Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-12
Wide Divergence of Opinion
On Future of Muscle Shoals

of war but will also be Of material
service to agriculture in time OF peace"
Approval of the bill comes also from the
Duluth Herald, the New York World,
the Davenport Democrat. the Richmond
News-Leader, the Milwaukee Journal,
the Asbury Park Evening Press and the
Raleigh News and Observer. The Rich
mond paper says: 1T is predicted that
President Hoover will veto the Norris
resolution when it reaches him. It is
hard to believe this. Offering no al
Tentative, how can Mr.. Hoover be guilty
of this folly? If he is, 1t will place
him, finally and for all, on the side Of
big business and special privilege" The
ASbury Park paper maintains that BY
any other plan the Government is pow
erleSS to regulate.
Uncle Sam has no business operat-
ing any kind Of plant at Muscle Shoals"
in the opinion of the New York Sun,
There is no emergency debating OPP
Grafton Of that kind. The project in
wolves fantastic and unwarra ntable
invasion Of the realms of private busi-
ness. No amount of ballyhoo about
power trusts and public utilities can
conceal the sinister purposes that would
be subserved If the Norris plan we're
finally adopted" The st. Louis Globe
Democrat points out that many MEM
berS of Congress voted for the Norris
resolution in 1928 who were opposed in
principle to Government ownership, but
who despaired Of q satisfactory arrange
ment for private operation" That pa
per holds that sit is no credit to Amer
lean intelligence that the solution OF
this problem has been so long delayed"
1t believes that President Hoover IL op-
posed to the measure.
y y =
Advocates Of Government opera
tion,' declares the Philadelphia Eve
ming Bulletin, have naturally exploited
to the limit the revelations as to use of
improper publicity methods by utility
companies; also the testimony elected
as to propaganda expenditures for the
lease OF Muscle Shoals by the Senate
lobby committee. Such revelations
have nothing to do with the principle
involved, the undesirahility of Govern
ment operation Of business enterprises
in competition with private interests,
and there is no reason why opponents
of such operation should permit them
selves to be stampeded into supporting
it. The Norris proposal, II passed by
the House, invites presidential veto.
Its passage would therefore be q mere
gesture. The House leadership, it is
indicated, will oppose waste Of time on
such gesture"
1T is exceedingly regrettable," in the
judgment of the Chattanooga Times.
that the Muscle Shoals question. in
which the fate of the Upper Tennessee
has become deeply involved. should have
again become entangled in Govern
ment operation maneuver, with the al
ternate prospects of prolonged delay or
another plunge toward Socialism" The
indianapolis Star sees grave doubt that
the plan would meet the expectations
of its sponsors" The Springfield Union
draws a contrast between the fact that
Congress has been talking about Mus
Gle Shoals for more than 10 years." and
the fact that business drives ahead
while Congress and legislatures dis
cuss." The Bangor Daily Commercial
states that 'Mr. Hoover is known to
hold general objection TO placing the
Government in competition with private
enterprise"
Quoting a statement by President
Hoover against Government operation,
except as an unavoidable by-product
OF some other major public purpose"
the Buffalo Evening News comments:
Mr.. Hoover Is a good, practical engi-
neer, as well as President. Would IL b
really be detrimental to the interests of :
the United States to let his Judgment
prevail in matter of this kind?"
AAc AulSh WOTtu demands bhAC Con-
gresS be put on record" while the Mem
phis Commercial Appeal believes that
the matter, "will be submerged in polit-
ical manipulations," and the New Or
leans Times Picayune concIudes::' "The
resolution goes next, Of COURSE. to the
House, whose leaders are quoted as 'un-
certain when 1t will be taken up"
There Is at least q possibility OF its be-
Ing held in committee until the present
sessions close, and thus carried along
as unfinished business until after .tFe.
congressional elections In November"