The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
NORRIS ID INSIST
 ON CLOSE SCRUTINY
 OF FFORDPROPOSAL
Chairman of Agriculture Com mittee Has Not Reached a Decision on Matter.
 Underwood Active
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age-Herald,

OOO OaVtdSon Building,
 Washington, February 10.-CSpe- cisL)-Senator Norris of Nebraska chairman of the committee on agrl- culture. will insist that his commit tee, give the proposed Ford contract for Muscle Shoals the closest scru- tiny. He Is determined to ascertain whether or not it is actually true that Ford can produce fertilizer in com mercial quantities at nitrate plant No. 3. or whether the sole boon to farmers will result from experiment tation of the satisfactory results of which Ford, on advice of Thomas A Edison. is hopeful.
 Senator Norris favors the sending to Muscle Shoals of a subcommittee of the agricultural committee. He announces that 1t would be impossible today for him to state whether he will vote for or against the rendering of a favorable report to the Senate
 Underwood at Helm
 At the same time, the reference by the Senate to the committee on ag- riculture was a tactical victory for LnO pIOpOSG0 SOnlAdSts oOAOAC all J other committee, finance, appropria- tions, military or commerce. 1t would probably have fared badly. On the agricultural committee are four re- publicans who, when Muscle Shoals was formerly before the Senate, voted in its behalf. It is anticipated that after due consideration, the commit tee will make favorable report, al though it Is entirely probable that it will suggest to the Senate that Ford be required to agree to certain changes or amendments safeguarding 6 the interest of the people and the country.
 The injection of Senator Underwood of Alabama. into the leadership of the Ford fight eliminated what was in- tended to be parliamentary strug- gle on the floor which would have resulted in the Senate referring the contract either to the commerce or the military committee. Senator Un- derwood insisted that as Muscle Shoals was in Alabama, he was en- titled to the choice of committees to which the contract would be re- ferred. There was debate of imma- terial consequence and certain spar ring between the Alabama Senator and Senator Wadsworth of New York but reference to the agricultural com mittee was authorized without dis senting vote.
 Statement by Norris
 Here is the present attitude of Senator Norris; T consider the propo- sition as one of great importance, in- volving & great deal of money. and involving a policy which, under the circumstances is very difficult to de- eide upon. I confess that if 1t were left to me to decide today I would not be able to tell whether l was in favor of accepting MT. Ford's propo- sition or rejecting it, although have read 1t twice. do not believe the committee should be confined to say ing yes or no to the proposition. 4 may be cthat upon a careful investi gation of the question the committed will reach the conclusion that ii ought to be accepted, if at all, with notifications.
 Tn other words, MT. Ford has made a proposition to us. It may be that when Congress gets through with the consideration of 1t. we may want to make a counter proposition to him which he may be willing to accept It Is my idea that he should be called before the committee and his testi- mony taken, and that the committee ought to go into the subject rather in detail believe the committee ought to send a subcommittee to Muscle Shoals. The committee Is very busy We are holding hearings which re- Quire the entire time of the members. AS far as am personally concerned would have been glad to have been relieved of the additional work"
 Resort to Court
 Certain features of the contract, if they are not eliminated by Congress will undoubtedly go to the supreme court The Alabama Power company