The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-23
POWER TRUST HAS
 A NEW BID READY
Comes, This Time, In Nature Of Collateral Offer, Promising
 Fertilizer And Nitrates
REPRESENTATIVES, CALLED
Attempts Comparison Of Ten- ders On Cold Cash Basis When
 Asked If Such Action Fair
WASHINGTON BUREAU)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Ths House committee on military affairs. it was plainly indicated this morning, is in the mood arbitrarily to proceed in executive session tomorrow and fa- vorably report the Madden bill turning over the Muscle Shoals properties to Henry Ford.
 The committee heard the explanation of the offer of the Alabama Power com pany and associates, and the statement of Vice President Yates that there would be forthcoming a collateral offer, in which the power company was in- terested. providing for the production of fertilizer and the preservation. of the nitrate plants against the peril of war.
 That the company had appeared with power proposition whereas the com pany knew that the committee, because of the law, was primarily interested in a fertilizer and nitrate proposition, ap- parently angered certain members, and when it was explained that the col- lateral offer would be forthcoming at a later date, the idea gained headway that the company was playing for delay in the procedure.
 Adjourns Committee
 Chairman Kahn significantly ad.
 
 row at 10 o'clock, and the indication was given that unless the collateral off, fer of the power company is submitted at the time. the committee will proceed to a consideration of the Ford proposi- tion.
 The power proposition of the com pany. considered as single entry, made no impression on the committee. Rep- resentative Quinn of Mississippi for mally declared that inasmuch as it was destitute of provisions for fertilizer pro- ductlon, he was not at all interested, and this was apparently the opinion of all other members, save those known to oppose the offer of Ford.
 Following his explanation, Vice Presi. dent Yates proceeded to read. a finan- cial statement tending to prove that in a financial way the offer of the power company was in every respect superior to that of Ford. This prompted Repre- sentative Mckenzie of Illinois to ask; And do you think. MT. Yates, that it is entirely fair that you compare the two offers only from the basis of cold calculation of dollars when you know that the Ford offer involves the manufacture of fertilizer and the safety of the government in time of war;"
 MT. Yates reiterated a previous state ment that the discussion involved only the power proposition and that the fer tilizer angle would be treated, perhaps tomorrow or the next day.
 CIear-Cut Statement
 Charmain Kahn presented to the committee the ''clear-cut" statement of Ford accepting the Madden bill in its entirely, but suggesting an amendment that right of way, 100 feet in width be obtained extending from Lock 17, on the Warrior river. to Muscle Shoals, to be used for transmission lines and transportation" This was taken to mean that Ford. in addition to trans- hitting current from Lock 17 to Muscle Shoals. had in mind the construction of a railroad.
 It was taken as another evidence of the intention of the Detroit wizard to make the whole of north Alabama A groundwork for a net of industrial wires and lines
 In the committee meeting today Ala bamians evinced great interest. All of the House delegation were
 tCOntinued On Page Two.)