Evening star., 1926-03-09
COOLIDGE EFROWNS
ON SHOALS CHANGE
Hopes Amendments Will Be
Moderated Before Conn.,
ing to Him.

President Coolidge was gratified
to see the Senate pass the admins
trations Muscle Shoals bill. but
while discussing it with callers today
he made it plain that he does not
favor the amendments included in
the bill providing for the making of
contracts for the disposal of the
properties. The President is under
stood to be hopeful that the bill can.
be made more acceptable before it
reaches him for his signature.
The President is known to be prin-
cipally concerned at this time in the
manufacture o. nitrate, and he wants
the members of Congress and the pub
lie at large TO realize the national i'm.
portance of the manufacture of
nitrate, not only for the defense of
this nation, but for the development
of agriculture. The President is of
the opinion that the drawing up of
contracts for leasing these properties
will make it possible to attain the
aims of the President. regarding the
manufacture of nitrate as we'll as the
supplying OF power.
Two Amendments Made.
!. Although the Senate yesterday
afternoon adopted the resolution au
| thoriZing a joint committee of Con
gresS to receive bids for Muscle
Shoals, two amendments were added.
which will require a conference with
the House. The resolution as amend
ed went through. 81 to 26.
The purpose of the resolution is to
lease the shoals plant primarily for
the manufacture of fertilizer for
farmers. One of the Senate amend
ments would require surplus power
to be distributed equitably among the
States adjoining Alabama. The sec.
ond amendment extends the time
within which the joint committee may
! report a lease back to Congress from
April l to April o6.
Heflin Led Fight.
Proponents of the resolution. led by
Senator Hef1in. Democrat. Alabama
fought vigorously FOR its adoption
without amendment to avoid the
necessity of a conference adjustment
with the House and expedite disposal
of a long pending problem. Opponents
Of private operation fought fruitlessly,
but with equal vigor, to attach amend.
mentS to the resolution that would
nullify it's object.
The joint congressional committee
provided for in the resolution would
comprise three members of the Sen
ate agriculture committee and a like
number from the House military com
mittee, and would be authorized to ne
sotiate for private lease Of the prop
critics for not more than so years, and
would be directed to reject any offer
less remunerative to the Government
than that made by Henry Ford several
years ago. Any bid approved by the
committee would be subject to action
| by Congress before it could be made
effective.
Essential to Defense.
| The Presidents spokesman, while
discussing this legislation today, con-
cluded that during the discussion of
the Muscle Shoals project in the SEN
! ate the development of power has
somewhat overshadowed the manufac-
| ture of nitrate. The spokesman en-
mia sized that the President looks upon
| the letter as of infinitely more impOr-
tance to the Nation. In his opinion the
DEVELOPMENT of power Is more or less
of local value, inasmuch as it would
serve only those States contiguous
to the project itself. while the manu-
featuring of nitrate Is essential. 1t
Was pointed out at the present time
this country is manufacturing no
nitrate and at the same time going
ahead with the production Of
materials and equipment for. nation
al defense in which the use OF nitrate
is essential. Besides its Importance
to the. national defense the President
considers the protection of this
product as of great value to the
farn,ers of the country. While he does
not expect the Muscle Shoals project
~ ,,rod,,ce a supply of nitrate suff1.
ci.nt 70 meet the agricultural needs
[ Of the Nation. it would at least be
sufficient to materially lnnuence tne
price Of nitrate IN as,,an tns aiac'uio
Also It would take from the hands
of foreign countries the control OF
this commodity.