The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-18
SHOALS COMMITTEE ID BEGIN BOILING DO WN TOMORROW
Will Seek to Reach 0utstand- ing Features of Each of i Four Proposals For
 Shoals Project ]
By Associated Press

Washington, April 17.-Members o1 the House military committee con- eluded today their first exchange od individual opinions on the four privw ate proposals for developing the gov~ ernment's projects at Muscle Shoals, and adjourned until Wednesday. At that time. 1t was announced by Chair man Kahn, the committee will begin boiling down testimony heard during the investigation of tho offers to reach the outstanding features og each proposal to be considered as a part of tho report to be drafted fou the House. |
 Sentiment among committeeman, se was said. had not yet reached tha stage of concreteness where any of the existing proposals had recefved preferential consideration.
 While hopeful that the final ens deavor of the committee to report. n. constructive program for development of Muscle Shoals to the House. would receive the full approval Of tho sI members on the committee, Chairman Kahn said he was unable to predict what the final decision would be or which of the existing offers now under consideration would be recom- mended in whole or in part.
 Tt Is too early to predict what ac- ton the committee will recommend to Congress" he said.
 will Ask Notifications
 Members who attended tho execu- tive committee sessions while the ex- change of the opinions was in prog ress said today the indications were that important notifications in the existing offers probably would be in- sisted upon by the committee before 1t submitted a report to the house. None of the proposals. it was explain- ed, was entirely acceptable to the committee, if the opinions already voiced by the members could be ao~s rspted as retiecting ths attitude of tho 21 members.
 A strong insistence prevailed among the committeeman that the proposal of Henry Ford should be modified so as to eliminate the steam plant at Gorgas from the properties he pro- poses to purchase and lease. 1t was said. Another point in that offer not altogether satisfactory, according to some members. was the 1oo-year lease period. A reduction to 50 years waA preferred by several members-
 After the boiling down of evidenca has been completed in the committees 1t is probable that Chairman Kahn will request the selection of a sub- committee for working out the de- tails of the report.
 To Recall Bidders.
 The present plans involves the rs~ calling of each of the bidders after the subcommittee has completed the report.
 "It would serve no purpose Mir. Kahn said, "to make q report to the House which is not acceptable to those who have made the offers. We want them to appear and approve the report before 1t is submitted"
 The senate agriculture committee held it's first actual examination to- day of the offers pending before 1t for investigation. Thomas W. Mar tin, president of the Alabama Power company, was called and presented the offer made by the power company for it's development of the power projects in tho Muscle Shoafs terrt- tory.
 After session of one hour and half, the committee adjourned to con- tinue It's study of the power cons pany's proposal tomorrow. Mfr. Mar- tin was able to make little progress in the time allowed today and 1t was estimated that he would continue on the stand several days to complete his statement unless the committee extended it's sessions to the after- moons.