The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-10
SAYS BID ONLY
 ISSUE BEFORE HOUSES NOW
Norris Declares Experiment Plan Was Offered in Good Falth-WithdraWs Fac- ing Solid Opposition of
 Southern Forces
(ooptauued From Page onel

(Copttuued From Page onel in the Nesris suggestion." he said. the senators who were committed to the Ford offer declined to consider it. 10 my mind nothing is in order but the Ford offer. It must either be accepted or rejected. If 1t is re- ieated by a majority vote, then we can divert our attention to other sug- geste1 means of utilizing the prop ertI. uutil it is rejected we will op- pose any other proposition"
 uudeyyo0d,s Statement.
 Asked # in his opinion rners was a probability that the Ford offer would Do subjected to vote this session. Senator Underwood replied: T fear not" He then referred to the fact that Senator Wesley L. Jones of Washington, chairman of the com rnfteee on commerce, having in charge the ship subsidy bill. has just pre- viosasly given notice that he would not again sidetrack that measure for any other proposed Legislation. not even the debt funding proposition.
 There was never very much hope," continued the senator. If a deter mined fiiibuster should be maus against chip subsidy and Jones should remain stoioal by his Bttaamsnt oe this afternoon, the Senate may not fuuctfon again until another session.
 senatoT Norris tonight declared that he had offered his amendment to spend e2tooo,ooo in experimenting at nitrate plant No. "absoluteiy in good faitr'I and not for the purpose of "gumming up the oards's as Ford advocates had intimated.
 "1 see great possibilities for the farmers as result of the experiment. ing at Muscle Shoals" ho said. "It is obvious that the situation will not be composed this session of Congress, doubt will therefore obtain for an- other year. It was my idea that in the meantime the government might experiment at Muscle Shoals. Such experimentation could have had no effect on any offer. And there will always be the possibility that great discovery might have been made and much valuable time preserved"
 wITHDRAws PLAN
 WASHINGTON, Feb. s.---(By Asso- ciated Press. )-Declaring there was no hope of obtaining the necessary votes sol long as "adhcrents of the Ford proposal" opposed him, Sena- tor Norris, republican, Nebraska, to- day withdrew his amendment to the army bill appropriattng ta,oo0. 0oe for completion of nitrate plant No. at Muscle Shoals. Ala.
 Mr. Norris during a lengthy speech in favor of his proposal declared the government should so forward with y sJexperiments into processes of fixa. Ntion of nitrate regardless of what disposition was made of the Alabama broject. Discovery of . method Of providing cheap fertilizer would ben- etf hn ryav1A hA aHAtnH that whatever contract was made for Muscle Shoals, the plant he proposed to establish would be q necessary adjunct.
 Senators Underwood aad Hsfltn. democrats, Alabama, and other pro- ponents Of the Ford offer. insisted that there had been experimentation enough in the past, and Asserted the only issue regarding Musoie Shoals was tho acceptance or rejection of the Ford offer.
 Mr. Norris saia ns doubted that MH Ford possessed a seorst process which would enable him so produce cheap fertiiiser.
 Underwood opposes F1an
 genator Underwood opposed tho there had been "tco much experiment tation already"
 "what Ia needed nowts hs said, lis practical action toward development of this great asset The issue is how are we to run what we already havsf We have a going concern and one that Is prepared to so If Sivsn opportunity"
 Congress should determine now, the Alabama senator said. whether the Muscle Shoals plant shan be op- erated by private contract or by the government and judge all re- lated questions in the light of that decision. The Ford offer. he said. Garantess to the American people 10000 tons of concentrated nitrate annually, ot approximately as much As is imported each year from Cht1s.s
 T d1nt believe there is another Baah in tho United States with re- Quiyed capital who can do that" MT. Underwood said. ''So will vote for acceptance of Ford's offer and 1t is only fair to act before we complicate lt by additional contracts or orders."
 Senator Heflin. democrat, Alabama, also attacked the Norris amendment.
 "It does seem little out of place for the government to appropriate this $2.0o0,00o while the Ford offer is pendingf he said. Tt might all be wasted"
 He also urged immediate action on she Ford offer.
 Improvement of Plant No. 1. MT. Norris said. would supply MT. Ford or any other lessee or purchaser of the properties with adequate ma chinery to carry on experiments look ing to discovery of new processes. Such laboratory would be neces- sary, he insisted. If the cost of fer tilizer was to be reduced.
 While adoption of his amendment might mean modification of the Ford offer as 1t now stands" Mir. Norris continued supporters of the Detroit manufactures should support the appropriation. If they expect the country to have any faith in the sincerity of purpose behind the offer.
 T do not guarantee that the use of the remodelled plant will result in discoveries which will reduce the cost of nitrates," the Nebraska sena- tor said. We are travelling in this matter on 6 path leading into an unexplored wilderness. But l con tend every effort should be made to make progress along that path" (,ut This Out-ft Is Worth Money
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