The Washington times., 1924-12-05
SHOALS
DELAY COSTLY
T0FAR|NS
Sum Has Reached SITS, ooo,-
600, Harrison Tells Senate.
New Amendments

Every years delay by Congress
in failing to settle upon fixed
policy for disposition Of Muscle
Shoals has cost the farmers of the
nation approximately SITS 900. 900 IN
increased fertilizer prices, Senator
Harrison CD OF Mississippi. charged
in the Senate today
Harrison, formerly a supporter of
Henry Ford's bid for the poperties,
came out strongly for the new I'm
derwood plan.
ut would be the grossest sort of
negligence as well as the most con-
vincing lack Of craftsmanship for
this Congress to fail at this short
session to settle this lopg-delayed
problem" Harrison said.
While Harrison was speaking, it
was learned that Western and
Southern Senators. who previously
held out for the Ford offer were
seeking to effect an agreemnt to
support tn Underwood plan.
They planed later to introduce
amendments which would incor-
porate in the Underwood measure
certain features Of the Norris bill
for straight.out governmental own
ership and operation Of the huge
nitrate and power project.
These informal negotiations be-
tween these two groups Of Senators
idicated strongly that the Under
wood bill, with only minor amend
ments, probably would be passed by
the Senate early next week. Ad-
ministration forces weer said now
to favor the Underwood proposal.
Two amendments to the Under
wood bill were introduced provid-
ing for Government operation of
the Alabama property in the event
it is not disposed OK before next
July.
The first, by Mcclellan of Ten.
nessee, would prohibit Muscle
Shoals from falling nto the hands
Of any foreign citizen r corpora
ton.
The other, by McNary, proposed
that the dam properties, should
they be leased, be controlled by
the Federal Trade Commission.
In Administration circles there
was a noticeable drift to the pro-
posal because it followed in gen.
eral the suggestion IN President
Coolidge's annual message that
Muscle Shoals should be sold or
leased to private control.
They believed that during the
next seven months the Govern
ment, through the President and
Secretary Of War, could find sat
isfactory buyer or long.term lessee
thus avoiding operation by Federal
authorities.
Meanwhile, however, hrogressives
kept battle lines intact FOR a
\ spirited drive to force acceptance Of
the Norris plan for straight out
government ownership and opera
ton. esq
AS soon as debate lags in the
| least, Republican and Democratic
leaders have formed a tacit agree
ment to ask for adoption OF a
special rule setting a limit on talk
SO that a vote may be speeced up.
Early Vote Is Expected
Under the present parliamentary
status, Muscle Shoals cannot be
laid aside for other legislation ex-
cept by unanimous consent. If
debate continues too long, appro-
priation and other bills coming
over from the House would be de-
! layed.
1t was learned that Senator Cur.
tbs Of Kansas, Republican leader.
and Senator Robinson of Arkansas,
minority chief, are anxious for an
early vote.
Should the Underwood or the
Norris plans be accepted, the ques-
ton would have to go to confer
ence between the two houses. The
House has accepted the Ford bid
which, however. subsequently was
| withdrawn.