The Washington times., 1924-12-03
SHOALS OFFER
F|NDSF0RD
COOL
Efforts of Southern Senators
for Renewal of Bid Bear
No Fruit
Continued from First Page,)

Continued from First Page)
to special commission which would
be empowered to make any dispo-
sition of the property 1t saw fit.
With the Senate thus divided
against itself, there appeared to be
little prospect Of immediate action.
Days may be consumed in debate
before vote ran be reached on
any of the proposals.
The first decisive action is ex-
pected to result from move by
Administration forces to send the
Norris and Underwood plan to the
Agriculture Committee. This vir-
tually would mean their deaths, for
this session at least Republican
leaders are said to favor this ma.
neuver to sidetrack a problem that
has proved troublesome ever since
Ford made his first offer for Mus.
Gle Shoals in 1921 Democrats and
progressives probably would be
found united against this action.
Deadlock Foreseen.
Should it be found that none of
the plans has sufficient strength
70 assure passage, the working fac
lions may declare a truce and throw
the whole thing into the hands Of
commission for disposition. Many
senators admittedly are firing OF
the perennial, fruitless discussion
on Muscle Shoals and may agree
TO this action in order to get the
project on permanent, working
basis. Norris said he would prefer
this course to allowing the property
to be leased to Ford or other pri-
vate interests.
Because of the sharp division it
does not appear that any of the
present plans for disposing Of Mus
Gle Shoals by Congress, other than
probably the commission proposal,
can pass this session of the Senate,
according to the belief of leaders
In charge of the legislative ma
chinery.
UnderwOOd's Bill. /
The Underwood bill would dedicate
the great Wilson Dam and its ad-
joining nitrate plants ito be used fer
the national defense in time of war,
and for the production Of fertilizer in
time of peace" Even If leased TO
private corporation, the project
would remain part of the national
defense, subject to Federal seizure
on five days notice.
Under either private operat ON
or Government ownership, Under
woods bill would lay down drastic
terms to insure cheap fertilizers:
First, an annual total of 40, 900 tons
OF fixed nitrogen must be made, and
a similar amount of fertiliziug ri
trates turned out every year. This
limit begins with the fourth year
Of operation, with lesser amounts
demanded for the first three wears.
And the selling price of the pitratcs
would be limited to a profit Of
not more than per cent OF the
fair annual cost of production"
Substitute for Ford Bill.
In introducing the bill, Underwood
explained 1t was a substitute pro-
posal for the offer which Henry Ford
made for the Muscle Shoals project
two years ago and Withdrew during
the recent session of Congress. It
was understood to have the support
of a majority of those Senators and
Congressman who previously endors-
ed the Ford offer.
MY bill would provide a start for
the manufacture of nitrates in this
country" Underwood said. 'tIn the
war year of 1918 we imported $780,.
600 tons of nitrates from Chill. Under
my bill, we would have an annual
production of 10000 tons fixed nj
trogen, or about 100000 tons Of finish:
ed nitrates at Muscle Shoals. This
would be only start in the right
direction and would compel us to
continue to import more than 1,000,-
900 tons of nitrates annually If we
went to war again.
"I am not at heart a Government
ownership man, but I believe the
manufacture OF nitrates is SO i'm
portant as a part of our national
defense program, / am willing to
have the Government enter that
business if private interests do not
desire the acceptance of our terms.
The GovernmeSn' has built it's own
battleships. Now it can make it's
own nitrates. Both are truly war
functions"
Lease Terms Strict.
Underwood wrote into his meas.
ure, however, strict regulations
to compel the use Of all nitrogen
In the manufacture Of fertilizers in
time Of peace. This would be writ.
ten into the lease If the Secretary
Of War turned it over to private
interests before July 1, 1926. All
contracts would be subject to the
Presidents approval.
The cheap fertilizer clause read:
"In order that the farmers and
other users may be supplied with
fertilizers at fair prices and with.