Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-11
SENATOR HARRIS
AMENDMENT To
SHOALS BILL LOST
Bruce Pan to Put the Plant
Under Civil Service
Also Defeated

place Muscle Shoals employees under
the civil service commission, was de-
feated overwhelmingly in the sen
ate today.
This was the first amendment to
be voted on. 1t was designed as an
anendment TO either the Norris or
Underwood bills for the operation OF
Muscle Shoals. 1t was introduced
by Senator Bruce, Democrat, Mary.
land who contended it would keep
the operation of the property out Oh
politics.
The vote on the amendment was
s. to 6. Those voting in the affirma-
tive were Senators Bruce. Copeland
wheeler, Democrats; Edge, McCor-
mick and Sterling, Republicans.
This was he first formal vote
taken at this session.
The McNary amendment to the
Underwood bill, which would put
the power development at Muscle
Shoals under the federal WATERPROOF
err act, was defeated, "a to ~.
Harrison Offers Amendments
Senator Harrison, Democrat, MIS-
sippi. introduced several amendments
to the Underwood bill. The amend
ments would require the completion
of dam 8, change the amount
lessee would be required to pay as
rental from per cent of the cost OF
cam No. 3, and the hydro-electric
units to 4 per cent of the total
amount already expended by the
government at Muscle Shoals and in
addition what would be spent for
Of Nn
Under the Harrison amendments
the secretary of war would not be
authorized to lease the property, but
an organization committee would be
appointed to lease the property or
organize @ government corporation
to operate Muscle Shoals.
Another Harrison amendment
would extend the time from four
to ten years when the government
corporation would be required to
cease operation until notified by
congress to proceed in event the
interest on the bonds was not being
earned.
Harris Amendment Lost
Another amendment rejected by
the senate was that by Senator
Harris, Democrat, Georgia, under
which the lessee would not be per-
mitted to transfer any lease or in
terest in Muscle Shoals without the
consent of the secretary of war.
The vote was 81 to 30. Twenty
three Republicans ana fourteen
Democrats opposed the amendment,
while twenty Democrats, eight Re
publicans and one farmer-labor,
Shipstead, Minnesota, supported it.
An effort will be made today by
senate leaders to limit debate on the
Muscle Shoals issue SO as to speed
up the vote.
Both Democratic and Republican
leaders say a vote on the question
will be called before the end of the
week. Sponsors of the Underwood
bill are making an effort to get the
Underwood bill to a vote ahead of
the Norris bill, but Senator Norris
may block the attempt by introduc-
ing a new bill as an amendment to
the Underwood bill, which is an
amendment to the original Norris
bill.
Votes will come first on the amend.
mentS which have been offered to
both the Norris and Underwood bills
and many of the senator's have ex-
pressed intentions of speaking on
the various amendments.
One reason given by the Georgia
senator for his amendment was that
1t would prohibit control of Muscle
Shoals from passing into the hands
OF a foreign-owned corporation
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat. Ten
nessee, offered and Senator Under
wood accepted. an amendment which
would prohibit lease to a foreign
owned or controlled corporation.
There also IS an amendment proViso
that if the majority stock interest
OF the leasing company is acquired
by foreigners the lease shall be term
mated and the property revert to the
United States government.
Harris Beaten Again
The senate also rejected, is to AZ.
another amendment by Senator Har.
rls under which the secretary of ag-
riculture would have authority to
regulate the price and sale of fertili-
zers manufactured at the Muscle
Shoals.
Senator Underwood accepted an
amendment by Senator Glass, Dem.
ocrat, Virginia, which took out OF
the bill the requirement that the
funds of the operating corporation
should be placed in federal reserve
banks. 1t was adopted without a
record vote.
Smith Proposes Change
Senator Smith, Democrat, South
Carolina, presented an amendment
which would require the government
TO maintain Muscle Shoals until il
had been demonstrated that a salts.
factory, marketable fertilizer can be
produced and the proSLct is stand
ardized.
The Smith amendment would pro.
hibit the lease or any other disposi-
ton of the property at Muscle
shoals that might be needed for the
governments fertilizer experimental.
ton. Units of Muscle Shoals not
needed for the experiments could be
leased under the amendment.
Senator Smith said he had intend.
ed introducing new bill but had
decided TO present the amendment
instead, He said the smith amend.
ment would carry out the purpose
or the original Muscle Shoals bill,
OF which Senator Smith was the
author.
Senator Norris opened discussion
en- the Bruce amendment. which he
opposed. The Nebraska senator re.
TERED 10 the Underwood bill as the
Coolidge substitute and declared II
WOULD make Muscle Shoals "a foot.
pail OF partisan politics"
Since Senator Underwood. author
OF the government ownership lease
oian, has Virtually agreed on changes
IN MS bill proposed by war depart.
ment experts, both Democratic and
Republican leaders are anxious to
prevent further delay in reaching q
definite decision ON the measure.
A stumbling block to an early set
Element of the Muscle Shoals ques-
ton, which has been troubling con,