The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-30
HEARST REOPENS
 UNDERWOOD ATTACK
Editorial Intimates COali- tiOn Between Fred Un-
 derw00d And Senator
BRUCE-HARRISON
 WAGE BITTER FIGHT
Maryland Senator Defends Ferti- lizer Head Against Attacks
 Of Mississippian
(Washington Bureau.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The initial step towards the smashing of the trust which controls the elec- trical current necessary to American industrial life was taken today when Senator George w. Norris of Ne braska, presented a resolution Tn the senate authorizing the federal trade commission to ascertain the existence of such a trust.
 Senator Edge of New Jersey objected to request for unanimous consent that the resolution be considered at once. It is regarded as certain, however, that the resolution in the end will prevail. Senator Norris is confident that it will be revealed that the General Electric company controls practically every cor poration disseminating power in the United States and that as result of long litigation, the trust will be dis solved. Senator Harrison of Mississippi suggested that along with an electrical trust the fertilizer trust, known to be fighting the Underwood Muscle Shoals bill, should likewise be investigated. He based his contention on statement by Gustavus Ober, Jr., head of that trust, to the effect that the Underwood
 
 the fertilizer market"
 Reaafs Testimony
 Harrison read testimony of Ober be- fore the senate committee on agricui- ture advocating a policy under which Muscle Shoals plants would be main teined in a stand by conditions as preparation in the event of war. Sen ator Norris explained that the fertilizer &m,.-4 AaI nTraodv hoaT1 iuvnStiOo tad
 There followed a sharp exchange of personalities between Harrison and Sen ator Bruce of Maryland which, when amplified by a general outburst of dis connected oratory, rendered the net re suit of the day as far as Muscle Shoals was concerned, inconsequentlal.
 Calls Bill "Dead'
 Outside the senate, however, there were developments which some regarded as significant. Editorially, William R. Hearst's Washington Herald, declaring the Underwood bill dead" launched 0n attack against the commission bill of Senator Jones of Washington. It was alleged that, as UnderwoOd's bill was "playing the game of the power trust, so would Jones' bill"
 It was explained that if commission were created it would result in indef- mite delay, which would give the power trust an opportunity to secure Muscle Shoals under a temporary lease, which, 3 eventually broken, would result in protest from all those who had grown accustomed to service by the power trust. The editorial declared it neees I sary that the senate enact the govern ment ownership and operation bill of Senator Norris, which would make Mus cle Shoals the principal unit in a super power zone.
 Thatt was not the only move of MT. Hearts local newspaper. It carried a Birmingham dispatch purpOrting to be an interview with Fred Underwood, assistant general manager of the Bir- mingham Electric company, and brother to Senator Underwood. Mir. Underwood is made to declare that Muscle Shoals is too great a source of power to lie neglected' and to protest against gov ernment operation.
 It is stated that Mir. Underwood ex- plained that he was moved in no par ticular by the energies of Senator Un- derwood, and that no conference had been held between the two.
 The generally accepted opinon pre- vailed in the senate today, however,
 (COntinued on page twO)