The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-05-17
CONTINUE WORK
 AT GOVERNMENT
 NITROGEN PLANT

Washington, D. C., May 17.-A provision in the Notifications appre- priatien bin which would have stop ped further development of the gov ernment nitrogen plant at Muscle Shoals, and would have prevented production of nitrate which may be used to manufacture fertilizer for agricultural purposes was so vfgor- ously attacked in the Senate that if was withdrawn by Senator Shoot of Utah.
 Senator Oscar w.. Underwood. Democratic leader, drew from Sen ator Smeot the admission that the Appropriations committee had not fully investigated the operation of the plant, and that the anatordty mem bers of the Senate committee acted largely on the suggestion of the chairman of one of the House in- vestisating"' committees, who had ob- jected to the Muscle Shoals project. Following Senator Underwood's ex- planation of the need of a nitrogen plant, and the effect its operation would have upon the country's agri- culture, the Alabama Senator said he would demand 8 roll call on the Smoot proposal. Later Senator Smoot withdrew the provision alto gether.
 There is pending a bill before the Senate Agricultural committee for the operation of the plant by Q corpor- alton in which the government will own all the stock.
 During the debate with Senator Shoot, Senator Underwood convinc- ingly showed that the farmers of the country will receive inestimable benefit for such operation. So far, Senator Underwood showed, this country and it's farmers have been almost entirely dependent upon ni~ trate supplies from Chile.
 Discussing the Smoot proposal. Senator Underwood said:
 ~It discloses how little the com how nl-advIsed this action is, for the senator's statement itself discloses the fact that he does not know what the governent is attempting to do That is very natural, but I think it was entirely without justification for the Appropriations committee to wade into a proposition of this kind and stop the hand of the government in a. great endeavor without know ledge of the facts The Senator's own statement shows that he does not know what is being done, because the bill now pending before the Agricul-
 
 turn this plant over to private par organization disconnected with the government to run the plant.
 The proposals now pending be- fore the Agricultural committee, which I hope will be reported to the Senate, is to establish government corporation, every share of the stock of which will be owned by the United States government and voted by the of War, for the purpose of on this plant for govern m enta1 purposes
 1@The war is over now, and there is no necessity to operate this plant any longer for the purpose of manufact- uring powder; but, after a careful investigation by the Ordnance de- partment of the War department, they have made a report to the Con- gross, which is now before the Agrf- cultural committee of the Senate, that it will be cheaper to use this plant now for the making or nitro gen to manufacture fertilizers and aid agriculture than if will be to close it down and let it run out as a dead plant More than that, they have stated that if we keep it in operation as a going plant, manufacturing fer
 
 as a matter of defense to the gov if we become involved in war.
 i%The people of this country do not seem to visualize the situation that, l except as to a few small experimental plants, the absolute defense of this in time of war is dependent | 1n a supply of nitrogen coming from l Chile; and if we became involved in l var with a country that could stop | our communication by sea with the | nitrate beds of Chile we would have o surrender because we would not | nave the powder to put fin our guns. 1 before the Agricultural committee of , he Senate and said: We have on l hand 3o0,G GOO tons of sodium nitrate l hat we are carrying as a matter of l defense in case we become involved l Fl war; and everybody knows now | hat 3oe,000 tons of sodium is only the supply for few months in case i we are engaged in war. There Is, l however, a great demand by the 1 farmers of the North and the West l and the South for sodium nitrate to- l day. There is a cry against the high cost of living and a demand for | greater food production in America There is but one way in which you can get it, and that is by giving the l farmers fertilizers and letting the l same amount of labor raise more |