Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-03
FORD'S PLAN
IS PRESENTED
TO CONGRESS
Prompt Action Marks Il
Reception By House
Of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. J..
Prompt action marked the receptio
by congress today of the Ford prop.
sal for lease and purchase OF the Mu:
Gle Shoals, Alabama nitrate and watei
power projects as referred to the hous
| by Secretary Weeks for Its decisio
| and afterward for consideration by tt
| senate.
Speaker Gillette sent the offer imr1'
diately on its receipt to the house mil
tary affairs committee while member
| OF the interstate commerce committt
indicated they might seek a change
reference to their body.
| Chairman Kahn of the military con
mittee contended, however. that Il
report had properly been referred !,
Ithis committee. Mr.. Kahn said a
peditious action by his committee cou'
| be taken.
! Evidences of. equally rapid action /
the house after the committees repo,
with reference to recommendations tn;
the proposal be rejected or accepted,
made to tho body, were somcwh;
more dimmed.
Indications were that house msn
bers would discuss rne question
some length before final vote cou
be reached
The only suggestions contained
the letter of transmission related
Specific clauses in the contract ~
the desirability OF amendments wflh
would. in tho event, the proposal
accepted by congress further safeguar,
ed the governments interests.
Otherwise, tho secretary of war car,
fully avoids reference to congression
action involving the ultimate accep
ance or rejection OF the offer AZ sui
mitted.
I'm the event Mr.. Ford's propoa
Is accepted" he declared, the goi
lernment must make new appropriated
amounting to 100000 to $50, 900 900 |,
which Mr.. Ford will have the benef
for approximately one hundred yea
at four per cent"
In tho event the offer be rejecte
the secretary gave 1t as his "opinit
that dam No. (Wilscn dam shou
be completed by tho government AZ
that the power requirements for con
mercial purposes, tho benefits to nav
cation as well as the peysibls needs ,
the government would warrant tn
Expenditure. -
"If this were DONE" he continue
"the government may itself undertal
to sell the product 10 the best q.
vantage. In such case the amount
the governments present proposed Il
vcstment would be very materially
duced. because dam No. Z. costing fro
$1s000.oo0 to s25. 100000 would not !
built" and 1t would not be necessai
to make tho full installation of pow
plant on the Wilson dam until Il
market required such installation.
This partial installation he e
plans, would effect saving OF pre-
ont investment in at least the sum
81. 900, 900, leaving, according to tho chi
OF engineers estimate. not to exec,
So. 100000 to be invested by the go
ernmcnt at this time Instead of SET
100000 to 35o. .oc0,o
The question OF unemployment
recognized as n factor to be coneide
cd by congress In connection with
ton.
AT this time" he points out. ''wfs
there H. large amount of uuernplo
inent It Is not without Importance
consider the advantage to the matte
OF the employment of tho large amou
OF labor required In undertaking tn
development.
Therefore, urge that congress gr
early consideration to this matter, n
only to settle u controverted questio
but to furnish employment on a lari
scale"
Tho secretary explains his action
scndirg tho offer to congress. by decla
ing he In without authority to accc
MIR. Ford's offer, or dispose OF Il
property as whole, either by sale I,
by lease"
He, points ont tho necessity for d
,crmiripg whether the ADVANTAGE
the government In having nitrate plai
No. maintained In readiness for ii
Manufacture of explosives and In q
tuai production OF fertilizer. togeth
with the Improvement to navigation.
of sufficient Importance to justify II
proposed departure from the preset
policy of tho law in regard to dealir
with the watcrpowcr resources and
Continued on Page Two.)