Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-03
FINAL ACCEPTANCE
BY COMMITTEE
is BELIEVED LIKELY
during the negotiations of the pas
zee months.
Continued from Page y


t ee months.
VERY truly yours,
"HENRY FORE."
The war secretary declared that
it was improbable that results would
be attained if congress continued it's
discussion of proposals to take over
the Tennessee river project, and told
the committee that as a business
proposition the chances of getting
definite results through the present
agreement were tar removed" He
added that congress could reserve
the right to approve or reject the
contracts entered into.
Informed by Chairman Norris thar
he expected to offer an amendmer.
to the annual war department appro
priation bill setting aside $500 900
for continuation of work on dam No
., Mr.. Weeks asked thet there be
included in the amendment authorit,
FOR the secretary of war to negotiate
a contract for the work Otherwise.
he said, the work would have to b.
done by the war department, where.
as it could be done cheaper and more
quickly if handled by contract. Sen
ator Norris, after the hearing, pre-
sented his amendment to the senate
but with out the authorization sug.
GeGted.
Dufing the discussion of Mr..
Weeks suggestion, Senator McI<in-
ley. Republican, Illinois, said the al"
thori-y sought to negotiate offers for
the properties could be provided b.!
joint resolution (which would at
thOriZe the secretary OF war"
Reason for Suggestion
''Please do not assume that I am
seeking the job for the war depart,
ment," Mr.. Weeks interrupted. 81
do not want it. [ make the sugges
ton as a helpful one and not in the
way of criticism of congress. l do
know and you realize it, too, that
congress is not an administrative
body. I urge, therefore, that power
be given to some one to negotiate"
Mr.. Weeks told the committee that
the government by such a, plan could
specify the things that it would IL.
gist that its contract embrace and
could seek the best bid under thoG-
conditions.
II have always believed" the wa
secretary continued, that this power
project was one that should be han
| died and developed for the best in
! terests Of the community as well as
| the government and that full conSld
GRAFTON should be given for the fu-
ture. The problem should be solved
and solved in that way only. L d!
not believe congress has proceeded
| exactly along that line although its
| i,,Iv TO n CO
| The very nature of the case precluC'
ed it and so l believe that to get
prompt and beneficial results, the
authority to negotiate the instruments
should be given"
The war secretary renewed his OBJ
iectionS to the lease of the pro1ef
to Ford for 100 years as provided IN
the Ford offer.
AS for the fertilizer provisions MI
Weeks asserted that phase iot the
! Ford offer also was open to some
question. He said he had asked Mr.
| Ford the definite Question whether
| he would guarantee to manufacture
fertilizer and that Mr.. Ford replied
he would not unless the operation
could be performed at profit. He
said further that Mr.. Ford was asked
| if he would cancel the contract IN
event no further fertilizer were pro
| duced and was given negative an
| sWer.
Opposes 1OO-Year Lease
Speaking with reference to the
! 1OO-year proposal, Mr.. Weeks sale
! that the government had fixed pol
| lev of fifty years for other water
! power leases and he thought it un
wise to change it.
Mr.. Weeks said he had inquired
whether Mr.. Ford would agree tt
put a definite sum of money into the
project and was informed by the
! Detroit mans engineers that no as
| surances could be given. The wal
/ secretary also called attention thai
the Ford offer would make the prop
critics tax free and both state anC
national government would lose or
that feature.
The community around the pro
posed development seemed to believe
| Mr.. Weeks said, that the Ford offer
meant a great industrial develop
ment. He believed, he added, thai
such a sentiment was based entire
ly on Mr.. Ford's name and his repu
tation, adding that eventually the
property would have to be HANDLED
by the estate of any man who takes
a lease now.
Replying to questions, the seer
tary expressed the opinion that dan
No. ought to be completed and /
would be to the interest of the gov
eminent to do that.
When mention was made of news
dispatches to the effect that Mr.. Fore
would not permit elimination Of the
Gorgas steam r;ant, Mr.. Weeks sale
| he could see no reason why For(
wanted it.
The Ford offer does not show tina
i wolves the steam pant at ALL
he said His proposal does not re
quire the Gorgas project for thu
manufacture of fertilizer and 1 see
no reason why he should insist tina
! the property be ncluded.'
Suggestions that congress author
ize some federal agents to negotiate
contracts for the lease, sale or de
velopment of the Muscle Shoals pow
err project rather than attempt tt
continue the negotiations itself, were
made by Secretary Weeks today, be
fore the senate agriculture commit
tee.