Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-09
UNDERWOOD ALTERS ]
SHOALS BILL AFTER
WEEKS CRITICISM
More Time to Find Lessee
and Bond Guarantee
in Amendments

raised by secretary Weeks TO the
Underwood Muscle Shoals bills were
offered today in the senate by the
author of that measure, Senator Tn.
derwood, Democrat, Alabama.
With the more important of the
administration objections to the
bill thus removed, leaders on both
sides in the senate are hopeful of an
early vote.
One amendment extends the time
for the leasing of the plant by the
war secretary from next July l to-
next September /. Another changes
the requirements as to the produce
ton of nitrate for fertilizer so that
instead of 10000 tons the first year
there would be 10000 tons in the
third year.
Senator Underwood explained that
a fertilizer plant would have to be
constructed and that in the usual
course this would require two years.
In the fourth year the lessee would
he required to turn out 10000 tons
of nitrate; in the fifth year 10000
AID thereafter 900 tons annually.
Would Guarantee Bonds
To meet another major objection
by Secretary Weeks, the Alabama
senator offered an amendment under
which the government would guar
antee the interest and principal OF
the bonds issued in the event of de.
fault by the lessee.
AS to the objection that the cyana-
mid process could not be used by the
lessee, Senator Underwood said the
judge advocate general of the army
had settled that question with refers
ence to the Ford bid; holding that
the contract of the government with
| the American Cyanamid company
provided for use of the patents by.
either the government or a lessee.
Senator Norris, chairman of the
senate agricultural committee, att
the opening of today's session. pre-
sented Secretary Weeks report to
the senate without comment
At the request of Senator Robins
son, Democratic leader, the message
was read.
| Senator Underwood announced
later on the floor he saw no serious
! objections to the suggestions of Sec.
rotary Weeks and would propose
necessary amendments to his bill TO
make it conform.
a.,.1, N Norris Still aDisagrees--
| Chairman Norris, in discussing the
bill outside of the senate said today
| the war department suggestions for
| amendments We're good Ones" but
that he would not support the Tn.
derWood bill even if the amendments
We're adopted. He declared he felt
his own bill offered better solu.
ton of the Muscle Shoals problem
and that the Underwood bill would
place the property "in politics.,
/ w. G. Waldo who is associated
! with the Tennessee River Improve-
ment company, which has taken an
active interest in Muscle Shoals, said
today after conference with Sen
ator Underwood that he believed the
underwood bill would meet the AID.
/ prevail of the farmers throughout
/ the country.
He said that his associates werc
favorable to the Underwood bill.
President Coolidge is understood ia
have presented his views on the Un,
derwood Muscle Shoals bill directly
TO the Alabama senator during the
! Sunday cruise on the Mayflower on
which Senator Underwood was q
guest
Announcement was made at the
! White House today after the presi,
cents return that he world send
! no letter to the senate setting forth
/ his views as had been expected by
/ Republican senator's.
Final Action Draws Near
With Republican leaders informed
of President Cooldge's attitude on
the Underwood BILL. the Shoals issue,
/ before the senate after an adjourn
ment since Friday, was rapidly shap
ing today toward final action in th,t
body.
Changes in the financing pfovi
sions as to operation of Muscle
| Shoals are understood to con-
stitute the principal amendment
| suggested by the president, which
calls for government ownership with
either private or government opera
ton.
Senator and Mrs. Underwood were
members of a small party that ac-.
companied the President and Mrs.
Coolidge on a Sunday afternoon and
overnight cruise on the Mayf1ower
and it was Indicated today that the
UP udu ohUIucu tie pLeSlutuL dl
opportunity to discuss the legislation
directly with the Alabama senator.
USELESS UNLESS AMENDED,
WEEKS REPORT SAYS
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Secretary
Weeks report on the Underwood
Muscle Shoa.s bill suggested d num-
Der of amendments to the measure
and declared unless careful and
thoughtful amendments as pointed
out in my report are adopted the
Underwood bill is unworkable."
One among the objections raised
by the secretary of war dealt with
the finances of the operation of Mus
Gle Shoals and said unless the bonds
which would be issued are guaran-
tced by the government they would
be practically worthless.
He declared he believed it would
De unwise to require the operator to
attempt to produce a maximum OF
5000 tons Of nitrogen within the
four-year limit set by the bill UNI
less it was learned first that the
fertilizer could be sold profitably.
The secretary said that next July
! was too short limit to obtain a
suitable lessee for the property.
Secretary Weeks said in his re-
port that Muscle Shoals could not
be operated by a lessee to produce
fertilizer under the cyanamid process
without obtaining authority for the
use Of patents.