Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-11
HOUSE VOTES To
REPLACE GORGAS
PLANT FOR FORD

which would authorize acceptance OF
Henry Ford's Muscle Shoals offer
the house today approved a section
providing for replacement of the
Gorgas' steam plant.
Opponents of the bill launched an
attack on the section providing for
replacement of the government's
steam plant, recently sold to the Ala
bama Power company. Representa-
tive Hull, Republican, Iowa. leading
the fight against the measure. NOV
ed eliminate the entire section. For
ty minutes were set aside for discus
sion Of his motion and the section.
The section was placed. in the bill
by the military committee and Is
known as the Madden amendment.
To replace the Gorgas plant re-
Gently sold to the Alabama Power
company, it provides that a steam
power plant, to be included in the
property which would be turned over
to Ford, is to be built at or near
dam II, Black Warrior river. with
a transmission line to nitrate plant
No. 2 at Muscle Shoals. The total
cost is not to exceed $3,472, 4S1 rs,
the amount paid Tor the GorSas
plant by the Alabama Power COM
pany.
The house rejected an amendment
by Representative Williamson, Re
publican, South Dakota, to make Mr..
Ford pay interest on all money eX
pended on Dam No. 2, and not since
May 81, 1922, as specified in the bill.
Without a dissenting vote, the
house adopted a motion by Represen-
tatiVe Mckenzie, Illinois, to resume
consideration of his bill providing
for acceptance of Henry Ford's offer
for Muscle Shoals.
Those in charge Of the measure
said they were confident a final vote
would be reached before the end of
the day.
House members opposed to the
Begg amendment adopted Saturday
which would require Ford to, sur
render his lease if he failed to make
good on his contract in any particu-
lar planned to obtain a record vote
on the amendment before a final
vote is had
Amendments Rejected
The first amendment offered to-
day, proposed by Representative We
fald, F'armer-Laborite, Minnesota,
was to fiXe the maximum net profit
Ford would be allowed to make on
fertilizer at per cent instead of 8
per cent, as provided for in the bill
Mr.. Mckenzie said reports of farm
organizations had indicated that s
per cent was a fair maximum" He
opposed the WefaId amendment
which was rejected
The house also voted down an
amendment by Representative
Strong, Republican, Kansas, to cut
the per cent to 6 per cent. Mr.
Mckenzie notified the house he was
determined to speed up a vote, and
in an effort to do so would seek to
cut discussion of various amend
ments. This announcement brought
applause from advocates of the Ford
bid
Another effort to alter the terms
of the Ford offer failed with an
amendment, by Representative Hill
=
that the per cent profit was to be
based on equipment used in fer
tilizer manufacture, was thrown out
Without discussion, another
amendment proposed by an opponent
of the Ford offer. Laguardia, Repub-
lican, New York, was rejected 1t
would have required Ford to pro-
duce at least 10000 tons of fixed
nitrogen at Muscle Shoals by 1926.
Propaganda" Blamed
A charge by Mr. Mckenzie that
some house members from several
sections were being swayed by
'propaGandaH of power companies
hostile to the Ford offer brought Mr..
Strong to his feet with a declara-
ton that he, for one, was seeking to
prevent "railrOading" of the Mcken.
zie bill through congress.
Mr.. Mckenzie contended that
charges that leasing of Muscle
Shoals to Ford would prove worse
than Teapot Dome" made on the
house floor by some members, were
inspired by interests fighting the
Ford offer. He declared that in this
way an effort was being made to
ALLEVIATE from Ford the good will of
farmers.
.In reply, Mr.. Strong declared he
was not influenced by any 'propa-
ganda,' but believed it was impera-
tive that Ford be permitted to make
only a reasonable profit.
A vigorous plea for acceptance OF
the Ford bid was made by Repre-
sentative Rogers. Democrat, New
Hampshire.
Amendments Quickly Rejected
As the house in quick succession
voted down one amendment after
another. supporters of the Ford bid
shouted vote, vote" whenever
member attempted to prolong dis
cussion.
Representative Laguardia, Repub
Iican, New York, helping TO wage a
futile fight against the bill, charged
that it was being "railroaded and
damned" through the house.
Another amendment by Mr.. Hill
to so into the discard would have.
eliminated a provision of the bill
that Ford, on the expiration of his
lease. should be accorded preference
in the releasing of the properties.
Begg Amendment Opposed
Chairman Madden, of the appro-
priations' committee, one of the
supporters of the bill, told
the house he believed a mistake had
been made in adopting the Begg
Saturday. He predicted
that a record vote would be had on
the amendment and urged members
to oppose it.
Originally providing that the gov
eminent could recapture its proper
ties at Muscle Shoals if Mr.. Ford
failed to meet certain requirements
with reference 10 fertilizer produc