The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-06

| effective argument in opposition to
Henry Ford's proposal. Since moth
ing can be lost by postponing action
and since the postponement will
give others an opportunity to bid for
Lock IT we believe tho interests of
all the people, including the farm
ers, will be subserved by the post
ponement."
| states congressional delegation had
come to Montgomery in opposition
to the proposal of the Alabama Pow
err company because the people,
| whose representatives they are, have
said In no uncertain terms that they
/ Ford and are opposed to the pro-
posal of the Alabama Power com
pany in opposition to Ford. I'VE
have been asked by the people to
| come to Montgomery and tell you
why we believe this permit, II grant
alton in favor of the Alabama Pow
| er company" he continued.
He mentioned that the people of
Alabama held a mass meeting in
Montgomery some months ago and
expressed the sentiment that Henry
that nothing should be done by the
state which would place an impedi-
ment In the way of the acceptance
of this offer.
THE people have como to a real
ization of the value of the water
land are demanding that the flu
ture development shall be in the
interest of all tho people and not
in the interest Of any particular
section. A posrponement Of the pc
tition of the Alabama Power com
pany would be in the interest of
all the people because 1t would al
low time for the establishment of
definite water power policy and
would prevent the placing of seri
Gus obstacles before the members
of Congress in their fight for the
Congressman McDuffie said the
power interest has become big
enough and important enough to
warrant competition and the removal
of any monopoly. While it is possible
a monopoly might continue the de-
greater development and a develop
and a development which would be
more in the interest Of all the peo-
pie"
Congressman Bowling told the COM
mittee that 1t is acting in the interest
of and as trustee for the people
and should take no action which
would be against the Interests of the
people. He insisted that time should
be given for the submission to com
petitive offers and expressed the
opinion that If Henry Ford's bid for
Muscle Shoals Is accepted 80 days
will not pass before Mr.. Ford makes
a bid for the right to develop a
hydroelectric unit At Lock II.
Col. Bibb Graves OF Montgomery
followed Congressman Bowling with
an appeal for the postponement of ac-
ton on the petition. He contended
that the Alabama Power company has
not developed tho sites which it al
ready owns and that the state should
not put additional sites into its hands
until 1t had converted to public uses
the property 1t already owns.
O O o
Cites Coosa Properties.
He mentioned that the public serv-
ice commission can prevent the use
of Lock II by the power company as
its permission must be granted be-
fore the national government will
give it's assent. The Alabama Power
company has not developed the sites
1t owns on the Coosa river" said Col.
Graves. Yet we find 1t jumping to
the Warrior river. Let II develop the
| property 1t already owns before it is
permitted to Jump to another site"
| Colonel Graves said development
| of power should be regarded the same
as the development of a homestead.
When homesteader takes piece of