Evening star., 1924-06-02
FORD;S BID SCORED
: IN SHOALS REPORT
Manufacturers Support Of Cool
idge Linked With Desire for
Power Project.
NORRIS BILL RECOMMENDED
Government Operation of Plant
Called Aid to South.

Henry Ford's Muscle Shoals bid and
the attitude of the administration to-
ward it are denounced in vigorous
terms in the majority report OF the
Senate agriculture committee, which
ut the same time recommends enact
ment Of the amended Norris bill for
government ownership and super
Vision.
<The report, drafted by Senator Nor
ris, Republican, Nebraska, chairman
6f the committee, makes repeated
difference to what it terms Mr.. Ford's
withdrawal as q candidate for Presi-
dent and his decision to support
President Coolidge, and assails in
. particular the plan to replace in the
Properties the Gorgas steam plant
spld to the Alabama Power Company
for s3.472.4s7.
when the sale of the Gorgas
Rtant." says the report, was made
BY the Secretary of War, in which
Z have said he simply carried out
Mr.. Ford. who was at that time a
candidate for President of the United
atates, became exceedingly angry
and condemned the Secretary OF War,
ahd through him, the administration
ip unmeasured discourteous terms
Ford's Action Criticized.
&"To appease his anger. vacillating
saministration publicly, deI,vd an9oun.ea 1or ,ea
Gorgas plant would be credited upon
the five million dollars which Mr..
Ford agreed to pay for Muscle
Shoals in case his bid was accepted
"T,h;s tindIv favor nerbans s,1perin-
daced by other considerations, so pleased
Mr.. Ford that his anger at the admins
tsation was not only turned into love
apd admiration, but he became so vio-
iently friendly that he himself withdrew
aS a candidate for President and an
nounced his support Of the Executive
who had made such a liberal conces-
SION
The House bill, the report says, car
red out the idea of the President in
reference to the sale, Of the Gorgas
Tant and directs the Secretary of
yEar to construct steam power plant
% 10000 horsepower on the Warrior
River, on which the Gorgas plant is
Situated, upon land to be obtained by
pHrchase or condemnation, and to pur-
tkerefrom to Muscle Shoals and turn
it&over to the Ford corporation.
t''This additional gift ought to sat
isfy Mr.. Ford and keep him good
d
the report adds. mo one ever has
offered an excuse for directing the
Secretary of War to condemn private
property and pay for it out of public
funds, in order to turn 1t over to a
private corporation to be used for the
sole benefit of that corporation. AS
far as ! know, this is the first time
such thing has ever been attempted.
Norris Bill Favored.
|This proposed new plant, like the
Old one at Gorgas. has no connection
Whatever with Muscle Shoals. 1t will
he. however. a very valuable acquisi-
tfon to the Ford corporation. 1t will.
iA effect. make him a gift Of a steam
power plant located at the mouth of
a<coal mine. 1t ought to go a great
ways in bringing satisfaction to any
person who possesses mania for great
wealth and commercial power"
sThe report points out that the
Norris bill gives the Secretary of
Agriculture authority to lease nitrate
Plant No. to any person or corpora
tion, which, it cites, would include
Mr.. Ford, for the manufacture of
fsrtilizer, and directs that power be
Supplied to operate the plant.
1.-THE Secretary of Agriculture,