Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-11
SEE DELAY IN TRANSFER
OF MUSCLE SHOALS PLANT
Courts Will Have TO Solve
Questions Should Ford
Get Contract.
MAY TAKE THE ENTIRE yEA,
Government Would Have "a Institute
Condemnation Proceedings Before
CIenr Title Ia Land Can lie Sc
cured for Detroit Man.
tBy Associated pross.1

WASHINGTON. Fob. lo.-Dclays
estimated from six months to a year
or more probably viii 10 encountered
oy government officials before they
arc In position 10 turn over tn.
nitrate plants. power stations and
water dams at Muscie shoals, Ala.
TO Henry Ford. should his proposed
contract for their purchass and lease
Tor period Of 100 years he accept
ed. Despite the most expeditions ao-
ton by Congress. In the event IL
authorizes the War Secretary to nc
cept the contract. II was estimated
today by members Of the House Mill
turE Committee attending hearings
on the Ford offer. that such a delay
was apparently unacceptable.
Questions Arc RnIScd.
Questions were raised ut tho hear
ing today b. committeeman. which.
In the opinion OF some with long
cxperienc, ny legal matters. would
necessarily lave TO be solved by the
courts. irrespective OF congressional
action. unless the Ford offer was re-
jccted. These involved the delivery
or clear titles 10 Mr.. Ford OF gov
eminent Owned properties connected
with tho Muscle Shoals project, but
which are located on lands privately
owned and whose owners claim they
have legal options for the purchase
of tho buildings which they intend
la exercise.
II was the opinion of some com
'nitt"e members after hearing the
testimony of Colonel John Huh. act
ing judge advocate of the
! army. TINT the government would be
FIfnnGllCh tr Inc
proceedings before It could obtain
the necessary titles to the lands for
SIR Ford and meet the owners who
would perhaps test tneir rights In
the courts.
Must Condemn Iund.
Colonel Hull said II was his opin-
| ION that the contractuai obligations
""r" "non-cnforceablc" md null and
NoiG' and could not be succcssfully
presented either by the Alabama
| POWER Company representatives or
oihclais of the Air Nitrates Corpora
| ton. both Of whom claim optional
privileges and have Informed S"cre.
tary Weeks that they intend Ia
exercise them before the Muscle
shoals properties are disposed OF 10
| private concerns. AS the CHIEF law
| "hiccr OF the army. the colonel said
| l"Ner thRt the first thing tn do
IN tho event Congress voted an.
| thority To Mr. Weeks to enter I'M,
me contract with Mr.. Ford. was tt
| pr"c"-! TO condemn"
Requests TO present their aryu.
mehts To the committee in defense n
lheir claims, have been made I,
Chairman Kahn by both conpanie,
| representatives OF the Alahan,
rover Company present at today.
meetings. declared the commi,te,
would he convinced of the jus,ic,
OF their claims when their spokes
men were heard next week.
Against Cut In Time.
Major General Beach. chief n
army engineers. had preceded IN,
Judge advocate on the stand a, IN,
forenoon session and repeated hi,
advice given yesterday against re-
dacing the 1oo-ycar time clause II
IN" Ford offer 10 nifty, as had beer
suggested in the first hearings q,
the subject by Secretary Week
when Colonel Hull was excused la,,
today. Chairman Kahn adjourned III,