The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-09
REPORT URGES
SHOALS OFFER
Be ACCEPTED
Three Separate Reports Made
to Congress Setting Forth
Recommendations Regard
ing Private Development.
FAVOR FORD PROPOSAL
tBv Associated Pressl


(By Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON. June 9.-Three sep
arate reports setting forth recommen-
dations for action by congress with
respect to private development Of the
governments s1O6.O00,000 power and
nitrate projects at Muscle Shoals,
Ala, were made to the house today by
members of the military committee.
The task of making final decision is
admitted in each of the reports to be
the duty of the full membership OF
the house at any early date, but rec
ommendation to that end, submitted
after four months of continuous con-
sideration by the committee, differ in
important respects as they are pre-
sented in the documents
Acting Chairman Mckenzie. of H.
linois, who drafted the majority re-
port, declared at the outset of that
document that the Ford proposal was
the only one found worthy of serious
consideration" and asks its accept
ance by the house, provided, however.
that the Gorgas steam plant is not in
cluded among the projects to be dis
posed of at Muscle Shoals.
Concurrence il the majority report.
except for the references made with
respect to the Gorgas plant, is voiced
in one of the minority opinions pre-
sented by Representative Wright,
Democrat, Georgia, and supported by
Representative James, Republican, OF
Michigan. and the remaining Demo
cratic members. They ask full COM
pliance by the house with all proyi-
sions of the Ford proposal, including
the Gorgas property, and point out
the belief that If congress eliminates
the Gorgas unit it would defeat the
Ford offer,
Urges Modification
In the third report submitted by
Representative Parker, Republican.
New Jersey, and signed by Representa-
+ tive Forthingham, Republican, Massa-
chusetts, the opinion is adverse to the
acceptance of Mr.. Ford's offer unless
: 1t is modified in other sections than
l that dealing with Gorgas. In the
! event Mr.. Ford declines to agree to
: the notifications proposed the sign
! ers would have the secretary of war
: lease the dams and nitrate plants ION
p | such terms as will secure the compile
tion of the DAMS" and would authorize
him to settle the fair value of the
Gorgas plant and convey the same TO
the Alabama power company"
III After the presentation of documents
/ supplied the committee during its de-
: liberations by Secretary Weeks and
r other war department officers, Mr.
o Mckenzie in the majority report says:
"a glance at the figures set forth
; will disclose the fact that up to date
: the government has expended upon
= this colossal undertaking something
= over s106.O00,000 approximately $4,000.
= 600 Of which was expended upon the
. Gorgas steam plant and transmission
y line"
Names Courses Open
He then asks what congress can do
to solve the problem, develop tho pro.
jects for the national good and stop
I the tremendous losses TO tho govern
1 ment caused by idleness and deteriora-
: tion of the property damage
Money Consideration
: The majority report calls attention
II to the money considerations. saying,
+, 'We think 1t only fair to say that when
u one takes into consideration the mag
p nificent plant 10 be turned ever to Mr.
a. Ford and the millions of dollars worth
q Of other property in connection with
IT this project, surely the sum of $5,000..
600 is mere bagatelle"
committee, the report continues. con
vinces it that the money consideration
II "is not the vital one, but il is the con
:; tinuing considerations to be perform
- ed by Mr.. Ford and his company over
- a long period of 100 years which gives
- his proposal its merit and caused the
= committee to give it the serious con-
=, sideration resulting in the adoption of
: his proposal except in so far as It in
= cludes the Gorgas plant.
- In conclusion the majority report
~ says: Action by congress is impera-
= tive. and immediate action means
- economy if such action wisely pro
= vides for such disposition as will in.
sure an income for the government
and not a continuous outlay"
J Two courses are open" it adds
Y zone government ownership and oper
alton, which, in view of the character
n of the project, would in the iudgment
Of the majority of the committed
ne mean not only failure from the stand
a point Of income, but disaster to the
he hopes Of the farmers and other user
n of commercial fertilizers. To have tn
s, government undertake and engage il
the manufacture of fertilizer ingredi
ents with political superintendents
81 foremen and straw bosses is unthink
66 able, and to undertake such scheme
would be unspeakable folly.
S5 Alternative Course
in THE alternative course is to sell the
lis tangible property TO private individ
m uals or to a corporation on condition:
,ol prescribed by congress, lease tht
ed power at fair rental and permit in
I'D dividual American initiative and in
er genuity to have an opportunity at thi!
so place, where the greatest water powel
he in our country can be developed, re
sr- quiring a preservation of the elemen
of national defense and at the SAM
es time giving an opportunity for relic
to- if such there can be, TO not only tn,
al southland but our entire country il
the way Of commercial fertilizer a
reasonable prices"
The Ford proposal the report con
cludes "is the only proposition mad
by any one that even gives ground 10
hope and his offer Is not entirely FIRE