The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-15
SHOALS FUTURE
 RESTS IN FATE
 OF SMITH BILL
Adoption Of Amendment May Mean Veto Of Un-
 derwOOd Measure
EDITORIAL PROBE
 TO BEGIN MONDAY
Alabama Senator Will Quiz Author Of Wash
 ington Herald Attack
(Washington Bureau.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-While the judiciary committee will initiate it's investigation of the Washington Herald editorial, criticising the Un- derwood Muscle Shoals bill, tomor- row, that which is giving the propo- nents of the Underwood measure concern is the pending amendment of Senator E. D. Smith of South Carolina, which will be voted on Tuesday afternoon.
 Senator Underwood expressed bellef tonight that the amendment will be defeated. At the same time, 1t Will receive the support of those who, 1ndi1 : ferent towards the amendment itself, would use it as club to defeat the Underwood bill, and with that bill, all possibility of obtaining Muscle Shoals legislation this session. It is generally held true that President Coolidge would veto any measure which did not contain tho hone that the production of fertll- izer could be turned over to private enterprise rather than the government.
 Would Hold Property
 The Smith amendment would require the government to hold the property Tor an unnamed number of years for ex- perimental purposes. Senator Under wood contends that as no definite amount of fertilizer would be produced under the amendment, it would render Muscle Shoals exclusively a power prop osition. The amendment would require the production of nitrogen to the capac- ity of the plants. Senator Underwood contends that the capacity of the plants might be reduced each year, whereas his bill makes it mandatory that under any circumstance 10000 tons of nitrate must be produced.
 If the Smith amendment prevails, Senator Underwood will have lost his fight. If the amendment is beaten, however. his bill in all probability, will he enacted into law. With implied ap- nroval of the administration, it is be- lieyed that 1t will have relatively easy sailing in the house.
 Jockey For Delay
 While administration senators, under Leader Curtis, are supporting the Un- derwood bill, it is true at the same tune, that they have connived at the "mltd filibuster" which has impeded its prog ress and jeopardized it's chance at passage. Curtis was willing that delay he induced so that support of the pres ident's veto of the postal pay bill mlSht be chrystalized. It is understood that by Tuesday, Curtis will be made certain that he can sustain the veto, and that he will immediately apply the brakes to the apparently endless debate.
 In iockeying in the presidents behalf he has endangered the Underwood bill by permit opposing strength to gather momentum. It is pointed out, however. that even if the Underwood bill is beaten, the administration, which tentatively endorses it, will not have lost. It can fall back on either of several pending bills providing for the creation of a commission to study Mus cle Shoals. and the reference to com mission of Muscle Shoals was one Of the features of the presidents recon mendations to congress.
 Curtis will not long consider the Norris bill if the Underwood bill is defeated. He will put through com mission bill And while the commission is prosecuting it's studies, Wilson dam will be completed and leased, tempo rarily to the Alabama Power company The Washington Herald today made no editorial comment on the Underwood denunciation of yesterday.