Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-05-18
FOR US. CONTROL or SHOALS
Baltimore Engineer Asks Hearing
When He Submits Tentative Pro-
posaI For The Lease OF Plant

Washington.-Four developments In
congressional consideration OF propos-
ais for developing the Muscle Shoals,
Ala, nitrate and power project occur
red in the senate agriculture and
house military committees and on the
senate floor.
Chairman Norris, Nebraska, Of the
senate committee, introduced bill
providing for semi-government cor
poration to take over and operate the
nitrate and power projects for fifty
years. The measure was drafted by
James T. Lloyd, formed representative
from Missouri, and submitted by ].
H. Levering, a consulted engineer of
Los Angeles, Cal, as modification
of the bill Senator Norris recently in
troduced.
The Nebraska senator also made
public a tentative proposal received
from L. Stern, Baltimore, Md, con-
suIting engineer, and manufacturer OF
chemical products. Mr.. Stern's let
ter of transmission requested the COM
mittee to hear him at his convenience
and said the formal tender would be
made later, the committee deciding
informally to accede to the request
and grant Mr.. Stern hearing.
The tentative offer of Mr.. Stern pro-
vided for the operation Of the nitrate
and power projects for a period of
25 or 80 years or any suitable number
of years that might be determined
upon. It further stated that all ex.
penses incurred by the government at
Muscle Shoals would be paid to, 1t
at the rate Of 2 per cent annually
and contained a provision by which
the government would receive 60 per
cent of all net profit made during
the operation, with the lessees retain
ing 40 per cent.
In the house committee an agree
ment was reached by which any lessee
of the shoals properties would be CON-
PEELED to manufacture finished ferti.
lizers whether at profit or loss
throughout the term Of his operations,
whether it be fifty or one hundred
years. An amendment to this effect
was made to the bill the committee
is formulating for The house in con.
nection with its report on the various
proposals 1t has investigated.
Wide differences of opinion are un.
derstood to prevail in the committee
over the provisions Of the offer made
by Henry Ford which are being dis
cussed as the basis for the measure
under construction 1t was believed
possible that the committeeman would
be divided into three faction when
the discussions were ended and as
many difference recommendations
would be made to the house.
The senate agricultural body heard
Benjamin C. Marsh, managing director
of the farmers national council, tes.
tify. He said the council was op-
posed to. the Ford proposal or any 9TH
er that deprived the government of
control and operation of the projects
at Muscle Shoals.
The bill introduced recently by Sen.
ator Norris, the witness believes, was
fundamentally sound and he recon-
mended that legislation. of similar
sort be enacted.
The bill drafted by Mr.. Lloyd fol
lowed the description which the agri-
culture committee heard recently in
general language. : It would create a
100000 corporation, headed by sew.
en- directors to be appointed by the
president, three being officials of the
war, treasury and agriculture depart
ments.