The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-01
FORD MAY AMEND
OFFER TO LEASE
MUSCLE SHOALS
Expected To Inform Conn
niittee Notifications
VIII Be Made
EXPECTED TO AGREE
10 FURNISH POWER
Norris Loses Temper In
Warm Debate With Har-
rison And Heflin

q WASHINGTON, April 30.-W. n.
Sl&yo, chief engineer in the service Of
Htary Ford, is expected next Saturday
ID Inform the Senate COMMITTEES on
dNficulture that the Detroit manpfac-
tfifer is willing to make certain amend
iesist to the offer that he has Submitted
fof Muscle Shoals.
Il was announced today by wv b.
waldo, chief engineer Of the Teuhessee
BSTer Improvement association, that
eettain light would be thrown on
Sit6ation regarded now by what appears
to be majority of the members Of the
committee as uncertain and ambiguous.
While no details of what Ford will
sc9ncede were made known, it is under
stood that he will incorporate Ia his
ilHoposed contract his promise of lasfi
Oessai.e- to circulate in a radius Of 200
milse the surplus Of the power to be
generated 1t is understood, also, that
be viii permit the writing in definite
terms of certain guarantees which his
Senate supporters declare already to
be INCORPORATED and which his Senate
opponellts contend nowhere to be even
delinitey.
k0rfis Grows Angry
9toF yorYisa to-day ted iiiN
= u - ID nj Us q Betfer 6f N iIifl
merit. Il was ii course Of Ills wsns4
ldehates with Senators HArEis6n AID
Heflin and Maj II. B. StahlmaIt md
Professor Waldo, witnesses, thas lie de-
clared that nowhere in the contract had
Ford bound himself and heirs 10 any
proposition save fhe organization Of a
corporation TO put into effect the CON
ditions Of the contract. This point was
disputed by Heflin. Harrison and
Waldo. When 1t was demonstrated
that even among the lawyers who are
members of the committee there was
no agreement as to legal propositions
involved, Norris asked witnesses il
they would be willing SO to snend the
offer SO as to eliminate dbi9uities
Witnesses hesitated, and senator's par
tial to Ford declared such proposed
processes would be superfluous.
Doubts Ford Would Sign
Ford has bound himself to nothing
save TO form corporation,v said Nor
ris. Ford would not bind himself to
carry out the provisions OF the con-
tract for 100 years Were he to do So
he could not provide for the division
of his estate By will following his death.
Furthermore. were we TO offer an
amendment definitely binding Ford in
a definite sum Of money. Ford's ad-
herents would oppose that amendment"
1t was at that point that Waldo sug-
gested that testimony to be delivered
Saturday be awaited.
The temper displayed by Norris was
based on his misunderstanding of a
declaration by Major Stahlman that
I'VE did not think you were serious in
advocating a government ownership
BILL" The chairman thought the wit
ness had used the word "sincere." He
flared up with colored face and ex-
claimed in loud and angry voice. When
the witness explained and added ex-
pressions Of his appreciation of the
chairman's honesty and sincerity, there
was lull. but that the temper of Nor
ris had not materially cooled was soOii
demonstrated Waldo injected himself
for the purpose Of explaining some in
tricate point regarding which Stahi-
man appeared in doubt. This gave the
chairman an opportunity to challenge
the unbiased attitude Of Waldo.
You can't pose here as a distinter-
ested party" he exclaimed. The very
minutes of your organization show your
very existence to be for the purpose
Of working for Ford.
Witness Is Surprised
Wa111ss faoa Hiatala rad unxvn4taa IN
that Norris had become possessed Of
the minutes Of his organization, but he
said nothing to that effect. At later
juncture. Norris took occasion to de-
clare that you and those with you con-
troll Ford people Senators and represent
tatives) as a mother controls her chill
dren." In conclusion be challenged the
assertion of Stahlman that there was
no propaganda in Ford's behalf by de-
claring that the propaganda in Ford's
interest is the most extensive that Has
come under my observation since have
been member Of Congress
Major Stahlman. at the conclusion Of
the Norris ''oration,D frankly admitted
that his train of thought had been
completely shattered. He was invited
to appear again tomorrow. His testi.
mony today bore chiefly on H.s%faI-
legged secret efforts Of the BarK Of
governors OF the Nashville Ch<mlfr Of
Commerce to put over a resGIut II de-
claring for the offer Of tbeIalI, II pow
er interests, and the refeFep1im con-
Quoted by the Nashville Manner for
the ascertainment Of the real sentiment
of the people. The result that refer
endum. he stated was: For Ford,
&c. 145; for the power companies, 40