Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-31
PLANT TO make NITROGEN
URGED FOR GOVERNMENT
Underwood Begins Fight to Incor-
poratc Provision I'm Army Reor-
ganizatiOn Bill.
DU PoNT COMPANY
Charges II With Exerting Powerful
Influence to Defeat Such LcgisIa-
ton, Because OF Desire to Control
All Powder Business in L. S.

WASHINGTON, March 3O.--A deter
mined fight was begun in the Senate
to-day by Senator Underwood. Of Ala.
bama. to incorporate in the army re-
organization bill provision looking
to the establishment OF government
plant to make nitrogen from the air
for the manufacture Of the explosives.
Efforts 10 incorporate such legislation
in the House bill were defeated
Senator Underwood declared no ma
tional defense agreement would be
complete without this provision. lie
attacked the Du Pont Powder Company
and its agents, charging them with cx-
erting powerful influences to defeat
such legislation. because of a desire
to control all the powder bushes in
the United States and to prevent the
government from entering the field
In this connection he declared that
Hudson Maxim. a member OF the navy's
civilian advisory board. was "A consult
ing engineer of the Du Pont Company,
and ar such had characterized Con-
nitrate plant as pork barrel poll
tiCians"
so says this corporation agent.
speaking for his own interests and
those Of his employers" said the Ala
bama Senator. II do not wish 10 make
charges against II big corporation The
Du Pomt Powder Company is in leeiti-
mate business. and naturally does not
want the government to compete with
il. II wishes to contr,. all the powder
business ~ the country II has a right
10 have it's agents here attempting TO
defeat my proposal. but the Senate Of
the United States has no right 10 per
nit the Du Pont Powder Company 10
defeat th!s legislation"
PREPARED ny COUNSEL.
FOR DU pONT COMPANY
Early IN the day Senator Salisbury.
OF Della ware. introduced a bill, prepared
ny counsel for the Du Pont Company.
providing for granting Of hfty-yeor
wa'er-powcr Leases to- corporations
which would guarante. to erect a
hydro electric plant for production of
nitrate from the air and supply the
government AT a price to be fixed bv
the Secretary OF War
An amendment TO the pending Senate
bill for the army reorganization bill
authorize army engineers TO investi-
gat" and repor; TO Congress on the
best process for iiXation OF atmospheric
nitrogen and the best site for the pro-
ducuun OF an adequate supply for use
ia manufacture OF munitions in time
81 war aud fertilizer in time of peace
Senator Smith. OF South Carolina
championcd his bill now pending.
winch would appropriate $4,000, 900
for development, Of i've government,
nitrate plants.
The South Carolina Senator said IL
was better than the Underwood amend
nent, because ii would provide a means
for immediate acquisition OF govern
meui watcr-pu~cr sites before all
available sites had been pre- EN- ted by
private corporations
An amendment restricting the en-
listed strength OF the regular army
TO $4,000 In times Of peace was intro
duced by Chairman Chamberlain but il
was announced that amendments from
the committee would be disposed Of
before any others were considered
y number Of minor amendments
agreed 10 without objection included
one which prohibits the calling out of
the volunteer army in time OF peace
for periods more than thirty DAYS
without consent OF Congress-