Evening star., 1922-03-15
POWER COMPANY
SCORED IN DEBATE
Alabama Concern Accused of
Taking Advantage Of U. S.
During War.
By the Associa ted Press.


BIRMINGHAM. Al~. March 15.-
Charging that the Alabama Power
Company took adSartage of the gov
ernment in time 81 peril in the con-
tract executed Tor construction Of
additional units far furnishing power
to the government during the war.
Representative W. B. Oliver, in de-
bate before the League of Woman
Voters here, bitterly assailed the
power company's offer for Muscle
Shoals and enthusiastically indorsed
Henry Ford as the logical man for
the development Of the great indus
trial project
w. Logan Martin, general counsel
for the Alabama Power Company.
opened the defense of the Gorgas
with the representative declared that
the company which he represents has
committed not one single act which
strips the contract of a single virtue.
Mr.. Martin challenged his adversary
to point to one single act of his COM
pany which was not in due form.
without repeating what he had heard
from the many critics of the power
company" but the cold facts in the
case.
THAT challenge is reciprocal"
shouted Mr.. Oliver. in reply.
Power Cost Cut.
Mr.. Martin reviewed the history of
the government contract and told his
hearers that from the beginning Of
the operations of the power plant
horsepower in the state was distribut-
ed to consumers at $72 per year in
1907, and after the company had been
in the market for three years this
cost was reduced to SCI. and asked
his hearers if this was what could be
construed as an effort OF the com
pany to create and maintain a monop-
oily.
During the war, Mr.. Martin charged.
Henry Ford, who was his chief CEN
ter of attack. entered into a contract
with the government to construct
each was more than $4,000, and the
government appropriated $2.5o0.00o.
which, he charge, was used chiefly to
improve Ford's swampland properties.
which otherwise would have been
worthless"
In answer to Mr.. Martins remarks
| concerning the government contract,
| Mr.. Oliver characterized them as "a
! rather remarkable presentation OF
wonderful accomplishments" on the
part Of the company to keep 1alth
with the government.
I'm 1916 it was rather dangerous for
the Alabama Power Company's aame
| to even be mentioned in connection
with the development of the Tennes-
see river" Mr.. olivs- stated. Nv
what position the Alabama Power
Company takes in the development OF
the waterway rights Of this Sec-lon,
and I'll say right at this 1uncturs
that not only here in Alabama but
all over the country where the com,
lS hx-
has the hand Of authority been long
turned against any activities which
they have undertaken to contro'
waterways rights.
Broadens His Attack.
| Mr.. Oliver declared that the ofer
| Of the Alabama Power Company
| would never materialize in Congress.
The bid of the power company @ for
the Muscle Shoals properties. MI
oliver maintained, is merely an ex.
cuse of having something to offer.
ut might servo as an excuse, he
declared, "but it will never serve a
purpose. for it shall never be-"
Referring to Secretary Weeks Mr
Oliver said:
LET me assure you that he comes
| from that section OF the -countr!
! where monopoly knows no bounds, and
| while the matter of the Muscle Shoals
offer was engaging the attention OF
our. people the nation over we find
him in New York abusing members
Of Congress in matters of legislation
| which are of no Importance to him or
to the nation
Here the representative ranged his
attack on Col. Joyes. who negotiated
the government contract with the
power company in the Gorgas steam
plant construction. I'VE find that
somebody in the ordnance depart
ment of the Army is either grossly
ignorant or has been overreached,"
he said.