Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-28
F0RD'S RIVAL.
GIVEN HEARING
IN COMM 7 TEE"
Offer of Alabama Pow
er Company Will Be
Put Under Limelight.
Concern 5 Officials In
sist That Government
Live Up to Contract.

Washington, Feb 27--By The As
sociated Press. THE Ford offer for
purchase and lease of the government
war projected properties at Muscle
Shoals. Ala. was temporarily side
tracked Monday by the house military
committee, after almost three weeks
continuous investigation and the way
was cleared to begin consideration OF
the rival proposal for the same prop
critics submitted by the Alabama Pow
er company.
At the same time Chairman Kahn
said the committee hoped to dispose
by the end of the week of all hear
ings on offers before it. including
those from Mr. Ford, the Alabama
Power company and Frederick Eng
strum, and begin work next week on
preparing a report for the house, re-
citing the committees opinions on the
various proposals it will have studied.
Contract to Purchase
The decision to begin the examina-
ton of the power company's offer was
reached when Hubert Dent, of Ala
bama, former chairman of the house
military committee, acting chief coun-
sci for the Alabama concern, and
Thomas ". Martin, president Of the
company, concluded arguments in
which they strongly defended the opin
ion claimed by the company for ex-
elusive rights to purchase the Warrior
steam plant, contained in the contract
signed with the war department.
While the power company omitted
- to Ia
for the manufacture of fertilizer or
tho operation of nitrate plants Nos. 1
and ?, it was understood that its Off
cials had received information from
independent interests indicating that
they would ask the government for
lease of the plants for use in CONNER
cial fertilizer production.
Concerns New Capital
1t was pointed out that this enter
prise would be established by new cap
ital from American sources and be en-
tirely independent Of the power com
pany or existing fertilizer producers,
in the event the Alabama company's
offer was accepted by congress and
power would be made available for op-
Grafton of the plants under the terms
of the bids.
Senate hearings or war contracts
negotiated by the war department and
investigated by congress. were read
into the record by Mr. Dent to show
that in agreeing to purchase the War
rior plant at Il fair value" or COM
pelling the government to remove the
plant from the privately owned
grounds of the Alabama Power COM
pany. that concern had done ,othing
more than Henry Ford had IN con-
tracing to make eagle boats for the
government during the war.
Mr. Dent explained that the plants
used for boat construction in Michi-
gan were built by the government on
Mr.. Ford's property with the under
standing stipulated in contract form
that the buildings would be removed
unless they were purchased by the
Detroit manufacturer.
Insist Upon Compliance
Both Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Dent in
sisted that the governm ent should dis
charge its obligations with respect to
the Warrior plant and repeatedly de-
clared the company's willingness to
purchase it at Il fair price or what
ever price board Of arbitrators might
agree upon. They were equally as
nsistent, however, that the govern
nent should not 'violate the contract,
condemn the property in question and
deliver to Mr.. Ford" and intimated
that the company would oppose any
such effort through every known pro-
,edure under the law.