The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-26
HOUSE ACTION ON SHOALS SD!ELAYED n:..s. x SUMMER N -ae to Get Order of Prece- dence Through May De-
 lay Action Two
 Months
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

By HUGH ", ROBERTS
 Washington Bureau. The AEe-HeraId,
 800 Davidson Building.
 Washington, June 7b.--(spe-
 eial.)--Representati Mckenzie
 of Illinois, acting chairman of
 the House cosnmittee on miiitary
 affairs. has failed to secure at
 tke hands of the rules committee
 a special order giving precedence
 to the Muscle Shoals situation
 It Is generally agreed that the month of July shall be spent by House members In idleness-in three day recesses, in which a gentle mems agreement" will preclude tho possibility of any material action. In August. the House, in compliance with the request of President Hard Ing, will consider the ship subsidy bill. Thereafter there may be an op- portunity for the consideration of Muscle Shoals provided tho rules committee will give an order.
 On the Senate side. the situation Is not as far advanced as on the House side. The committee on agriculture, having closed its open sessions, is in executive session endeavoring to formulate a report. The odds seem to favor report of the bill of Chair man Norris providing for government operation. It is safe prediction. however. that the democratic mem bers will render a minority report In favor of accepting the bid of Henry Ford.
 House Action Queer
 The action of the House committee was singularly queer. Three reports were submitted. The first is known as the committee" report. It is really, the minority report. inas- much as only five members Of tho 21 sponsor it. The second Is known as the pro Ford" report. The third Is known as the .'anti Ford" report. Eight members signed each of these latter reports.
 The committees report Is indorsed by Chairman Kahn of California. Acting Chairman Mckenzie, of Inf nois; Representatives Greene of Yer mont, Hull of Iowa. and Miller of Washington. All are republicans. and are the ranking republican mem bers of the committee.
 The pro Ford report is indorsed by the six democratic members of the committee, Representatives Fields of Kentucky, Wright of Georgia. Quin of Mississlppi, Fisher of Tennessee. Stoll Of South Carolina, and Garrett of' Texas, and by two republican members. James of Michigan and Wurzbach of Texas. The latter. while republican. Is southern James while republican, Is Mich igander, and knows the popularity of Ford In Michigan.
 The "anti- Ford report Is indorsed by eight republicans, all of whom reside in the eastern section of the country, where the organized farmer Is regarded as not 30 formidable The eight are Representatives Kearns of Ohio, Morin and Crago of Penn sylvanla. Parker of New Jersey, crowther of New York Ransley of Pennsylvania, Hill of Maryland, and Frothingham of Massachusetts.
 Terms of Reports
 The pro Ford" report would give to Ford Muscle Shoals on the terms
 
 ty, including the Gorgas steam plant of the Alabama Power company, for $S,0Oo o0c, the lease period to be loo years.
 The "anti-Ford" report would give to Ford nothing at all. It is highly critical of the terms offered by Ford. It alleges deception and hypocrisy. By organized farmers 1t is~regarded az highly "offensive."
 The "committee" report is com promise. It would give to Ford all that he asks save the Gorgas steam plant. As Ford has stated that he must have the Gorgas steam plant or nothing. the report. as matter of fact, represents rejection of the Ford offer.
 This report takes the position thas the government entered into a con- tract to sell it's interest In Gorgas to the Alabama Power company and that the government could no more repudiate this contract than ittcould in honor repudiate any other. The report takes the position that the government would be doubly repre- hensible were 1t to hide behind legal technicality in vitiating its sol emn agreement.