Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-07
TEST ON FORDOFFER
GIVES IT MAJORITY
House Rejects Amendments
Making Changes in Muscle
Shoals Bill.

\ SttSCAIo ouIs
/ Forging its way toward a final vote
on the Mckenzie bill, which would
! authorize acceptance of Henry Ford s
/ bid for Muscle Shoals, the House to-
| day rejected an amendment to limit
| future appropriations for completion
| of dam No. to SIS, 900
| The amendment was offered by Rep
Preventative Blanton, democrat, Texas
land was the first of Importance to be
lput to a vote. 1t was turned down by
la vote of 60 to 81.
! The first test of strength in the
tvoting showed a victory for pro-
lponents of the Ford bid, who lined up
| almost solidly against the amendment
! Mr.. BIanton States Position.
| Mr.. Blanton said that, while he
| favored acceptance of Ford's offer.
! he believed there should be definite
| check placed on further government
! expenditures at Muscle Shoals. He
| was supported in his efforts to put
! over his amendment by Representa-
! tive Hull. republican, Iowa, and
other members of the military com
| mittee opposed to the Ford bid
Representative Byrns, democrat. Ten
nessee. declared that IAN amendment to
! a bill of this kind can only be construed
as defeating the purpose of the DILL in
urging the members of the House TO be
courageous to vote down amendments.
Advocates Modification.
Representative Newton, republican.
Minnesota. advocated modification of the
| term following contracts in the first
section Of the bill, because. he pointed
out. we are giving provisions that the
Secretary Of War is to embody in con-
tract"
| papraeapta,;,a Jo,i.r 5ouocr.t
| Missouri, declared that the bill was
| I'm danger of being mutilated beyond
recognition" declaring that under the
bill as reported out by the committee
Ford agrees to produce 10000 tons
of nitrate without cessation during
| the term of the contract
| Representative Mckenzie, in charge
of the measure, urged speedy action
on it. with amendments taken up at
| the proper time and place.
Madden Speaks for Deficiency BiIls.
! Representative Madden, republican.
Illinois, reminded the House that de-
ficiency bills that We're costing the
government money We're pending in
urging action on the Muscle Shoals
blk Representative La Guardia, re-
publican, New York, retorted that the
Muscle Shoals bill was OH the floor
1 under a special rule and that if the
appropriation bills were so important
they ought to be here
| This hill must be discussed in full
he added
The House also rejected an amend.
ment by Representative Hill, repub-
lican, Maryland, to broaden the pro-
vision requiring construction of dam
No. and adjacent locks to be done
at actual cost without profit to the
company organized by Mr.. Ford tc
specify that there also was TO be
no proht TO any one else"
Newton ID. Bakers view of Issue.
AS consideration by the House OF
1.-THE Muscle Shoals question continued
Representative Hull. republican, Iowa
Heading the fight against the Ford
:offer, made public a letter received
by him from Newton D. Baker, former
Secretary Of War. which declared thai
lit would be public calamity to have
this great national asset come into
private hands upon any terms now
possible TO be secured"
lmpatience to recover a few mil
lion dollars in money and modest
prospects of immediate benefits to
farmers are binding u.s. said Mr.
Baker.
The water-power act" he added. lis
FRAMED to produce the development of
doubtful products by unusual re-
wards. So far from abating its pro-
visions in any way at Muscle Shoals,
they should be strengthened This is
not doubtful project, but d palpable
gold mine"
Text OF His Letter.
The text of Mr.. Bakers letter fol-
lows:
Through your kindness have just
received a copy of the minority re-
port from the committee on military
affairs with reference to the propesd
Exploitation of the governments in
terests and properties at Muscle
Shoals. The discussion of the sew
leral offers for purchase or lease of
these properties is most informing
and l congratulate you upon the wis
dom and far-sighted patriotism with
which the report is infused
Il have always thought and continue
to think that it would be a public
calamity to have this great national
any terms now possible to be secured
THE progress of invention cannot be
foretold, but it is wholly within the
| bounds of reasonable likelihood tina,
within a very few years the produc.
tlon of synthetic nitrogen compounds
without great power consumption
will be cheap and easy and that ir
such event it would be wasteful tc
devote any substantial part of the
availabls power at Muscle Shoals te
Industrial Needs Growing.
| But IL IS certain that with every
passing day in the United States the
population and their transportation
and industrial needs grow greater
and the stocks of unmined coal and
unpumped oil grow less, and it in
| evitably follows that in relatively
few years the possession of this i'm
mense source of power will be domi.
nant over the lives and fortunes of q
great and populous section of oul
| country.
Muscle Shoals is an inexhaustible
national asset. 1t is too large and
too vital an element in our national
economy, whether in peace or war, to
be privately owned either by an in
dividual or corporation.
| Impatience to recover a full mil
lion dollars in money and modest
prospects of immediate benefits tc
farmers are binding us. The real
: interests of the farmer and of every
body else for the hundred years In
question are identical with the ma
tional interests.
| Aim Of WnterpOwer Act.
"The waterpower act is framed tc
induce the DEVELOPMENT of doubtful
projects by unusual rewards. 81
far from abating its provisions ir
any lease at Muscle Shoals the,
should be strengthened. This is no
| a doubtful project, but palpabl'
gold mine.
Thank you heartily for your fint
Il 10 90