The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-08
LEAVE ID SENATE QUESTION OF FUND
 FOR NITRATE PLANT
Vote Today on Bill Proposing Government Corporation to Operate Muscle Shoals
 Is Indicated
By Associated Press

Washington, January 7.-At the end of a days debate fin the Senate on the bill proposing a government corpora tion to operate the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, Ala. proponents of the, measure said tonight that vote prob ably would be reached tomorrow House advocates of the S1o,ooo.o0e ap- propriation to finish the work on the Wilson dam said they would leave the question to the Senate.
 Representatives Byrnes, democrat, of Tennessee said he expected the Sen ate would include the appropriation in the sundry civil bill in whlcn case he was prepared to move concurrence by the House
 Denunciation of the fertilizer trust and defense of the standards of living of the farmer featured the senate de- bate Senator Heflin, democrat, Ala lama, charged that spropagandists, acting as agents. for the fertilizer trust.r were attempting to defeat the measure and cited an interview with ''Hampden Norman of Memphis, Tenn, "condemning the project published in d Washington newspaper. Senator Me kel1ar, democrat of Tennessee, said he had telegraphed to Memphis Ill an ef- fort to identify Mir. Norman" and that the chamber of commerce there lad replied that there was mo such person."
 WHY THEY OPPOSE IT
 Senator Ileflin said tne ''DuPont king" opposed the measure because he imports Chilean nitrates as does the fertilizer trust which IS "pillagIng the American farmer,
 Senator smith of South Carolina said the present condition of the farmer was not d result of eXtrava- gance, but because we allowed the manipulation of our affairs to convert the wave or victory into an overwheIm ing tide of disaster and ruin'
 He urged support or the measure as means for developing new souSces of fertilizers and making the United States independent of foreign sources It was probable, he said, that there had been an 'unwise" expenditure of funds at Muscle Shoals, as was the case at Hog Island and other places during the war, but that was done under war time conditions, when 1t was not certain this country couit, get the necessary supply from Chile and when the President had ordered the plant completed within year.
 The present situation of the farmers the South Carolina senator declared was not a result of extravaganza, but followed the introduction of better lv- ing standards, which had Inspired hope, energy, enterprise and thrift through the agricultural regions oi the United States as never dreamed oi Lefore.''Ai.A
 ARE NOT EXTRAVAGANT
 With bright prospects, he continued i the farmers mad not been extraya 7 sant.' They thought automobiles painted their homes. developed their farms, equipped their houses with mod ern corveniences, and educated their children" he said.
 But he added. without rime or reason, by the stupid action or two de Gartments of the government not to call 1t worse, this whole happy condi- ton was changed into the most horri. hle financial nightmare this country ever dreamed of. It caused destMution bankruptcy despair and suicide. It i; the duty of this Congress to re-es. tabiish hope and inspire confidence.
 Senator Smith declared it was "ar
 Continued on Page Three)