The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-29
'KENZIE INSISTS
BETTER PROPOSAL
CANNOT Be MADE
Head of House Military
Committee Makes Strong
Statement Favoring
Detroit Man

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-A
challenge to opponents of Henry
Ford's proposal to take over the
Muscle Shoals project to put for
ward a better offer was made by
Representative Mckenzie, republi-
. can, Illinois, acting chairman of the
military affairs committee, which
considered the plan, in an extension
of remarks inserted in the Con-
gressional Record today.
"If," said Mckenzie, "the gov
eminent is giving SO much to Mr..
Ford under this proposal, it is
strange indeed that with all the
splendid, energetic captains of in
dustry and men of financial ability,
none have appeared before the Sec
rotary of War and urged him to
give them an opportunity to COM
pensate the government in greater
measure than Mr.. Ford proposes in
his offer"
Mr.. Mckenzie insisted that the
Ford offer would produce fertilizer
for the farmer and denied that ac-
ceptance would mean that only one
tenth of the power developed at
Muscle Shoals would be used for
manufacturing fertilizer products.
Would He Controlled
i do not feel he said, that 1t
is fair assumption to say that
Mr.. Ford's offer In any way gives
color to the suggestion that he will
use nine-tenths of the power devel-
oped in the manufacture of products
which he may deem most profitable
to himself, unrestrained by any au-
thority. Even If he did enter the
field in some other activity, he would
be subject to all the federal and
state laws now controlling the manu-
facture OF like products"
Mr.. Mckenzie said his statement
was prompted by speech in the
House several days ago by Represen-
tative Kearns. republican, Ohio. also
member of the committee, who
led by propaganda for the Ford offer.
Asking where the friends of labor
and agriculture stood" on the mat
ter, MIR. Mckenzie declared the Ford
proposal, as modified by the commit
tee. In his opinion carried with IL
the most vital and momentously po-
tential elements for the benefit of
both the farmers and the laborers
Of our land of any proposal here
tofore submitted for our considera-
ton
Is Only Rea. Proposal
Mr. Mckenzie said several other
bills had been introduced dealing
with the project. but they all con-
tanned the fatal defect of either
government operation or operation
of government plant by lessee"
"The only clearly defined proposal.
in my Judgment" said Mckenzie. us
the Ford proposal. Its terms are
plain and easily understood. /, pro-
poses action. definite and continu-
ing. and safeguards the vital inter-
ests OF the people,"
Lease periods OF 100 years or more
were not unknown in the United
States, he declared. referring to
criticism of that feature of the Ford
plan. He said q case in point was
the Keokuk dam across the Missis-
sippi river. constructed by private
enterprise under perpetual lease
1T is one of the strange things
brought about in the investigation
of this proposed plan" he added
that the distinguished engineer. Col.
Hugh l.. Cooper. .criticises the pro-
posed term of 100 years to Henry
Ford and in his same statement vol
unteers the information that he is
vice president of the company operat-
ing the Keokuk dam under per-
petual lease"