The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-13
HEATED ARGUMENT
 FEATURES DEBATE
Mcclellan Says Power Co.
 And Utilities Board Are One
VOTE IS UNLIKELY
 BEFORE WEDNESDAY
Heflin Bitterly Arraigns Oppo- nents Of Underwood Meas
 ure In Counter Attack
(WaslningtOn Bureau.)

WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 12.- The Underwood bill, providing fina disposition for Muscle Shoals plans has reached stage where 1t VII be determined in the first amend ment vote tomorrow whether it shal continue to be national defense ol a waterpower proposition. The pend ing amendment is by Senator E. U Smith of South Carolina. It pro vides that the government shall re tain possession of the property fol operating and experimental pur poses. 1t would require the pro Auction of nitrogen to the capaclt1 of the nitrate plants. Sens tor Underwood, in final speech this afternoon, accepted the issue.
 "It is clearly drawn" he said.
 "ShaII we dedicate these plants 10
 national defense and the farmers
 of the country, or shall we permit
 them to be operated for power pur-
 noses exclusively? I am ANXIOUS
 that the issue be determined as
 0uickly as possible. We have made
 the best fight we knew how to
 make. and the result is in the hands
 of the senate"
 Senator Underwood declared that the Smith nroyision that fertilizer shall be nroduced to the plants capacity was meaning less inasmuch as the capacity, ,,nder deterioration, might be reduced each year.
 Smith
 In concluding, he politely but pointed lv rebuked the South Caroinian.
 q know how faithfully the senator has heretofore worked for the farmers of America "he said" Now, however, he is lined up with senators who are fighting for a power monopoly. tnlnk if may say so. that he shoulo set OacA with his own crowd"
 He also pointed out that senator Smith was inviting a presidential veto whereas he said that he had been as- sured that the President would ap- prove his bill.
 Here were indications throughout
 the day that the opposition had or
 ganized A determined filibuster
 against the Underwood bill. Sen
 ator Heflin, of Alabama, openly so
 charged when he declared that 0p-
 nosing senators knew that there
 are more ways than the direct way
 to defeat a measure. He addressed
 his remarks primarily to Senator
 Norris, of Nebraska and Senator
 McKellar, of Tennessee. It was his
 direct insinuatiOn that Norris was
 "muddying the waters" and other
 wise employing the same tactics
 he employed successfully to prevent
 action of the Henry Ford offer.
 Both Heflin and Underwood derided the contention of Norris that fertilizer, save at a loss could not be produced at Muscle Shoals and both contended furiously against efforts to eliminate from the bill the section making the producing of 10000 tons of nitrate per annum mandatory.
 Cites Power Co. Deal
 Senator McKellar announced the fact that the Alabama Power company had secured control of the street railway company operating in the Tri-Cities, and cited this as proof of his contention that the Alabama Power company was certain that the Underwood bill would pass, and that it wuold acquire the lease. When Senator Copeland, of New York, reading from Alabama statutes, declared it to be doubtful that the Ala bama Power company could be regu- lated by the Alabama Public Service Utilities commission, McKellar declared that it doesn't particularly matter as there are no differences between the Alabama Power company and the com mission" His remarks were regarded as charge that collision existed between the two.
 '"This power company" he said Gin tends to build up great city in north Alabama, and use all the power in de- veloping it's own property. It behooves senators residing in near by states to look out for the interest of their own people"
 Senator Caraway, of Arxansas. typic-
 Continued On Page TwO.) IGhrrroh E-ox