Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-03
FORD'S ULT|MATU|N
ON SHOALS OFFER
GIVEN COMMITTEE
Detroit Manufacturer Insists
on Getting GorgaS Plant
and Asks That Congress
Vote on His Proposal e

WASHINGTON, June Henry
Ford presented a virtual ultinatun
on the question of disposition of Mus
Gle Shoals in giving to the house
military affairs committee today his
views on the model offer for the Ala
bama properties drafted by the COM
mittee
The Detroit manufacturer in a let.
ter laid before the committee by one
of his representatives, J. W. Worth
ington, declared he could not consent
to elimination of the Gorgas. Ala.
steam power plant from the proper
ties the government proposes to lease
or sell and in doing so declared that
if his revised offer is rejected then
I must understand that the accept
ance of my offer for Muscle Shoals
as a whole and not in part is re-
fused"
Mr.. Ford agreed to other modifica
tons of his offer as made by the
committee in it's model offer but said
he wanted the committee "to con-
slider this proposal Ghe one presented
by him today as final and that no
further changes should be expected
Asks Congress- Vote 49,
Request was made by the manl3.
facturer that the committee send his
final offer to the house for vote on
acceptance or rejection.
IF congress votes acceptance OF
my Offer" Mr.. Ford continued, I'VE
will get on the job at Muscle Shoals
at once: but if congress rejects It
that will be but the beginning of a
more determined effort on my part
to save Muscle Shoals for the benefit
of the public
Immediately upon receiving Mr..
Ford's letter the house COMMITTEES
went into executive session TO con-
slider it. Members would not forecast
what action would be taken but in
some quarters it was believed that
the committee finally would vote to
meet MIR. Fords demand as to pur-
chase of the Gorgas plant.
The remoditied offer was careful
iy studied by the committee but no
action was taken by that body when
it adjourned, to meet again tomor-
row with Mr.. Mayo and Mr.. Worth
ington, MI. Ford's representative.
Text of ReDly
The text of Mr.. Ford's reply fol-
lows:
II have carefully examined the
amendments made by your commit
tee to my proposal dated January
25, 1922, for the lease and purchase
of the governments Muscle Shoals
properties, and observe with surprise
and regret that you have rejected
that part of the modified proposal
relating to the governments Cor
gas steam plant.
1.-The greater portion Of the other
changes suggested by your commit
tee have been approved and are in
posal. More than d month ago Mr..
Mayo presented to me certain clarl-
fications in the proposal OF January
rs to which your committee desired
my agreement, which was promptly
given. Mr.. Mayo explained that
while some Of your committee were
tO'accept that part of my
offer which included the government
steam power plant at Gorgas, GER
tain other members of the commit
tee had requested him to ascer. in
If 1 would agree to accept an assign
ment and transfer by the United
States of everything now owned by
the government at Gorgas under its
contract of December l, 1917, with
the Alabama Power company, to
which | assented, and Mr.. Mayo
was instructed to advise your com.
mittee that the offer would be re-
vised accordingly. L have beel IN
formed that this revision was ac-
cepted by your committee, but later,
upon reconsideration, you decided to
the Gorgas plant.
Final Proposal
81 can not consent eliminate
sary to tn economical operation OF
the Muscle Shoals properties. If my
revised offer for Gorgas is rejected
then L must understand that the ac-
ceptance of my offer for MUSCLE
shoals as a whole and not in part
is refused.
81 am sending "a final proposal
all the amendments sug-
tnI INV L
can consistently agree. In doing %.
and in view IF the fact that my first
proposal was signed July 8, 1921,
nearly a year ago, and in order to
bring these negotiations to d close,
| ask that your com -llttee consider
this proposal as final, and that no
further changes should be expected.
l further request that your commit
tee send this final offer to the ] use
so that it's members may vote for
acceptance or rejection. This re-
ques ii made on the understands
ing that power to dispose of the
~ ITS at Muscle Shoals is vested in
The congress If the secretary of
to the first offer, did not have the
r. yer to acce, or reject it, you
vi probably agree that your COM
+ .ttee has not the over to accept
or reject. Moreover, l do not be-
ieve that your committee or az
member of it w,''.e5 to assume the
of accepting or re-
letting this final proposal, involving
IS it does matter of such great
r2tional Importance.
IF congress votes acceptance of
ny offer,>we viii get on the job at
Muscle Shoals at once; but if con-
gress rejects it, that will be but
he beginning of a more determined
effort on my part to save Muscle
shoals for the benefit of the public.
Il wish to thank you and each
1enah her of the comm iftna fnt. the