The New York herald., 1922-04-09
FOR U. S. OPERATION
n OF MUSCLE SHOALS
Senate Resolution Calls for
Government Corporation in
Charge of 3 Directors.
WILL GO TO COMMITTEE
Proposal to BE Treated Like
Other 0ffers-Norris EX-
plains Huge Project.

WASHINGTON, April 5 (Associatcd
Press) A Government owned and OPP
Grated corporation. to be conducted
under the supervision Of three directors
appointed by the President for develop
ment OF the nitrate and water power
xprojects at Muscle Shoals, was pro-
posed in a Congressional resolution
made public tonight by Senator Norris
(Neb.>. chairman OF the Senate Agri-
cultura. Committee.
The resolution viii be introduced in
the Senate Monday and referred to the
Agricultural Committee for considera-
tion in connection with hearings begin
ming then on the four private proposals
for Muscle Shoals submitted by Henry
Ford the Alabama Power Company,
Frederick Engstrum and Charles Par
sons.
THE bill which | have prepared pro-
viding for the development of Muscle
Shoals" said Senator Norris. provides
that the Secretary of War shall pro-
ceed to the completion OF dams and
8 at Muscle Shoals and then shall cause
a survey of the TENNESSEE River and its
tributaries to be made with a view OF
locating storage reservoirs.
1.-THE only weak point in the power de-
velorment as Muscle Shoals Is the very
largo difference between the maximum
and minimum flow of the river. This
means that as compared with the large
amount of water going down the river
there Is but a small primary power II
be built so as to equaliZe the flow Of
the river at different seasons of the
year to store up the flood and let 1t out
when the water Is low the development
of power will be very much increased
and TIE expenses proportionately de-
creased.
THE bill provides for the incorpora-
ton of a Federal chemical corporation
In order to keep this out of politics
have provided that the board of dlrec
tors shall hold office during good be-
havior. which means life. the same as
the Supreme Court, but with recall
provision that a member can be re-
moved any time by concurrent resolu-
tion OF House and Senate. There is also
provision making 1t a msdemeanor
for any member % the board TO permit
the use of p-litcai or partisan influ-
ence In the selection of an employee. or
and IL any member of the board shall
take any official action for political
reasons he shell be sulI.ct to fine
and imprisonment. and a conviction of
this offense will automatically remove
him from office
This corporation WI. haze charge of
all property, inciudlca tte dams. all
the machi-eyy. railroads. engines, cars.
&c. amounting IN ve'ue when the work
Is completed 70 several hundreds of mil
lions OF dollars The corporation will
nave authority II tine of peace to man
ufacture eertil'r a. and to establish an
agency Eos tha selling OF fertilizers any
where Ii the United States. and in order
TO prever! nlonnnoly in the fertilizer
business thew have authority toAmaka
complete fertilizer and to sell chem
icals sor the r.nnufactrrc of fertilizers.
with the crc"is'nn that such manufac-
turers shnll agree to the provisions OF
the beard. y being the object OF this
part OF .he bill 10 prevent monopoly in
tho .er.lli-e- business.
This corporation Is. of course, gov
ernmental corporation, and while il can
sue and be sued and do anything thx.
any other corporation can do. neverthe-
less. II Is under control OF the Govern
ment. IL will take three years before
the darr now in construction can be
completed. II win take ten years be-
fore the complete development OF the
power OF the river as now outlined in
the bill will be completed.
This hill will be before the commit
tee rext week with the offer OF all per-
sons who have made any proposition TO
buy or lease the Government property
of course all other propositions will be
set asidaS