The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-23
Majority Leaders Expected to
Respond to Demands of Ala
bamlan, Though Ballot May
Be DeIayed--Both Sides Pre-
pairing For Test Of Strength
DAM APPROPRIATION WILL
BE ENDORSED BY SENATE
AImon Points to Folly SPEND
ing S10,0OO,O 900 For Nj
trates While Shoals Plants
Remain Idle--Vote on Offer
In Upper House Doubtful
WASHINGTON BUREAU |
THE AGE-HERALD !
Washington, ID. O., Jan. 22

Representative E. b. Aimon OF
the Eighth Alabama district today
called upon the republican managers
of the House of Representatives to
make good, by the PRONUNCIATION OF
the necessary rule, the implied
promise of republican leaders on
the floor that there shall be vote
before the adjournment of this ses-
sion on the Henry Ford offer for
Muscle Shoals.
1t is anticipated that the mana
gers will eventually respond, al
though there is no indication that
the response will be in the imme-
late future. This bureau, some
laws ago, reported that the repub-
lean leaders were girding. them
selves in preparation for the test
If their strength against the
strength of the Ford adherents. 1t
is still evident that that is true.
senate VIII Indorse.
The action of the House in appro-
priating and authorizing sufucient
funds to complete Wilson Dam, VIII
be Endorsed by the Senate, it Is con-
coded. There is no Indication, how
ever. that the Senate will act on
the Ford offer before adjourning. AS
matter of fact, 1t is obvious that
were 1t proved possible for the SEN
ate TO act Senator George w. Nor
ris, chairman of the committee on
agriculture, sponsoring a govern
ment ownership and operation prop
fef- m a L a
action impossible. In effect he has
already threatened as much.
Representative Almon in his speech
before the House, urged the appro-
priation for the completion of the
dam and took issue with other Ford
advocates, including Representative
w, B. Oliver of the Sixth Alabama
district, that such appropriation
would defeat the Ford offer until
. the Wilson Dam shall have been
' completed.
In addition, he spoke Of the ne
cessity for an early acceptance of
the Ford offer, and referred to the
folly of appropriating s1o,O00,0oo Tor
the purchase of Chilean nitrates for
the farmer. which. he said. is made
necessary because of the idleness of
nitrate plants at Muscle Shoals.
Almon's Speech
In paII1 @tlka AltASh oPOno oS 49,
lows:
An Favor Dam Completion
s-The question of the completion of
dam No. Q at Muscle Shoals and the
acceptance of the offer of Henry Ford
for Muscle Shoals are two separate
and distinct propositions. Everybody,
so far as I am advised, whether they
be for or against tho Ford offer,
favor the completion of this dam. IL
the Ford offer is not accepted the
dam will be completed If the Ford
offer is accepted it will also be COM
pleted, together with another dam
known as dam No. 8.
eff this appropriation Is not made
and Congress should fail to accept the
Ford offer before March 4, the work
on the dam will close down the first
of next July for the want of funds.
This everybody will agree should not
occur. The dam should be completed
with as little delay as possible. Good
progress Is being made in the con-
struction of the dam since work was
/ resumed last summer. About 1000
men are engaged on the work and
about 1000 yards of concrete is being
poured daily.
VIII Take Three Years
1.-THE engineers estimate that 1t will
take about three years to complete
it. The chief of engineers has rec
commended the authorization feature
Of this bill in order to contract for
such machinery, gates, and other
metal works, and for such materials
as may be needed in the construction
of the locks, dam and power house.
While not more than S7,000.000. the
amount carried in this bill, will be
actually expended during the next
fiscal year, still the work will reach
a stage where il will be necessary to
make contracts for lock gates. gates
on the dam, and other metal work,
and also additional equipment for the
power house, which will take year
or so to fabrioate andwhich Will be
needed by the end of that time, and
3 without this authorization to make
such contracts the work would be
delayed very, ma terially. This is the
usual and the business-like and eco
homie way to carry on such con-
struction work.
When the Ford bill is taken up in
tie House for consideration, which
should and l presume will be done
within the next few days. a provision
can be placed in 1t authorizing, and
directing the Secretary of War to
|, use any upexpended balance of the
Appropriation for dam Noi2 in carry
ing out the provisions of the Ford
offer, and the Ford company would
be charged with interest on the
same in accordance with the pro-
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