Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-14

The decision to forward the three
offers to the legislative branch of the
government, it was stated. was reached
after consideration of the question by
executive officials lasting more than
six months.
1t was said the department officers
lacked authority TO take final action
and were compelled to refer the Muscle
Shoals offer to congress.
Contract Going to Congress
Actual transmission of the proposals
was> not expected for at least TIVE
weeks IT was explained that the Ford
proposal first would be drafted in con-
tract form by law officers of the wal
department and be submitted to Mr..
Ford for his signature before it was
submitted to congress.
While the legal departments are
working on the contract form. it was
stated. Secretary Weeks would prepare
a report for congress containing com
ments'' for their information.
What my comments are, the secre-
tary said, will appear when send
the offer to congress which will be as
soon as the papers arc prepared
Charges Hostile Siush Fund
Ford, accompanied by William b.
May. legal advisor, arrived Friday
from Detroit
Ford told Representative Bankhead.
of Alabama, and other house members
who called on him soon after he ar
rived, that he was very confident of
reaching an agreement with the gov
ernment.
If l can't prove to the people that
my lease of Muscle Shoals won't cost
VT h
to do with it, Mr. Ford told news
paper men. He added that somebody is
spending money to defeat the offer
The Detroit manufacturer said that
il his offer was accepted he would
make Muscle Shoals an object lesson
for the people of the country proving
to them that tremendous economics
could be effected by means of the ma
tons waterways.
Vast Vision of Development
Twenty dams could be constructed
on the Mississippi between st. Louis
aud the delta. Ford said, whic hwould
heat. light and cook for millions of
families. the power developed being
sold for enough to repay the govern
ment fer the cost of construction. as
well as giving the nation highly val
liable navigation Improvement.
The government could do the work
with federal prisoners and wipe out the
original cost he said.
Ford suggested that currency could
be issued instead of bonds to finance
the work when it was begun and could
either remain in circulation after
wards or be withdrawn by the govern
ment
That idea could be applied to Mus
Gle Shoals. As soon as we can get
that matter settled, we are going af
ter water power production in the Mis-
sissippi valley and show the people it
can be done. Muscle Shoals will be
the great object lesson.
Mr.. Ford expressed the hope that
Fridays conference would be the last
consideration of his offer foiAthe pur-
chase and lease of Muscle Shoals be-
fore Secretary Weeks made his report
to congress.
Insists on i00-Year Lease
Secretary Weeks said he was disap-
pointed in that Mr.. Ford declined to
agree to certain notifications of his
plans which were held desirable by his
conferees. One Of these was known
to be that affecting the reduction of
the 1OO-year lease period. The prin-
.
Ford was that guaranteeing payment
annually Of per cent interest on the
cost of construction of dams Nos. .
and 3, regardless of the cost, whereas
at first he offers interest only on
$2SOOO,O00.
1t was explained that Mr.. Ford's
refusal to accept the modification pro-
posed for reduction of the 100-year
term probably would give congress an
added task in connection with its con-
sideration of the offer, Existing laws
regulating lease of properties possessed
by the federal government, it was ex-
planned. limit the period Of maximum
lease to less than a century and cou-
gress probably would have to modify
the statutes in the event it decided TO
accept the Ford proposal.
viii Become Congressional Issue y
Mr.. Ford, however, was said to be
unwilling to agree to a shorter time,