Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-05-18
FOR .. S. CONTROL Of SHOALS
Baltimore Engineer Asks Hearing
When He Submits Tentative Pro-
posal For The Lease OF Plant


Washington developments IN
congressional consideration OF propos'
ais for developing the Muscle Shoals
Ala, nitrate and power project occur
red in the senate agriculture and
house military committees and on the
senate floor.
Chairman Norris, Nebraska, Of the
senate committee. introduced a bill
providing for semigovernment cor
poration to take over and operate the
nitrate and power projects for fifty
years. The measure was drafted by
James T. Lloyd, formed representative
from Missouri, and submitted by J.
H. lowering, consulted engineer Of
Los Angeles, CAL, as modification
Of the bill Senator Norris recently in
troduced.
The Nebraska senator also made
public, tentative proposal received
from Z. Stern, Baltimore, Nd, con
suiting engineer, and manufacturer OIL
chemical products. Mr.. Stern's let
ter Of transmission requested the com
mittee to hear him at his convenience
and said the formal tender would be
made later, the committee deciding
Informally to accede to the request
and grant Mr.. Stern hearing.
The tentative offer of Mr.. Stern pro
vided for the operation Of the nitrate
and power projects for period oil
rs or 80 years or any suitable number
of years that might be determined
upon. L further stated that all e.
psnSes incS BY th' goTerAmtnt al
Muscle sLsal: yo.!S /. Is. g. -. e /
at the rate OF 2 p5r cent anhua..'
and contained provision by which
the government would receive so re-
cent of all net profit made during
the operation, with the lessees retain
ing 40 per cent.
In the house committee an agree
ment was reached by which any lessee
OF the shoals properties would be com
PEELED to manufacture finished ferti
lizers whether at profit or los:
throughout the term of his operations
whether 1t be fifty or one hundred
| years. An amendment to this effec
was made to the bill the committee
is formulating for the house in con
nection with its report on the various
| proposals it has investigated.
Wide differences Of opinion are un
derstood to prevail in the committed
over the provisions Of the offer mad
by Henry Ford which are being dis
cussed as the basis for the measure
| under construction, 1t was believes
possible that the committeeman woult
be divided into three faction whel
the discussions were ended and al
many difference recommendation
would be made to the house.
The senate agricultural body hear,
Benjamin c. Marsh, managing directo
| of the farmers national council, ties
tify. He said the council was OF
posed to the Ford proposal or any otl
er that deprived the government {
control and operation of the project
at Muscle Shoals.
The bill introduced recently by Sci
ator Norris, the witness believes, wa
I fundamentally sound and he recon
mended that legislation of simila
sort be enacted.
The bill drafted by Mr.. Lloyd 70
lowed the description which the agr
culture committee heard recently
general language 1t would create
S5.000,000 corporation, headed by Sc
en- directors to be appointed by IL
president, three being officials of Il
war, treasury and agriculture depal
lments.