New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-07
Demand in House for In
CURRY Into Lobby Be-
hind Army Bill Joker.
SENATORS WRESTLE
WITH BIG SCHEME
Du Point Powder Company AS
sailed as Opposing S20.000.-
600 Expenditure.
-Fmr n. rnhun. Ru,,.u !

Washington, April 6-rhe latest A.
tempt to get the famous Muscle Shoals
grab through Congress, by means OF
joker in the Hay military bill. was At
tackled from two directions in Congress
to-day
In the House. Representative Mad
den, Of Illinois, introduced resolu-
tion demanding a complete investiga-
ton OF the lobbying VIA oh has been
done FOR the scheme. including. also. an
investigation of the powder interests
which exposed the pan. In the SEN
ate. the Military Affairs Committee
spent almost IL. entir2 session consid-
ering the effort 10 have the section,
which was stricken out By the House,
restored 10 the bill.
The object OF the Muscle Shoals
project is 20 have the government
spend between $4,000 900 and $4,000
600 in constructing a dam and other
Improvements in the Muscle Shoals Of
the Tennessee Ri"er, near Florence,
Ala. and 10 turn over the tremendous
~ valuable power rights which would
be created 70 private owners. II has
had the support OF several army en-
gineers. in spite OF diverse reports 81
men who made the surveys.
The scheme first turned up last year
in the rivers and hsr))rs bill. with the
backing Of tie Alabama Power Com
pany Representative Frear, of Wis
consin, denounced the scheme a.
water grab, and no bill was passed,
Congress finally app~opriatine 100000
600 in lump for river and harbor
work. at the discretion OF the army en-
gineers
In spite Of the adv -se reports. $780,
600 Of that si0,OOO,OOO was used in sur
veys al the Muscle Shoals, and an in
quiry into the conduct Of the engineer
who ordered this has been asked.
This year the scheme again appeared
in the pork barrel bill. but was elm
mated. Their ITS hackers conceived the
idea of hitching 10 10 the preparedness
programme. and il was incorporated In
the Hay army bin uader the guise Of
a plan 20 provide nitrate for the gov
eminent manufacture % explosives.
The provision was cl,verly phrased 20
conceal its intent.
The joker was expo~ed IN the House
and defeated The lobby which has
beer hghting for u -2taliatcd with
charge that lobbying by the du Pont
P-wder Company was responsible for
this. Now an effort is be- adc 20
have the provision restored 10 the bill
in the Senate. aud AZ the same time
the same interests are before the Ayr
cultural committees trying TO have the
scheme indorsed as a means Of prOvid-
ing nitrate fertilizers for the farmers.
The Madden resolution. introduced
to-day. asks FOR an inquiry into the
activities Of the du Pont company. the
Alabama Power Company and the Amer
lean Cyanide Company end their sub
sidiary and associate concerns. In tho
preamble are mentined the rames of
Frank s. Washburn. president Of the
cyanide company. and J. ". Worthng-
ton. presidcn. Of the Alabama company.
The Senate Military Affairs Commit
tee devoted is time to-day 20 a consid-
Grafton Of the scheme. Senator Under
wood is making a strenuous effort 10
Obtain the committee Endorsement Of
the plan. If the committee does ap-
prove il a terrific fight will be made
on il on the floor. Senator Lodge, Ser
ator Reed. Of Missouri. and Senator
Lewis. OF Illinois. have announced op-
position.