The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-23
POWER TRUST TO HAVE TURN
 IN COMMITTEE Alabama Power Company Officials To Follow Rockers ADVOCATES OF FORD ARE HELD HELPLESS Harrison And Heflin Conclude Attempt To End Hearings
 Would Fail
lWsshlnston Bureau)

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 22.- The week the Senate committee on az riculture originally pledged itself to give to the consideration of the dis posal of Muscle Shoals has. expired.
 The proponents of the offer of E. H.. Hooker, who were limited, in the beginning, to two days, still occupy the witness stand.
 Indications at present are that the hearings will be extended into May. This is apparently in accord with the desire of Chairman Norris and his associates advocating govern ment ownership and operation of Mus cle Shoals. Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi and Senator J. Thomas lief lin of Alabama, ardent supporters of the Henry Ford offer, have concluded that any attempt on their part to bring hearings to an end would result in failure.
 Although we know" said Senator Harrison tonight, that the majority of the members of the committee are in- clined to waste time in belief that each day is important to the success of the Ford offer, we have agreed that, under the circumstances, it would be wise to let the opposition have its way until we can get to the floor of the Senate. Although a majority of the committee members are apparently op- posed to the Ford offer. there is no doubt that we can have it reported as the minority report.
 "Ford's proposal appears best when held up before the people of the coun- try. In a committee chamber, it is in its most inauspicious atmosphere"
 Inasmuch as only the Rockers have given testimony, the list of other wit iiesses is almost indeterminable. It is learned today that the chairman of the committee expects the Alabama Power company, which up to the pres ent stage of the proceedings has had nothing to say, to ask for an inning. If that request is made, the chairman indicated that he would be glad to well come the officials of the company. The company has made an offer to take over Muscle Shoals, and stands will ing, 1t is reported, to cooperate with the government in any other scheme in the event it's offer is rejected.
 If the Alabama Power company, is permitted to m0nopolize the committee ag gg4lik HaplteFs hare been. it's tesfi- n0ny will consume at least one other week.
 Albert Hooker, chemist, brother of the Hooker, who has offered to oper- ate Muscle Shoals if the government tinued the Hooker story throughout to- day. When the committee was ad- journeyed, he still occupied the stand. Declaring that there was still other important matters to submit to the committee, he promised to continue his evidence throughout tomorrow His statement was featured today by an assertion that the Rockers operating at Muscle Shoals could produce ferti- lizer and other necessities and con- veniences more satisfactorily than any body else. Hitherto, he had disclaimed a superiority over his rivals. This new attitude caused considerable amusement to Senator McNary of Ore gon, who facetiously engaged the wit ness in repeated eOlloQuies for the pur- pose of revealing the extent of what appeared to be his boasting.
 Inquiry this afternoon brought out the fact that the Hooker offer has no more chance of being reported by the committee than the offer of the Ala bama Power company. It has no sup porters, it was indicated. That the committee, in view of that fact, has suffered the Rockers to consume an entire week in presenting their case, has been due to the fact, it is gen orally understood, that the Hookers have peyer lost an opportunity to hold up in derision the offer of Ford
 Senator Harrison tonight said "of course, that has been the object of some of the members of the commit tee '"