Evening star., 1925-01-26

Passage by the Senate OF the IN
derwood bill for leasing Muscle Shoals
is taken as a definite indication of
policy on the part of the Senate to-
ward the operation OF the big plant.
Editors generally approve the atti-
tude expressed against Government op-
GRAFTON. Much criticism IL offered
toward the changes Of opinion ex-
hibited by the Senate, and much
doubt is expressed by many that the
House will take action during this
Congress.
The country rejected Government
ownership last November about as
fatty as 1t could reject It," says the
New York Evening Post, which adds:
THE Senate used UP six weeks Of its
session and took two days Of oratory.
mixed with a parliamentary tangle
and half-dozen ballotings. to do what
It should have done in a single roll
call" AS the Baltimore Sun sees II,
"one gratifying feature of the situa-
ton Is that majority of the Senate
IL that body can be said to know its
own minds opposed at this time to
embarking the Government upon a
vast and costly experiment. Further
more, President Coolidge is known to
be opposed to Government operation
II II can be avoided, and in negotiat-
ing a lease, provided the Underwood
Bill is enacted, it would seem rea-
sonably certain that no effort will be
spared to put the project into private
hands"
whether the conference committee
to which ultimately the measure will
be sent will approve 1t is problemati-
CAL" thinks the Chicago Daily News,
which goes on to say: Whether, if
the conference does approve 1t, the
oh
sponsored very different Muscle
Shoals project, will accept It is even
more problematical. At all events,
the Underwood bill is based on the
correct principle-that of private op-
Grafton of the property under a fair
lease" In the opinion OF the Cleve-
laid Plain Dealer, reference of the
problem to a commission, as proposed,
would, of course, mean delay. Con-
gress would finally have the decision
to make. The question is whether a
majority in the House and Senate
feels 1t has all the information 1t
needs to pass on an issue that may
m can much to several generations of
Americans"
Perhaps the chief, If not the only
compensatory, assurance the country
will get out of this action of the SEN
ate" according to the Chattanooga
Times, will be the facts, first, that
the great property is not to be
scrapped, but that 1t is to be COM
pleted for the future uses of the
public; and, secon', that it Is finally
to be operated by private interests
under such reasonable and satisfac-
tory Government control that the peo-
pie will be saved from exploitation in
the enjoyment of its benefcent
products"
Considering the highly controver-
sial nature of the proposition and the
Houses expressed preference for the
Ford lease" thinks the San Antonio
| News, "it is quite unlikely that an
agreement can be reached in the
crowded six weeks remaining of the
present session. Under the circum-
stances, the Sixty ninth Congress
must begin consideration of the vexed
problem all over again, and it will be
without expert advice and knowI-
edge" This view is concurred in by
| the New York Times, which says
Despite Senator Curtis prophecy that
some bill will become law at the
present session, the chances are that
| the project will go over to December.
| In such a postponement no serious
| loss Of time would be involved" )"
while the Oakland Tribune thinks,
80 far as the Senate is concerned, it
| is probable there will be no more
Muscle Shoals action for some time"
The Cleveland Times declares: For
| the sake of economy and efficient
manag ement, we believe, with Presi-
! dent Coolidge, that the Underwood