The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-11
WEEKS RECEIVES NEW SHOALS BID
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| farmers of the country who he said, were being robbed by the fertilizer trust" while Representative Snyder, republican New York, observed that. the Ford offer did not pledge manu- facture of nitrate for fertilizers.
 Contentious of Representative AL mon were supported during the day | by Representative Hill. democrat, Alabama, who in a statement asserted that the new offer of the southern companies, absolutely fails to meet the situation"
 Comparison Unavailable.
 The Secretary said today he had not vet examined the latest proposal, and could not tell how 1t compared with the Ford offer or with the plan just presented by a combination ot plating rental of the Alabama plant | for period of 50 years with proyiso that title to the property re- main in the government, and that the way be left open for fertilizer manu- facture. but the War Secretary said it came | from entirely. responsible people. He | declined to reveal the source. He has been asked to make such suggestions as he desires, and he appeared 10 believe definite offer to purchase or lease the Muscle Shoals plant would
 Offer of the. nine southern power companies for leasing Of Muscle | Shoals presented yesterday was forr merly laid before the House. military committee today by RepresentatlVe Hull, republican of Iowa.
 The committee plans on next Tues day to renew discussion of the Muscle Shoals question, and Is expected at that time to give consideration to the
 MT. Hull said today he had been notified another offer also would be submitted shortly for the use of pow CT generated at the Wilson dam, I which will be completed next year, | for tho manufacture of nttrates to | be used for fertilizer.
 Representative Aln-on, democrat of l Alabama, in whose district Muscle l Shoals is located, issued a statement declaring against the offer of the l nine companies. because, he said. It did not provide for the manufacture of fertilizer or for construction of dam No. 3. .s-, /
 '.The new bidders" he satd, "simply suggest to the federal power commits | sion that they would be prepared to I take the power developed by the Will l son dam. when it is completed, on certain terms, and suggest that part of this power could be furnished
  string to operate the fertilizer plant. q do not consider 1t any better than. the, offer submitted by the Ala ban.a Power company about two years ago, which did not receive the support of single member of either congressional committee to which It was submitted.
 "The acceptance of the Ford offer would carry out the views ana the recommendations of the President in his recent message to Congress. namely, the sale of the property and for the manufacture of fertilizer for the benefit of the farmers"
 | Representative Hill, democrat. Ala bama, a member of the military af- | fairs committee, declared In a state ment the new offer absolutely fails | to meet the situation"
 "There is no assurance given what eYer," MT. Hill said, that the water power at Muscle Shoals or any part thereof will be used for the manu- facture of nitrates. To all disinter- ested citizens this Is the paramount purpose for which the power at Muscle Shoals should be used so as, to provide cheap and plentiful nitrate | for the government in time or war and low priced nitrate for the farm- CT in time of peace. "We also must recognize the fact
 
 company's offer looks from none tary consideration the more burdens they will place upon the people. The consumers, that Is to say the people generally, will pay whatever sum the power companies pay the government for the property.
 ''The proposed offer of the power | companies signed by all the big pow CTS of the companies of the states affected shows on the face or 1t the close relation and firm interlocking of these companies. An acceptance of the proposed offer Of these kindred souls, the big power. com panies means to give to them, a nionoply of the water power of all vinced than ever that the Ford offer is a boon to the farmers, to the south | and to the whole country"
 | In view of the increasing numbers | of proposals received by the lb'Vern- ment for the Muscle Shoals, properties
 embracing a variety of ideas for the
 use of power sites and nitrate plants there. war department~off officials are
 known to favor the creation by Con- gresG of board or commission whose
 members will have the authority to benter into direct negotiation with all l bidders and prepare reports on the Individual offers to Congress.
 InasH.uch as the war department
 under the law is prohibited from dis
 cussing the proposals with the bid
 ders or from doing more than for
 warding them to Congress for its
 consideration, and since Congress it.
 self now lacks any agency which
 might deal with the bidders, the crea-
 tion of a commission for that pur-
 pose is held to be necessary. | Vessels flying the American flag