Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-20

'.as an apt illustration of the neglect
of the administration to put into
effect laws for protection and pre-
paredness. This meant, according to
dent 'for not, while we were at
peace, hastily embarking on war
supply program"
There was no national necessity,
the majority found, for such a vast
building program, adding that Chill
can nitrates should have been
bought and stored. The minority re-
piled that the majority in one breath
called it misdirected effort and then
in the next declared there was ITO
national necessity at any time"
Answering the majority's charge
submarines cutting off the Chilean
supply was Visionary" the minority
reported that the submarine menace
was an element which it was the
solemn duty of the government to
regard. ..+
Direct responsibility for location
of the two nitrate plants and the
Wilson dam at Muscle Shoals was
placed by the majority upon Presi-
dent Wilson. The minority, in reply,
quoted Secretary Baker as testifying
that the president had acted on his
port adding that the president and
the secretary may safely assume re-
sponsibility without apology"
The. majority charged that any
one who opposed the Muscle Shoals
plan was "either disregarded or dis
ciplined,'' to which the minority re-
piled that this assertion was gra-
tuitous and without warrant of
fact"
Plant Called Blunder
The Sheffield plant, with homes
and clubs for officers costing $12,-
| 100000, was characterized by the
majority as ga colossal blunder and
waste of public funds" The minor
| ity held the plant was an expert
ment and necessary, but agreed that
too much was spent for homes.
The minority declared that sug-
| gestion by the majority as to sin
lister influences operating upon those
who laid out the Alabama plants"
was wholly unWarranted and evil
IDENTIFY. for the purpose of creating
Ordnance officers, the majority
charged, failed in most instances
to guard the interests of the, United
w. Joyes, head of the nitrates di-
vision, in approving contracts with
the Air Reduction company for
nitrogen columns entailing loss
on the government of nearly $780,
| as to merit severe censure." The
minority "repudiated emphatically"
this assertion as to Colonel Joyes,
declaring he acted upon principles
| of the highest integrity"
| Location Criticized
The majority held that Toledo and
Cincinnati plant locations were I'M
suitable, saying it was evident that
criticism of the Albania locations
| "by Ohio representatives in con-
location. of plants in Ohio in an I'M
successful effort to quiet and as
suage such hostile criticism" The
minority dismissed this with the
suggestion of 'sectionalism."
The cost-plus system was con-
demned by the majority. The mi
nority said it was the only prac-
ticable way of getting speed and
| action.
Excessive waste of labor and ma
circumstances to criminality" was
charged by the majority. Admitting
waste, the minority replied there was
tremendous labor turnover, with
shiftless, but declared it was not
Willful waste.
The majority discussed future dis
position of the properties and re-
ported adversely upon plan, as set
| forth in bill now pending in con-
Muscle Shoals as a fertilizer fac
tory. The minority charged that
! this was an encroachment upon the
| jurisdiction of another committee,
and hence refused to make findings.
The majority said it would be Col
| ly" to complete the Toledo and Gin
cinnati plants. Since nobody had
ever suggested that, the minority
said. we take it that the majority
have asserted one opinion that will
not be contested anywhere by any
| person"
The majority found that $5,000OO0
| expenditures for development of the
| Alabama Power company property
was "unjustifiable" and that the
| Muscle Sho&ls dam of itself would
not improve the navigability of the
| Tennessee river.