The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-18
CONGRESS
TO ACT ON
F0RD'S BILL
War Department VIII
Not Make Decision
But Will Refer Pro-
position With Com
ments of Secretary
to Legislative Body

w 0NS ANOAS~S ~ A/OCAJ
Washington, Jan. 13.-IIenry
Fords' offer for purchase and lease
Of the governments nitrate and
water power projects at Muscle
Shoals. Ala. Will be referred to
congress for final decision, it was
announced today at the conclu-
sion of conferences between gov
crnment officials and Mr. Ford.
Accompanying the Ford proposal
when it is transmitted, Secretary
Weeks said. probably would be the
two offers received from Frederick
Engstrum Of Wilmington. n. c.,
and c. E. Thinker Of San Francis
CO.
The decision to forward the
three offers to the legislative
branch of the government. it was
stated, was reached after consld-
cr.,;cn Of the question by eXecu-
tive officials lasting over Il period
Of more than six months. Under
the laws regulating disposition Of
real estate and ether properties
owned " the fedora! government,
II was said. the department officers
lacked authority to take final ac-
tion, ana were compelled to refer
the Muscle Shoals offers 70 con-
grGss for its consideration.
Actual transmission Of the pre-
posiAiS was not expected to take
plac. for at least two weeks. 1t
was explained that the Ford. pro-
poSal first would be drafted in
contract form by law officers Of
the war department and submitted
to Mr.. Ford for his signature be-
fore it was submitted to congress.
Wfiie DE lesa4 departments are
working C.; the cc,itract form. it
was stated. Secretary Weeks would
prepare a report for congress cor
tanning what "comments" he be-
lieved its members should have
for their information.
Explaining the action taken by
: the conference. Secretary Weeks
said he was disappointed in that
Mr.. Ford declined to agree to Ger
tain notifications of his plans
which were held desirable by his
conferees. One Of these was
known to be that affecting the re-
duction of the 100 year lease Pc
riod. The principal modification
agreed to by Mr.. Ford was that
guaranteeing payment annually OF
1 per cent. interest on the cost OF
maintenance of dams Nos. and
3. regardless Of the cost. whereas
ut first he offered interest only on
s2S, 900.
Secretary Weeks statement. ex-
planning this agreement, follows:
"Mr. Hoover and I have had
long consultation with Mr.. Ford
about his offer for Muscle Shoals
and have brought up for consider
alton various phases Of it. The only
modification which Mr.. Ford is
willing 10 make is based on our
request that there should be a
guarantee of ihe limitation OF cost
of building dams Nos. . and ) and
in that matter he has offered to
pay 4 per cent: interest on the cost
of the dams from the time cf their
completion to the expiration OF the
contract. Thai. OF course. means
tho amount Of n:ore,. which has
not been returned to the govern
~, Nr1OTtlZatlOn
plan made in the original pro-
posal.
The offer Of Mr.. Ford is going
to be put in the form of q contract
and sent to congress.
1t was explained that Mr..
rord's refusal to accept the mod
ifcation proposed for reduction OF
the 100 year term probably would
Givcc ongrcss an added task in con-
uection with its consideration OF
the offer. Existing laws regulating
lease of property possessed by the
federal government. it vas cX-
plaincd. limit the period Of MAXI
mum lease to less than century
and congress probably would have
10 modify ti,c statutes in tho event
it decided to accept the Ford pr
poSal.
Mr.. F.rl. i:rwcvcr. was said tt
have expressed an unWillingncss t.
agree to a shorter tmc on
ground .alt ,ne financial inv
u,ent he wni;i,, make would
,olve a -, 1;:cv amnunt OF mo y
,l;;n he was prt pared TO spend "a
der any u..e neriod less thai %
years.
house and S"na:" made 10 n I,
tonight when Informed that
contract would submitted
them TO disguise their fcars at
both houses ot congress wou!o -"
divided ON the question when IT
reached the stage Of consideration
on the floc~. While the contract
vi,! be urs, for acceptance by
many members from the Sonth
Y hos. constituencies are known
tn favor the Ford proposal. II was
anticipatcd that no small numpcs
l,ouo other sections of the country
veuld Oppose its adoption.