret that Coione' Bryan has singled out for attack man
 who has proved so able as 8 leader ana so unswerving in his deterWinatlon te
 carry out the will of the people as mas