The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-03
VOTE SURE BEFORE END OF SESSION Majority Report Con- demning Proposal Pre- sented By Norris NIGHT SESSIONS ARE DECIDED UPON Debate On Subject May Be Started At Any
 Time CHAIRMAN FLAYS
 ADMINISTRATION Offer Steam Plant To Appease Manufacturers Anger,
 Is Charge
NIGHT SESSIONS
 ARE DECIDED UPON
CHAIRMAN FLAYS
 ADMINISTRATION
Offer Steam Plant To Appease Manufacturers Anger,
 Is Charge

WASHINGTON, June 2.--With the presentation to the Senate to- day of the majority report on Mus cle Shoals of the Senate agricul- ture committee and the minority report prepared and ready for in- troduction, the Muscle Shoals issue approaches final action in the Sem ate.
 Debate on the subject may start at any time and vote is predict ed by the end of the week. Night sessions are planned in order to assure a vote before Congress ad- journs.
 The fight has settled down be- tween the Ford bid and the Nor ris bill for government ownership and supervision of the property. The majority report endorses the offer of the Detroit manufacturer and c0ndeInns g8meFnment cw1aer- ship and operation.
 Administration Assailed
 In the majority report, which was prepared by Chairman Norris, the ad- ministration was assailed for it's at. titude toward Ford's offer and in par ticular. the plan to replace the Cor gas steam plant sold to the Alabama Power company for $3,472,4 ,4S7. The report declared that Ford became an gry when the plant was sold, con demned the secretary of war and through him, the administration in un- measured, discourteOus terms"
 "To appease his anger" the report said, "a vaccilating administration publicly announced that the amount received for the Gorgas plant would be credited upon the five million dol lars which Mir. Ford agreed to pay for Muscle Shoals in case his bid was accepted by Congress"
 This kinly favor, perhaps super induced by other consideration, the report continued, "s0 pleased Mir. Ford that his anger at the administration was not only turned into love and ad- miration, but he became so violently friendly that he himself withdrew as q candidate for president and announced his support of the executive who had made such liberal concession"
 The report declared if Muscle Shoals was leased for 1UU years as prOVlueu ir the Ford bid and the government would furnish money at easy rates it would give the lessee an advantage over any competitor.
 Could Fix Own Price
 "Such a corporation would be able to fix it's own price and levy tribute upon the people at will--such cor poration would be as cold and clammy as any trust or monopoly that has ever existed in the, history of civilization" :" the report added, declaring that de captive propaganda favoring FOrd's offer Tad been spread over the .cOun- try by real estate spectators on the one hand and representatives of farm ers' organizations on the other. Tt is not known that Mir. Ford himself is a part of this propaganda but it would seem that a man of his prOmi- hence ought not to stand idly by when his name misrepresentation are being spread"
 Criticising Ford for not testifying before congressional committees in re- gard to his offer. the report asserts
 fContinued on Page TWO.)