Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-20
CONFLICTING DATA
is SUBMITTED ON
NITRATE PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Two re-
ports. one by Republicans condemn
ing the governments entire wartime
nitrate program and charging reck-
less waste and extravaganza and the
other by Democrats defending it and
charging partisan bias by the ma
jority, were presented today to the
house, by a special committee, which
took up the investigation nearly a
year ago.
Along with it's forty-one general
condemnations of the government S
policy, the Republican majority, COM
prising Chairman Graham, Illinois,
and Representative Jefferies, Ne
braska, submitted recommendations
for future disposal of the Muscle
tive Garrett, of Tennessee, the Demo-
cratic member. declared was beyond
/ its province.
Mr.. Garrett indicated that he would
make point of order against the
report on that ground. Members
| biggest political fight in the house
since the war investigating commit
tee was created.
The Republicans laid the blame for
the nitrate program, entailing an eX-
penditure of about SIG, 900, 900, at the
nard NJ. Baruch, as the moving spirit
of the great wartime project, al
though Representative Garrett, speak
ing for the minority, declared the
Secretary Baker, and that both
could assume responsibility without
thought of apology.
Would Sue Corporation
Charging the Air NitrateS corpora
ton, builders of the Muscle Shoals
plant. with failure to perform it's
contract, the majority recommended
to CONGRESS- that fnrthar
be paid it on account, and that civil
suits be instituted for recovery, and
that the whole question of pay be
threshed out in the court Of claims.
government pursue such remedies as
might be decided by the attorney
general.
After asking congress to sell ma
terials stored at the Toledo and Gin
finaati plants and retain the Shelf
recommended that the government
lease the deserted village, built for
officers at Sheffield at a cost of $12,-
100000.
The principal recommendation by
the majority related to the big
Muscle Shoals plant, costing $7O,-
100000. Being too valuable to scrap,
the majority recommended that it
be leased and converted into fer
tilizer plant, for the sale Of products
direct to farmers, with the right OF
the government to take it over in
time of threatened war. Further
expenditures at Muscle Shoals were
opposed.
In the two reports, embracing 75,-
600 words, every details of the nj
trate program was discussed. De-
claring that throughout the majority
report there run the threads of sug-
gestions Of sinister and unworthy
motives" on the part of Frank S.
Washburn, president Of the building
corporation. Mr.. Garrett contended
that Mr.. Washburn and his asso-
ciates, in appearing before the COM
tlemen and good citizens" Answer
ing yelled attacks" on Mr.. Baruch,
Mr.. Garrett said "he played a most
important and praiseworthy part"
Cost $116,1e4,s74 a.
In the first of it's findings the
program cost the government $116,-
194,974, that no nitrates were pro-
duced prior to the armistice and That
it contributed nothing toward win
ming the war.
The minority report replied that if
war expenditures were to be judged
by the unexpended end of hostilities,
three-fourths of the nations efforts
were useless, 100000 more men
than were necessary were called to
the colors, and congress made itself
ridiculous" in passing the last draft
act.
Had the war continued, the ma
jority said, Mr.. Baruch planned adj
ditional plants that would have cost
$200,O00,000. The minority said the
cost was problematical, but that the
Administrations would have provided
the nations necessities "and soldiers
on the firing line would have had the
absolute assurance that they were
not being sent to a shambles for
lack of ammunition
Neglect Is Charged
If there was necessity for manu-
facture Of nitrates, the majority said
neglect and delay in starting until
the nation was in the midst Of war