The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-02
POWER COMPANY WILL FIGHT ID
 LAST, SAYS DENT
Committees Make Little Prog. ress in Considering Various Offers for Muscle
 Shoals
By Associated Press

" dSni tont March l.-Iittle prog ress was made in Congress today by committees engaged in the consid- eration of proposals from private en- terprises for the completion. opera ton, lease and purchase of the gov- ernments projects at Muscle Shoals
 The Senate agricultural committee still was unable to reach a decision on the question of how many sena- tors will visit the shoals territory or when they will go. A canvas is being made by Chairman Norris to ascertain the number of applicants Tor the trip, but there is considered to be little prospect of determining date so the number should be as- certained at an early date.
 senator Lodge, the republican leader, requested the chairman to delay the trip temporarily so as not to lnterefere with Senate considera- ton of the treaties which grew out of the armament conference The absence of 45 members. the approxi- mate number who have expressed q desire to see the Alabama projects. would compel the Senate to discon- tinue it's business, it was said.
 It was suggested as possible that a compromise plan might be worked out which would permit the senators to go in small groups. rotating be- tween Washington and Alabama and aeee emmodating the wishes of all without affecting the conduct of business in tho Senate. In that event, 1t was said. small group probably would leave about March or 10.
 Only One Meeting
 Only a forenoon meeting was held today by the House military commit tee on the proposals submitted by Henry Ford for purchase and lease of the shoals property. This was en- tirely given over to legal discussion between Hubert Dent, chief counsel for the Alabama Power company, and Representative oliver, democrat, Alabama, as to the legality of the contract held by the company, giving 1t the exclusive right to purchase the steam power plant at Warrior in event the government should dispose of it's interests there.
 Mir. Dent and Representative Oliver were unable to agree on interpr ta- tion of laws regulating the condem- nation of private lands. covering such questions as whether they gave the courts or Legislative bodies decisive authority ii such cases and wnetner officers of the ordnance bureau of the war department had authority 10 sign contracts like that negotiated with the power company.
 Will Fight to End
 The power company's attorney however. gave the committee to un- derstand that if Congress passed an act condemning the oompany's land and interests in the Warrior unit on the ground that they were needed for the public service in connection with a national project, the company would take it's fight to the courts as defendants in the case and battle to the last to protect it's rights. Mir. Dent declared Congress would never be able to accept the Ford offer as long as it included the clause re- quiring the government to give Mir. Ford clear titles to the power com pany's property at Warrior.
 The committee adjourned at the conclusion of the discussion until to- morrow in order that its members might attend the House session where bills in which they were in- terested were being considered for passage. Thomas W. Martin. presi dent of the power company, was scheduled to continue tomorrow his explanation of the offer the company has made for purchase of the War rior plant and accessories, including the completion of the Wilson dam which was sidetracked today by the legal debates of Messrs. Dent and Oliver.
 Mayo Expected Today
 W B. Mayo, chief engineer for Mir. Ford was delayed Tn returning from Detroit today, but wa sexpecte6 to arrive tomorrow to give the com mittee, at its convenience, the alter ations Mir Ford is said to have agreed to make in his offer The committees plan was to hear MT Mayo as soon as the power company spokesmen had concluded their state ments with reference to that pro- posal.
 Although Chairman Kahn and other committeeman had hoped to conclude consideration of all the of- fers before them respecting the Mus cle Shoals project this week, it be- came increasingly apparent today that the investigations would be con tinued into next week. The calendar showed requests for further hearings from the power company offlcia4s and Mir. Mayo before investigating the Ford and Alabama Power com pany offers could be concluded, after which the proposal made by Fred erick Engstrum oI Wilmington, N' C., was to be taken up.
 With only two working days re- maining this week, inasmuch as the committee has decided against meet ings on Saturday, members realized they could not conclude the task be- fore them in the time they previous