The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-03
Three Forces Attempt
 To End Shoals Issue; Sen. Underwood Leads
Nitrate Plant Problem Becomes Leading Con-
 gressiOnal Puzzle

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. - The Muscle Shoals problem, which has been the subpect of controversy for years, has become for the time being the dom- inan issue before congress.
 It comes up by unanimous consent in the senaate tomorrow for action and tonight it appeared that the subject may be debated for several days. After the argument has been spent, it is probable that an entirely new proposal may be submitted with the backing of .he administration.
 President Coolidge is known to favor the appointment of commission to study the subject and submit plan of action. It is regarded as highly prob- able that sufficient votes can be mus tered to carry out his idea.
 Underwood to Lead Fight
 As the situation stands tonight, there will be three outstanding contenders seeking the privilege of settling the Muscle Shoals issue. Chairman Norris, of the senate agricultural committee, is prepared to press the Norris bill, which was reported by the committee at the last session. Senator Underwood, dem- ocrat, Alabama, will lead fight for a bill he introduced today, to fill the breach caused to the withdrawal of Henry Ford's offer. Then there will be the administration pla.l, which prob abAy will be sponsored by Senator Cur tis, republican floor leader.
 A proposal similar to the administra- tion plan was advanced yesterday in the house in a joint resolution intro duced by. Representative Wright, dem- ocrat, Georgia, and Senator Wadsworth, republican, New York, also is prepared if the opportunity arises to support the Hooker r-White-Atterbury profit-sharing proposal, which has been for some time before Secretary Weeks.
 Ford May Come Back
 There is, too, the possibility that Henry Ford may be brought back into the field of bidders through the request made to him today by Senators Heflin, Alabama, and Mcclellan, Tennessee. democrats.
 When the subject is called up tomor- row, it is planned to offer the Norris bill as a substitute to the house bill authorizing acceptance of Fords offer. If the Norris bill is received as sub stitute, Senator Underwood is expected to offer his bill as a substitute to the Norris bill. This would bring the Un- derwood bill before the senate for first consideration. Senators Underwood and Norris are both prepared to discuss the bills In great detail, and each is understood to have strong support, while large num- Der of senators have expressed them- selves as having an open mind on the subject.
 Oppose Long Fight
 Senator Norris declared today he would make an effort to block a long, aimless discussion of the issue, and hopes to determine whether the admin istration forces plan to oppose all of the present proposals or have a definite course mapped out for solution of the problem. |
 Senator Ladd, North Dakota, mem- Der of the insurgent group, said he was in favor of submitting the issue squarely to President Coolidge for settlement. He was supporter of the Ford bid.
 The plan to refer the question back to the.senate agricultural committee, as suggested recently by some senators, will, if advanced, be met with vigorous opposition from Chairman Norris, who asserted today that the committee al- ready had considered the subject exhaus- lively. The compittee had reported the Norris bill, he added, and if it was not to the senate, then 1t was up to the senate or the president to say what disposition should be made of Muscle Shoals. He is expected to get support in this contention from some senators, who are opposed to any further delay in mapping course for the operation of the property.
 The text of the Underwood bill fol- lows in full:
 To provide for the national defense for the productive and manufacture Of
 (COntinued on Page Four)