South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-03
Weeks Tells Congress Acceptance of
Ford Offer Would GiUe Ford Benefit
OF Government Funds for 100 Years

r. Associated Press
Fords proposal for the government
projects 1T Muscle shoals. Ala, was
subui-ed Thursday 90 congress oy
secy Weeks for "Tuch action az con-
rress may deem appropriate 1.-THE
only suggestion contained in the let-
ter of transmission related % spe-
cidc clauses in tho contracL and the
doslrabuty of amendments which
would. gu the event the proposal be
accepted by congress. further safe
guard the government interest
I'm the event ST. Ford's proposal
e. accented" eccy Weeks declared,
s.the government must make new APP
proprialons amounting 70 10000
900 20 $4,000. 600 o. which Mr.. Ford
WIZ have the benefit for approx
rnateIy 100 years al per cent
Tn che event the offer bc rejected.
the secretary said. 10 vas his 'opin-
Son THAI dam $50. q lWisou damn
paould De completed by the govern
rrent aud chat the power require
ruents for commercial purposes, the
benefits 90 navigation 80 Wei as the
possible needs or tho gOverum nj,
world warrant this expenditure
III thls were DONE he continues,
'fhe government may itself under
take 20 cell the prOdlc, 90 the best
advantage. Iu E1ch case the amount
~ the governments present pro-
posed Investment would be very ma
teriauv reduced because Dam No. 8
costing from 100000 90 $4,000
600 would not Dee built and BE- would
not be Necessary 90 make the full
Installation Of power plant on the
Wilson dam until the market re-
uuired such an Installation
This partial installation" the SEQ
retary explains would effect a saw
irE or present investment en- at least
the sum of $4,000 900, leaving, ac-
cording 30 The chief OF engineers es-
innate. not TO exceed So 100000 &c
bs invested 10y the government al
This time instead OF 100000 tC
s5O.OO0.O00."
Unemployment "A Factor
The question OF unemployment 8,
recognized as a factor to be con
sfdored by congress in conn eCtlor
with it's treatment Of the Muscle
Shoals question
"At this time" the secretary
points out. when there IS a larg,
amount or unemployment II IS with
out Importance 10 consider the ad
vantage to the nation Of the EN-
ployment OF the large amount o
Il Iii "a
development 7, therefore. urge tina
congress give early consideration q
the matter.
'~The secretary explains his actor
in sending the offer 70 congress %,
declaring he is without auth ority A
law 90 accept Mr.. Ford's OFFER. III
points out the necessity for de
termiuing whether the advantage
10 tho Government In having nitrate
plant No. ma intaincd I'm readiness
FOR the manufacture Of explosive
and in actual production OF fertil
fzer. together with the improvement
10 navigation, IS OF great importanc
TO be worked out he said.
4 believe Il would he better pol
me contract to a term OF so year
(instead OF 1000 10 conform with tn
Established policy Of the federal gov
eminent as set out I'm the waite
power act"
The secretary also suggested
modification by congress Of the pro
posal co that in the event the op
Grating company to be created faile.
TO carry out performance Of the con
tract. some penalty would be i'm
posed for such failure.
Secy Weeks outlined TO congress
the voluminous offer By Mr.. Ford /
this way
mir. Ford offers 20 undertake Oh
completion Of Dam no. and tn
construction OF Dam no. 3. accord
ing 20 the government's plans, 70
which he shall be reimbursed tho aC