Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-12

Wide differences OF opinion are found
in the comments that have been made
on the action of the United States
Senate, which by vote of As to %
approved the Norris bill for Government
operation Of the Muscle Shoals plant,
one of the relics of the World War. The
discussion develops no clear national
attitude on the question Of Government
control, favorable statements emphasiZ-
ing the ACCESSIBILITY of undertaking q
test, while at the same time warning
against monopoly under private con-
troll and the difficulties involved in at
tempting a favorable lease. Opposition
to the idea Is based on emphatic dis
approval of public competition with pri-
waite business. There is much Specula-
ton as to the ultimate attitude of
President Hoover. in view of the opposi-
ton to the plan when q similar bill went
TO President Coolidge.
Whatever one may think OF the basic
policy involved in the plan for Govern
ment operation" says the Baltimore
Sun, 1.-The Senate's action in approving
1t by a vote of As to 70 Is another
remarkable tribute to its author, Senator
Norris of Nebraska" In the event that
the bill meets some later setback, the
Sun declares: 1T is q perfectly safe
bet that Senator Norris will doggedly
start out again to get the bill on the
statute books. And If he lives long
enough he will unquestionably succeed"
The Dayton Daily News refers to the
fact that, President Coolidge killed the
bill with a pocket veto, and so Muscle
Shoals remained in suspense" but adds
that "since the pocket veto there have
been significant developments" and
the secret lobbying and wire-pulling
by which private interests sought pos
session of the great property have been
brought to light"
1.-THE case for the Norris plan" ac-
cording to the st. Louis Post-Dispatch
lis as valid and unanswerable today as
at any previous time. Here Is an i'm
mense hydroelectric power plant in
approximately, $l80, 100000. What
the United States Is not known. What
is known is that a Canadian plant of
comparable magnitude Is operated sue
cessfully by the government at rates
substantially lower than those charged
by private enterprise in this country"
The Topeka Daily Capital advises that
until there is far more evidence that
the power industry has an intention Of
fair play with the public in holding
company manipulation, in capitaliza-
ton, in rates and in other important
matters, the public should not for one
moment think of turning Muscle Shoals
over to it."
Perhaps it would be we'll" suggests
the Charleston Evening Post. Ito make
a test OF public ownership of a power
generating plant and to see just how
the principle actually works. II 1t is
not satisfactory, q change could be
made at any time. And we should then
know how far the power companies had
been right in fearing the effect Of Gov
eminent operation. 1t might prove
highly successful, although the chances
are heavily against that. But the ex-
pertinent would be interesting and illu-
minating"
every safeguard which could be de-
vised," contends the Flint Daily Jour-
nal, has been included in the Norris
resolution to prevent the Government
from entering direct competition to
commercial interests. Since no salts
factory arrangement for disposal of the
properties to private interests could be
worked out, We believe 1t Is the sane
and logical thing for the Federal Gov
eminent to make use of them for good
Of the general public"
The repassage impresses the Admission
Star as lat once a rebuke to President
Coolidge and vindication of the orig
inal intent Of the Wilson administra-
ton in projecting this development,
which not only would have the effect of
making the United States independent
OF foreign powers for nitrates in time