davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
AUCTION SHOALS, RALSTON URGES
(Continusd from Page One)

was to prevent the present private ni- trogen enterprises from being driven out of business by competition. He urged that all of the bids be rejected under, their present terms. If any of the bids were adopted, he said he would ask the government to subsidize the private concerns so that they could op- crate oil a fair basis with Muscle Shoals. He said he particularly op- posed the Ford bid in its present form.
 MacRae favored the Hooker White Atterbury proposal. Thisebid, he said, does not violate the governments water power policy, leaves the title to the property in the name of the govern ment, provides going plant suitable for the manufacture of war material and would produce fertilizer at one half of the present market price.
 Wants Aid For West
 Senator Gooding, republican, Idaho, interrupted the hearing to announce that he would insist that some agree ment be made by the government to get cheap fertilizer for the western farmer if Muscle Shoals were developed to help the southern farmer.
 The Hooker-White Atterbury propos- al still remains on the calendar of the committee hearing from indications it will occupy the attention of the com mittee through the early part of next week. Either Mir. White or Mir. Alter bury are expected to appear tomorrow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19

ton for twenty per cent nitrogen con- tent fertilizer.
 The Tennessee Electric Power Offer
 This company asks a 50-year lease under the federal water power act on Dam No. 2, and 20-year lease on the Gorgas steam plant at an annual rental of $2O00,O00. It agrees to build at the governments expense without profit Dam No. 5, which it will rent for ST. 100000 annually, .(
 It will sell at cost G000O horsepower yearly from Dam No. ? and 10000 yearly from Dam No. 3 to any manu- facturer of fertilizer, or establish a company to manufacture fertilizer pro- vided nitrate plants Nos. 1 and 2 are leased it for >50 years at four per cent rental on cost of construction. It agrees to make 50,OO0 tons at eight per cent profit
 The Hooker r-White-Atterbury Offer
 This provides for the establishment of joint corporation with the gov ernment to manufacture fertilizer. The government will receive three-fourths of the profit and the company one-fourth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
THE SIX OFFERS
By E. B. MACDONALD
(Leased Wire to The Age-Herald) MY AsUTTA-6sTnN A.,;I 10 TNI,


 WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The fate of Muscle Shoals will be determined definitely within two weeks. committee are progressing rapidly, and according to present plans will be finished within ten days. A few days more will then be required to whip the measure, which will be presented to the Senate into shape
 At present sentiment is divided sharply along two lines-those who favor government ownership and op- eration of the huge southern power and nitrate plant, and those who favor leasing it to private companies.
 There now are six measures before the committee. one of which will be re- ported. Senator Norris of Nebraska, chairman of the committee, declared Friday the fight would be three cornered, the adherents of private own ership splitting on the Ford offer and those offers which place themselves un- der the Jurisdiction of the federal water power act.
 The various offers in brief are:
 Ea The Norris Bill
 This provides for directing the Secre- tary of War to complete the construc- tion of Dams Nos. and 3 at Muscle Shoals, under the direction of the corps of engineers, and later for the opera tiOn of the completed plant by the gov ernment, under the direction of the army. This plan is favored by former Secretary of War Baker.
 The Mckenzie Bill
 The Secretary of War is here directed to sell or lease plants at Mus cle Shoals to Henry Ford as follows:
 l. Lease Dam Nos. 2 and 3 at an annual rental of four per cent on the construction cost for 100 years.
 ?. Sell the government nitrate plants, and the Waco stone quarry at the Shoals to Ford for $5,OOO,O00.
 5. Ford agrees to manufacture ferti- cent.
 The WadIwOrth Bill
 The measure of Senator WadswOrth of New York directs the Secretary of War to lease all plants and dams at Muscle Shoals under the following con ditions:
 l. The lease shall not be for more than 5O years and it shall be under the federal water power act. 7. The lessee must manufacture at least 3O,OOO tons of fertilizer at cost plus profit of 8 per cent.
 8. For this he is to pay cent interest on capital stock of not less than $1,000,000. and retire half the cost of the dams and plants by the end of fifty years.
 The Union Carbide Offer
 The Union Carbide company of New York asks a 50-year lease on Nitrate Plant No. ? and the Waco quarry and the privilege of buying from the gov ernment 5000 horsepower annually for it's own purposes. and 5O,O0O more to manufacture 100000 tons of ferti- lizer at cost, plus a profit of five per cent, but not to exceed two dollars a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
By RAYMOND CHAPTER Leased Wire to The Age.Herald)

WASHINGTON, April 1S.--Con- gress, abetted by some of the Presi- dents own followers, is on the point of sending him three important legislative measures which disregard his own recommendations and which promise political complications whether he signs or yetoes them. These are the inn migration, bonus and tax bills.
 It is rare that three such important decisions on legislation must be made so close together. Within the next few weeks before the national conventions, Coolidge must weigh all of the com plicated problems involved in each of these measures and decide whether the best interests of the country require him to insist upon his own policies, or to yield to the expressed will of Con- gress.
 Here are some of the considerations which must be weighed in deciding whether to approve these imeasures:
 Immigration
 f Coolidge's chief objection to the bill as it stands is the Japanese exclusion feature. He is concerned chiefly with the effect upon international relations. Hughes fears that this provision will wipe out the good done by the Wash ington conference. The President naturally hesitates to give foreign power like Japan cause for feel ing offended. Yet he must consider the domestic phases. Congress-both Houses-has approved exclusion by overwhelming majorities and would readily do so again over Coolidge's veto. Thus veto would not change the ulti- mate result. In addition veto would
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
SAVANNAH BOOZE
 FIGURES IN QUIZ
lContinued from Page Onel

Although it's value was around $50, 900, he said, it ''all disappeared" before April, 1923, when grand jury inves- tigating the matter found no ground for indictment, but criticized the seiz- ure and storage system.
 The liquor trickled away through many channels. Scaife said but "an honest attorney he contended, would have got indictments against persons who absorbed it. The alleged contribu- tion to Mir. Gillett's office, for mention of which he was given a sharp remon- strance from Senator Wheeler, demo- crat, Montana, the committee ''prosecu- tor," was one of the minor items bear ing upon its disposal.
 In discussing war frauds cases, he related story of blocking in the bureau of investigation of the depart ment of justice and civil prosecution in the Wright Martin Aircraft corpora tion case which he alleged involved an 'over-payment" of $5,000,000 in war contracts Chairman Brookhart cited from committee records testimony that H. NJ. Daugherty, brother of the former Attorney General, owned 800 shares of stock in this corporation in 1920 and 2,500 shares in 1922.
 Cecil H. Kerns, an Ohio drug com pany operator prior to his conviction in 1922 of violating the prohibition law, took the stand briefly to say that Fed eral Judge Killits in Ohio was respon- sible for seeking the revocation of the parole from Atlanta penitentiary upon which he is now free.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
LODGE ORDERS | OPEN HEARING | ON WORLD COURT
Pepper Is Assigned To Head Senate Sub
 committee

X WASHINGTON. April 1S.-Pro- posals for American adherence to the World Court. which have been slum- bering in the Senate foreign relations committee win be brought out for a public hearing in the near future.
 This was decided upon today by the committee, but Chairman Lodge and other members indicated this did not mean an early report would be made to the Senate on any of the several propositions that have been advanced. among them the original proposal sub mitted by President Harding more than year ago K
 Hearing GrantesI
 Committee action today was confined solely to the granting of a request of organizations favorable to the World Court idea that they be heard. A sub- committee of five, with Senator Pep per, republican, Pennsylvania, as chair man was named to conduct the hear ings
 Senators said there had been little in the committee and there were rno renewals of charges recently made in. the Senate by Senator .Rcbin- son, democratic leader, that Senator Lodge was preventing action. At that time the latter declared no Senators had pressed for action and that they could at anytime,
 The subcommittee is without any authority, Chairman Lodge said, to make any recommendations to the erl- tire committee as between the several plans suggested and embodied in res olutions introduced in the Senate. It is limited wholly to the conducting of hearings and report on them.
 Senator Pepper said he hads hoped to begin the hearings April 2S, but at the request of some who desired to be heard he had postponed the time to April 90. That date is tentative, he aIIoI YE .Jl i+
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
BANKING URGED BY PLATT
Crissinger Also Asks Pro- lection Of Rights Of
 National Banks

WASHINGTON, April 1S.- Edmund Platt, vice governor of the federal re- serve board, advocated branch banking within certain limits at hearing to- day before the House banking commit tee on the McFadden bill to amend the national bank act. Mr Platt quoted statistics to show the growth of branch banking.
 Governor Crissinger of the federal reserve board urged that national banks be given such rights as State banks have in cities in the establishment of branch offices under the federal reserve systems supervision.
 If the state banks have privileges, there can be no logic in prohibiting na- tional banks" he said. You have i'm posed on national banks that they shall have no interlocking directorates while state, banks may have them. I think the liberalization contemplated in this bill will be of benefit on the whole.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
CITY COMMISSION
 OFFICIALLY Q. KS
 TIDEWATER SALE
Ordinance Passed Friday Ends Municipal Part
 In Transaction

Unanimously the city commission adopted the ordinance Friday morning which ratified agreements with the re- ceiyer of the Tidewater Railroad com pany confirming the change of the roads franchise, the action making the sale of the property recently at auction authentic and concluding the transaction between the municipality and the utility organization.
 The Tidewater was sold Monday a week ago contingent on the city's of ficially confirming the granting of a new franchise. This was done.
 The franchise was for a 30-year pc riod; cancels the old 99-year franchise. and gives the road the use of the streets for street car service. All streets to be abandoned by the line under the new franchise revert to the city and street car tracks will be re- moved from them.
 Change In Notes
 A minor>change made was in regard to the payment of the S75000 sum to the city. It was changed from one 12-month note, to seven $10,000 notes, and one $5,000 note to be taken up dur ing the course of the year. The notes were certified by Birmingham bank
 Remaining details of the cmergence of the utility properties from the sre- ceivership are. the report of Special Master J. s. Pevear to the federal court of the completed sale. confirmation of the sale by the federal court, followed by conveyance of the property from the old company to the new, which the court will authorize. Following this the receivership will be dismissed.
 Perfection of business arrangements of .the Birmingham Electric company, new holders of the properties. are be- ing made and election of officers is expected to take place shortly.
 Re H. Smith, representing the Na- tional Power and Light company of New York, is officially designated spon- sor for the Birmingham Electric com pany propert es. by the National Pow CT and Light company, and will have an office in Birmingham. He acts in similar capacity for other street car and utility properties of the organiza- tion. forming the contact between the cities where the utilities operate and the home office in New York.
 It is understood that the majority of the directors of the Birmingham Electric company will be Birmingham people. After organization, the com pany will take up the placement of stocks and bonds recently authorized by the Alabama public service commis- sion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
'GRL SET FREE
 10 REAR BABE
Gussie Hunann Serves Two Years Of Seven ]
 Year Sentence

ALBANY, N. T., April .1s.-After .
 two-year sojourn amid the comforts of m excellent prison, Gussie Humann, lnows2e years old, will stroll forth from Auburn prison and return to her fa~ ther and baby in Brooklyn, completely
 absolved of any connection with the wanton killing ofsa boy who loved her. Acquitted of first-degree murder by an order from Judge Burt Humphr i rey, who. refused to let the case % to | the jury, Gussie turned to and He'd
 earnestly to save Joseph Libasci, her I.compaliion in the clandestine love Af- | fair, from the electric chair. So well did Gussie confuse the jury in Li-
 basci's case that disagreement re-
 suited. Then Libasci, rather than trust to Gussie's services on the wit ness stilnd in another trial, admitted the killing, pleaded guilty of murder in the second degree and accepted 2 life term in Sing Sing, which means IF years if he behaves. Grssie then was 1 indicted for prejury. She pleaded guil- and one-half to fifteen years, which now dwindles to two.
 E When she confessed perjury and was
 sentenced to prison, the brutality with which her lover, Harry Garbe, was Killed; was obscured by tie story of
 her own plight. She was about to be-
 come the mother of Libasci's child she
 never had q chance she didn'. know what it wasall about.
 ,Gussie's child was born after she had
 been taken to Auburn. After a few
 weeks, the infant was taken from Gus sic and turned over to her parents in Brookiyn8to grow up under their
 care until Gussie should complete her term, However, Gussie's mother died recently and her father, left with the care of a baby, petitioned Gov. Alfred E. Smith to release his girl 90 that
 she might assume the duties of mother hood
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
To Veto Or Not, Is Problem ,|
 Coolidge Faces On } Bills
President Has Declared Against Both Bonus And
 Tax Measures Passed By Congress

cause deep disapproyal on the Pacific coast. The best information is that he will approve the bill and make an ex- planation, which will salvc Japan's wounded pride.
 Congress is determined fo pass a soldier bonus and expects to do it by a two-thirds majority. which would make veto ineffective. The cash bonus idea is being thrown, over in favor of an insurance plan. Coolidge is opposed to a cash bonus, but he has not said whether he would oppose the insurance form. Veteran organizations will be deeply disappointed at q veto. Business will be deeply disappointed if the Paesident signs the bill.
 Taxes
 The Mellon rates to which the Presi- dent is committed have been discarded. Congress will send himNa bill which approximates the democratic schedule. Coolidge must decide whether to veto the bill and appeal to the country to return a republican congress commit ted to the Mellon plan, or take what he can get and hope for more in the next congress. If he gets the twenty five per cent reduction on taxes payable this year, he will be in better position to veto the general tax bill.
 Thus it will be, seen that the life of a republican president for the election this year is not altogether a happy one. He is in for trouble no matter what he does with these three measures. He has not only the opposition of the democrats, but the opposition of n powerful wing within his own party to contend with. That is what compli- cates his position.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
DOINGS OF DAY
 INV WASHINGTON

The Senate passed the immigration bill 62 to O. s.
 Early hearings on the World Court proposal were ordered by the Senate foreign relations committee.
 c. B. Moore, traffic manager of the Shipping Board in Europe, testified be fore the House Shipping Board investi- gating committee. 'sss.., :,
 Federal reserve board officials testi- fled before the. House banking com mittee on the McFaaden bill to amend the national bank act. as
 Dcmocratic leaders considered the ad- visibility of withholding efforts to amend the soldier bonus lyill on re- ports that President Coolidge might ap- prove the measure as it is. eS |, { The Senate oil committee examined William Cooper Proctor and others in its quest for information regarding re- ports of oil influence at the 192U ere publican national convention.
 Chairman Winslow denied and demo- cratic members of the committee re. affirmed that the House commerce. commission was holding back the Bark ley bill to abolish the raiiroad labor board.
 H. l.. Scaife told the DaugEerty in- vestigating committee he had heard that some seized liquor, which disappeared from storage here. went to the office of Speaker. Gillett. The latter, denied it. The department of agriculture, it was announced, will call a conference of western stafes representatives in an endeayor to obtain agreement. on foot and mouth disease embargoes imposed by states. z The House passed the annual appro- priationslhill for the departments of state, justice. commerce and labor, carrying $6S. .00O. 900, including pro vision for increase rates pay for im- migration Inspectors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
NEGROES THROAT CUT Alleged AsSailant' Is Placed In Pike
 Jail

TROY. Ala, April 1S.-(Special Leased Wire. )4-Cicero Mckinley. a ne- gro, had his throat cut Thursday night by Napoleon Rolling. another negro. 1t is stated by the officials that Rolling slipped into the home of Mckinley and cut his throat while he was asleep.
 Rolling was found at his home three miles from Troy and was arrested for assault with intent to murder.
 Kiwanians Invited-The Kiwanis club held an interesting |. luncheon Thursday night and d splendid pro- gram was given which was in charge of Charles F.. Copeland. Superintend- ent Edward McGehee of the. Troy schools was guest of the club and extended an invitation to the club to hold their meeting next Thursday at the Troy high school as guests of the domestic science class and the invita- tion was accepted.
 Child AdOpted-Mr. and Mrs. w. L., Wall have adopted the baby girl that was carried to the Baptist Orphanage Tuesday night. They have named her Wiley Louise Wall; Wiley is for Mir. Wall and Louise is for Louise Short Baptist Orphanage which sheltered her for several days and gave her the care needed
 Out For Board-y-Frank l.. Jones. a prominent Troy man has announced as a candidate for election as a member of the county school board. Mir. Jones was a. member of the board for a mum Der of years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
ONLY JAIL SAVED
Flames Cause $6OO,OOO Damage In West Virginia Fire

HARRISONBURG, Va, April IS. The court house, two banks, two hotels, the telephone exchange and stores, offices and residences for more than three blocks along the main street of Franklin, Pendleton county, West Virginia, about 40 miles from here, were destroyed by fire last night, ac- cording to reports received here today.
 The fire, which started from an ex- plosion of gasoline in a garage, ragged from 6 O'clock in the evening until ,af- ter midnight and caused damage esti- mated at more than $60O,0O0. The jaily only was saved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
IN THE AIR TODAY (Copyright 1924 For The Age

s Herald. < WEAF, New York;, 492 meters, and wCAP, Washington, 469 me- ters, g p. m., eastern standard time. --Madrigal Chorus of the New York Oratorio society.
 WBz, Springfield Boston. 337 meters, S:30 p. n,., eastern standard time.-Program, Tschaikowsky guar tet.
 : WLAG, Minneapolis, Ar meters, 9:15 p. m., central standard time.- The Great Northern Glce Club.
 WFAA, Dallas, 476 meters, S:30 D. m., central standard time.-Piano. recital by Viola Van Katwick.
 WDAF, Kansas City, All meters, II :45 p. m., central standard time. Night Hawk frolic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-19
DENBY ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
 FOR 0IL LEASES
Former Secretary Denies Collision In Connec-
 ton With Teapot

ADRIAN, Mich, April 1S.-Full re- sponsibility for the initiation of the policy which resulted in the leasing of the naval oil reserves was assumed here tonight by Edwin Denby around whom ragged storm of. criticism in the Senate before his retirement last month as Secretary of the Navy.
 Had I not taken the action I did to protect the interests of the navy in these reserves against the tremendous loss of drainage" he declared in an address, T would have been false to ! my trust and c,ilpably negligent in the performance of my duty
 Replying to what she said had been an insinuatipn of coiiuslen on his part in connection with the oil leases, MT. Denby said he had snever been talked to about 4be naval petroleum reserve situation before he entered the cabinet by the president-elect or by any of his cabinetSor other advisers.
 Denies Collusion Existed
 My appointment was somewhat un- expected" he said, "and was not an- nounced until about February p. Therefore, there was no collision as to any acts to be performed by me though even that insinuation has been made.
 Shortly, after. taking office. it was represented to me that drainage of the reserves was proceeding rapidly and offset wells were necessary. Believing that the department of the interior was best qualified to handle for the navy its enormously valuable reserves, l turned to the interior department for advice on the subject. l then asked the secretary of the interior if he could not take over the administrative con trol of the naval petroleum reserves. Secretary Fall did not ask me. I asked him. 1 wanted him to stop the squandering of an invaluable resource. Together then, the secretary of the in- terior and 1 presented the matter to the president of the United States and after he had given it careful study he decided to issue an executive order.
 Approved Well Drilling
 Thereafter a searching ilvestiga- tion was made by the, department of the interior into the whole problem and meantime certain offset wells were drilled by theSdepartmept of the inte- rior with the Knowledge and approval of the secretary. of the navy, although he did not sign those individual con- tracts. Later in October, 1921-after discussion of the subject with the coun- sel of the secretary of the navy, l gave Rear Admiral J. K. Robinson, en- gineer-in- chief of the navy, charge of the oil reserves under the naval estab- lishment."
 Here Mir. Denby reiterated at length his denial of the charge that he had caused to be transferred from Wash ington certain officers of the navy who opposed the leasing policy. .-
 Upon, the advice of Admiral Rob- inson and others," he continued, Il became convinced that steps, must be taken to use the powers given to the secretary of the navy by the Congress to accomplish what l earnestly be- lieved to be the intention and will of Congress-to save sand protect the oil for the benefit of the United States navy" .s a.