The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-06
FUND FOR WILSON DAM IS APPROVED
 BY SENATE BODY
Harrison Says Friends of Project Now Have Bird in Hand-Hearing to Be
 Extended
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau. The Age-HeraId.
 500 Davidson Building.

bOO Davidson ButldinEs
 Washington, April 5.-(Special.) Henry Ford will make no important changes in his pending offer for the governments $10O, ,0O0,0OO properties at Muscle Shoals.
 It is understood that w. B. Mayo and J. w. Worthington. agents of the Detroit manufacturer. so in- formed Senator Underwood this aft ernoon.
 In the opinion of certain important members of the House committee on military affairs. this attitude on the part of Ford will handicap the Ford offer to such extent that 1t will be to put it through the com mittee. Even if the committee re- ports that offer Representatives stol of South Carolina and Hull of Iowa declare that it would fail of passage in the House.
 It was the impression yesterday that Mir. Mayo on arrival would agree to eliminate from the proposed Ford contract the necessity of the, govern ment turning over 10 ,.e Detroit manufacturer tn, governments steam plant at Gorgas, on which the Ala bama Power company has an option. The fact that the House commlttse regards the option the AiaDatnii Power company as a moral oblig@- ton on the part of the s.governmsnt has always been the chick handjeslt2'' in the path of the Ford offeYsr Tns committee. as result of its Aiabama visit, is said to be of the oplnior taat the Gorgas plant Is not essenl.ai eo the Ford scheme of ultimate devvI0p- ment.
 Hear Amendments
 The House committee wlfl go into executive session Monday and will give hearings to any bidder wnv might desire to amend his bid. The indications are that In consequence of the deterf1iinatiou of Ford to stand pat, no bidder Will appear. The Ala bama Power company, representa- tives of which, Thomas w. Martin. president; R. A. Mitchell. vice presi- dent. and s. II. Dent, Jr., counsel. reached Washington today has no changes to suggest respecting It's offer, 1t Is stated.
 
 great activity. The committee
 on agriculture and forestry uDan-
 imousiy agreed this morning to
 attempt to amend the army ap-
 proprintion bill In such wise as
 to secure nm appropriation of
 $7,3OO,OOO by means of which to
 continue for one year work on
 the Wilson dam. Democrats,
 among them Senators Heflin of
 Alabama and Harrison of Mis-
 sissippi, did not oppose the prop
 Ositfon, for it was stated in
 committee thnt the successful is-
 sue of the plan would guarantee
 n completion of the Muscle Shoals
 project without effecfing either
 of the offers pending before Com
 gress.
 Senator Harrison subsequently, stated to this correspondent that the completed dam would represent bird in the hand. and at the same time make 1t possible to catch the two in the bush. Nevertheless. the idea does obtain that as result of the attitude of the committee. chloroform has been applied to the Ford offer The committee In its hearings be- ginning Monday will go thoroughly Into the details of the situation. Sens ator Norris. in a statement to Senator Underwood this afternoon, declared that the committee would proceed just as if extensive hearings had not been had before the House commit tee on military affairs.
 Cali Army Officers
 In the beginning, army officers will be called upon to recite the physical facts for the record. Subsequently those who have submitted bids will be permitted to testify at length and in minutest detail. For instance, Mir. Dent, counsel for the Alabama Power company, was informed by Chairman Norris that the case of the company could be submitted in sections. the first to deal with the legal aspects and the second with the offer of the
 (ContIuned on Page Two)