Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-23
SHOALS RESOLUTION
OFFERED To HOUSE

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-A reso-
luton authorizing the secretary Of
war in his discretion, to lease for a
period not exceeding fifty years, nj
trate plants No. 1 and 2, and Waco
quarry, near Muscle Shoals, Ala, at
one dollar a year each on condition
that they all operate at present ca
pacity for production Of fertilizer
components for sale to the public at a
price not to exceed 8 per cent profit,
was ured in the house today by
Representative Hull, Republican,
Iowa.
The resolution also provides that
the plants which may be leased either
separately or completely are to be
kept In condition to produce nitrates
and other components Of munitions,
such plants. with their personnel, to
be turned over to the United States
in case of national emergency.
Sale by the secretary of war to the
Alabama Power company of the gov
ernment-owned steam plant at Cor
gas, Ala, together with the trans
mission line to Sheffield, wit hsub-
stations at a price not less than 49,
100000, also would be authorized.
Failing to sell the Gorgas properties
at an adequate price, the secretary
would be authorized to negotiate with
the Alabama Power company, for the
purchase of sites, and right-of-way on
which the plant and sub-stations are
located, with such other property, by
condemnation or otherwise, as might
al
given authority to contract for COM
pletion of dams Nos. 2 and 3 in the
tennessee river End to lease them for
fifty years at rental not less than
4 per cent of the cost Of finishing
dam No. 2 and of constructing dam
No. 3.
Representative Hull issued the
Following statement on his resolu-
ton:
my resolution is not intended to
decide in any manner who is to be
allowed to purchase, lease or operate
the various properties of the gov
eminent at Muscle Shoals, Ala.
ut is designed, however, to find
solution for the vexed problems
that confront the government at
those nitrate and power plants. If
the Alabama Power company, Mr.
Ford, or any other person or or
ganization wants to make a contract
along the lines of the resolution and
operate dams Nos. 2 and 8 and nj
trate plants Nos. 1 and 2, there is
nothing in the resolution that would
prevent making contract for the
entire properties.
THE resolution is general legisla-
zion norY11iff ioo No 80
problem. 1t has been found very diff
ficult, if not impossible, for a large
committee of the house, such as the
military affairs committee, consist.
Ing of twenty-one members, to ne
gotiate a solution of the problems.
1t would be still more difficult for
the whole membership of the house
to complete such a negotiation. The
resolution, therefore, empowers the
secretary Of war to make the best
bargain for the government that it
is possible 10 make, either collective
ly or by units, whichever he is salts
fed is best for the government.
while it is true that I voted for
the majority report that came out
OF the house military affairs com nit
tee, which reported the so-called Nc
Kenzie bill, realize that in the end
Mr.. Ford might not accept the pre-
visions of the Mckenzie bill even
| if the house did pass that bill in it's
present form, to say nothing of the
fact that it might be materially
| amended when it came up for con
| sideration, making Mr.. Ford's accent
ance still further a matter of doubt.
My resolution is designed to clear
| IN that 6ifficl11tv
| This resolution, in fact, would af-
ford Henry Ford or any one else a
| better opportunity to operate the
nitrate PLANS for the benefit of the
people of the country than Henry
Ford's own offer, with the exception
of Mr.. Ford's claims that he must
have one hundred year lease; be-
4 cause my resolution limits the ten
ure Of the proposed lease to any one
to fifty years, which think will be
approved by the people Of the coun-
try.
"Also, and not the least important,
Mr.. Ford insists that he ought to
have the government steam plant at
Gorgas, ninety-eight miles away
from Muscle Shoals. But, under my
resolution, the Gorgas plant would
be returned to the Alabama Power
company, the people who in all fair
ness are entitled to the property
provided they will pay fair price,
which the resolution sets as $4,000,
900. I shall press for the passage
of my resolution as soon as congress
reconvenes, and already have receiv-
ed some assurances of support"
| I'll lI-I