The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-09
OPPOSITION TO FORD BID OVERRIDDEN First Amendment To Mo-
 Kenzie Bill Unirn- p0rtant
 MERELY PROVIDES CARRYING OUT PACT Alabams Power Company Op- position UnabIe To Withstand
 Mighty Machine < BEGG PROPOSAL HAS SUPPORT OF MKENZIE Capital Flooded With Telegrams Asking That Power Trusts
 Honor Be Not Impuganed
MERELY PROVIDES
 CARRYING OUT PACT
BEGG PROPOSAL HAS
 SUPPORT OF MKENZIE
twAsHrNGToN BUREAU)

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 fwAsHINGToN BUREAU)
 WAGHINGTQN, D. C., March Ss-- The Henry Ford offer for Muscle Shoals still hangs fire before distract. cd House. Late this afternoon, after every effort of the Alabama Power company throughout thet long day had been overwhelmingly defeated, Repre- sentative Begg of Ohio, speaking, it is alleged, for the farmers of his section, succeeded in amending the bill. On the heels of his success, Representative Winko of Arkansas, democrat, succeed cd in passing through the temporarily divided lines.
 The Begg amendment touched point in the Ford armor which was always known to be its weakest. It was ai- ways stressed by the opposition that the suarentee to produce fertilizer was not strong enough. The amendment which was successful declares that if for two succeeding years Ford fails to live up to his contract respecting the manufacture of fertilizer, he will forfeit all his rights under the contract. Thak Amendment, as amended by Mir. Wineo, provides tEat Ford will forfeit all his rights under the contract if for two succeeding years he fails to live up to any other provision of the con-
 Amsndnent Is Unfmportant
 The amendment as amended is ob- viously unimportant. as it has always been regarded by Ford's following that his offer was made in, good faith,. and that he was willing to bind himself as xiEidly ns anyone desires to discharge In good f&isk what he agreed to dis ehAfae ReDztsentRtive HieE enzie, 31edz znf 1kH fiHl. <4< A4 Fora bisi, Elsfi- pbF<E0 the z}o&x amen ndfaezzt, &lf ii h6 0Rfpsed the an1en1fAesst of " isa1D. The Alabama delegation, however, op- posed both psopcsitipnE. It was the theory 6g the delegation that while the aInendment vas unimportant in it's general effect, 1t was unnecessary and that 1t would be unwise in any respect to amend the bill. '.I have no authority to epeak for Mr. Ford, .tsaid Mir. Mckenzie. Never theless, it is my belief thst Mir. Ford has acted in good faith throughout the long fight. The Begg amendment and the Wingo amendment simply strength en thet bill. It makes it more binding on Mir. Ford. But in my opinion. Mir. Ford has no objection to being bound to carry out the provisions of the meas
 
 can be written. The amendments change no provision of the measure. Therefore. Mir. Ford will not object, in my opinion"
 Machine Started Anew 4
 The Begg victory had no deuoraiiS- ing effect on FoFd's adherents. As soon as the storm had abated, the deadly machine began again to func- fion. Representative Graham of 1lli- nois moved to strike out '.or it's equtya- lent'' in a section acquiring Ford to maintain nitrate plant No. 2 for the production of fertilizer. His motion was smashed.
 Adjournment was ordered at 6 o'clock, although Representative Nc Kenkie had just previously declared that he would hold the House in ses. sion until the bin was disposed of. Despite the efforts # Ferd's following, there was great delay. Just half the bill had been completed, and the op- position served notice that if Mckef. sie persisted in his declaration to hold the House in session, it would resort to every tactics to prolong the sessien throughout Sunday. There eeeme te be no question, however, that the flsht will be over Monday afternoon, afd that every other effort to hamstrinE tLe measure will be frugtrated.
 AliendHaerits BoWied Over
 Throughout the long day the opposi- tion offered one amendment aEter an. other. Each was bowled over by the Henry Ford kteam roller. The proce- dure was a hippodroIne which became firesome. Yet the leaders in the cause of inc Alabama Power company, for whom Theodore Burton of Ohio. with the appearance of tenacious bulldog was floor leader, cluns to their doofaed buainess.
 Burton was aware that every amend ment would be deteated. He was eps iIeavoring, however, to make case ter tEa Senate just as lawyer with pad cause lays knares to thwart justice be- fore the supreme court. The Ford ad- herents early determined to defeat every move of tue expedition. even those re- rarled as innGcuous in their harmless ness. And thus proposition by Rep resentatire Mclaughlin of Michigan, 1lnder which in the possible distribution of surplus power Ford would cotne under the operation of the public utili- ties commission of Alabama, proposi- lion which it's author declared had re- teiyed the approval of Representative Oliver of Alabama was overwhelming ly defeated. The point was made, sub. sequently, that the proposition would have been superfluous had 1t been adopted, inasmuch as distribption of power by Ford would automatically come undeR the authority of Alabama commissioners.
 Great Day For Alabamians
 It was a great day for AIahamIans. Representatives Oliver, Almon, Stea- gall, Rowling, Huddleston, McDuffie, and Jeffers figured in the debate. Mir. tcsuslsssd e fsss Tve. cslpsa TvO