Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-10
HARRISON DEMANDS
SPEEDY ACTION ON
FORD SHOALS BID

WAS Ill NNJION April o.--ceild lOi
Harrison, Democrat, Mississippi, no
titled the senate agriculture commit
tee today that unless the Ford Mus
Gle Shoals bill is taken up for con-
sideration by the committee on We'd
nesday, April 16, he will make
motion on the floor of the senate that
the committee be discharged from
further consideration of the bill and
the bill put on the senate calendar
as unfinished business.
The committee agreed to begin con-
sideration Wednesday morning of all
Shoals bids and to continue in SEES
sion one week unless it was found
necessary to extend the time.
Senator Caraway, Democrat, Ar
kansas, supported Senator Harrison
in his effort to shut off further de
alterations by the committee on the
Muscle Shoals project and fix a def
mite time for action. He declared
failure of the committee to set a
time for closing public hearings
meant that the Muscle Shoals prop
osition would be hanging fire for
an indefinite period.
Extension of time for public
hearings. Senator Caraway said,
u I prin5 al a flood of new offers
which he declared were submitted
only for the purpose of causing de-
lay in disposing Of the Ford bid
Chairman Norris, Republican, Ne
raslla, replied that there was no dis
position on the part of the commit
tee to hold long hearings but he
wanted time for consideration of
all the bids.
Senator Harrison said a PROPOSE
tiuI of the ma gnitude of the Ford
offer deserves prompt action and
should be imme diately approved or
rejected.
A new bid for Muscle Shoals will
be presented probably today, before
the senate agriculture committee by
James T. Lloyd, a Washington attor,
ney, former representative from Mis-
souri,, on behalf of Il private corpora
ton
This bid, described by Mr.. Lloyd
as compromise between govern
ment and private operations. provide
for the lease of the Muscle Shoals
property for fifty years and other
! provisions somewhat similar to the
Ford offer, including the manufaC-
ture of nitrate. The new offer would
provide for direct supervision over
the properties by the department of
agriculture.
The Lloyd offer provides for the
incorporation of the American Nj.
| trate corporation with a capitalize.
ton of $10,000,0 600 with shares of
! 500 par value, stock ownership be
ing limited to American citizens. The
corporation would be controlled by
five directors, two appointed by the
| secretary of agriculture and the
others by the stockholders. Each Iii
rector would be bonded for $4,000
and paid an annual salary of SIP, 00G.
The corporation would give the
government a bond of 81 goo, 900 AMI
agree to make at their own expense
whatever additions and repairs to
the properties considered necessary
! by the secretary of commerce.
The directors appointed by the de-
| partment of agriculture would have
absolute control of the production
and sale of nitrates to farmers. farm
| organizations and to the regular
trade. Tie full board would have
control of the power, which would
4
second to nearby municipalities and
I third TO power companies for re-
! sale.
! The corporation would lease the
! whole Muscle Shoals property for
| fifty years. but after five years the
| government could, on six months
notice. rccaptHe the property BY
/ paying an indemnity of 100000 for
each uneXpired year of the lease.
| The corporation would agree to be
| prepared to produce 100000 horse
/ power within two years after obtain
/ ing the lease. 200 600 horsepower
after three years. and 500. 600 horse
| power after five years. The corpora
! ton would agree further to acquire
! for the government by purchase OF
/ otherwise a, site for an engine power
! station on Black Warrior river tC
/ generate $4,000 horsepower.
Procedure for consideration of the
/ bill passed by the house authorizing
accordance of the offer of Henry
/ Ford for the governments properties
1 at Muscle Shoals was discussed to
/ day 10y the senate agriculture com
mittee with view to beginning pub
/ lie hearings later this week.
Senator Mckinley, Of Illinois, =
! Republican member of the commit
+ tee. attacked the measure in the
+ senate yesterday, charging that the
/ government would be put TO consid-
! cradle additional expense under its
/ provisions. and that the manufacture
/ CT would obtain the project almost
without cost and with no actual
( obligation to do anything.
.NE II 1. NH =