Evening star., 1922-02-15
FORD OFFER FAVORED.
Mr.. Wallace Approves IL Its
Terms Are Definite and Binding.

VSTnB are oSu1aaCo oaio 0AAA>~Ao'
Henry C. Wallace, Secretary OF Ag-
riculture, looks with favor" upon
Henry Fords offer for purchase and
lease of the governments nitrate
and water-power projects at Muscle
Shoals, Ala, IF it's terms are suffi-
cfently definite and binding to make
sure the plant will be operated con-
tinuously for the manufacture OF Ter
tilizer."
DR.. Richard C. Tolman. director Of
the rixed nitrogen research laboratory
of the department., announced the Sec
retary's position with regard to tire
Ford offer In an authorized statement
which he read yesterday before the
House military committee. The Sec
re.ary's views as expressed sy .ne
as he had outlined. the proposal would
result in making available q con-
siderably increased supply OF ferti-
lizer in time of peace and give us as
surance of adequate supplies of ex-
plosives in case of need.
Statement Follows Mayo Eviae.ee.
The statement was read by Dr.. Toll
man after the committees had COM
niefed an examination lasting moro
than five hours OF w. 3. Mayo, cntef
engineer and personal representative
Of Henry Ford. Mr.. Mayo testimony
included repeated statements that
Ar. Ford. intended to manufacture
fertilizers in their completed forms
az the maximum capacity OF the
Muscle Shoals plant and would make
every effort to manufacture them at
a minimum cost to the farmers, using
every known formula ana working
his chemists meanWhale 10 oScosef
improved methods.
~ q. Mayo, chief engineer and
spokesrnan for Henry Ford. yesterday
noti,ied the House military committee
investigating the Ford oner tor put-
chase and lease Of the Muscle Shoals,
that MI Ford had made the best
Offer he could"
The statement was accepted 6y tne
committee as reafirming Mr. Mayos
declaration Of the day before that Nr
Ford would not accept any matsrlai
posed plan and Congress could ac-
cept it as rendered or reject it with
out disappointing the Detroit manu-
facturer.
Faces Rapsa-Fire Qnestioas.
The Investigation was continued yes.
terxlay, with Mr.. Mayo. as the pr1ncipei
witness, facing q rapid-fre interro-
cation by Representative Miner; re-
publican, Washington, who said ne
intended to show where the govern
rf,ent gets of In this deal"
.1One item Of considerable size,
Nr. Miller said, will be the $1.60e.6ee
interest charged in the two years re-
ouired to complete desn No. and
Construct dam No. Q. The $e0.0oo,o0e
to be used for this work must be
raised by bonds, probably at per
cent interest. We cannot load the
taxpayers by taking 1t from the Treas
ury."
constructed within q two-yeAr period.
Tennesseans 70 Ne Heard.
while the House committee pro-
ceeded with its hearing the Senate
has the Ford offer pending before II.
decided to hear tomorrow q desega-
tion Of Tennessee citizens, headed by
GOV. Taylor, who are to appear to-
morrow before the House committee.
Sentiment on the question-of hold
ing extended hearings appeared df-
ytded in the Senate committee and
the matter was left open until after
the hearing tomorrow. The commit
tee at that time may also decide
whether to send q subcommittee to
critics.
In response to q question as to
what MIR Ford's intentfons were with
reference to supplying the agr1cul-
turai needs OF the country. Mr.. Mayo
said:
ut has been his. dream to make
fer4tlizeEsp so low that EVERY eody1
can use all he wants. He also hopes
to make raw materials at lower
price for tractors and trucks eo4
thus reduce their costA