Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-11
Veto for Muscle Shoals Bill
Starts Nationwide Debate

Supporting the President in his veto,
the Birmingham News adds the COM
ment on his alternative proposal, at
injects q new confederation into the
Muscle Shoals controversy, but 1t Is one
that Alabama and Tennessee win be re-
luctant to consider. In view Of what the
President says Of the probable losses In
operation Of the project under the terms
on which operation Is demanded" The
News, nevertheless, voices the disap-
pointment Of the people in the Muscle
Shoals area who had hoped to see the
plant put into operation at last, and
many Of whom favored Government
operation" This disappointment is seen
also by the Chattanooga News.
'Tt was hoped in this section that
President Hoover would sign the bill,
criticism Of him for refusing to do So"
says the Chattanooga Times. THE
Government operation features were
strongly objected to by informed,
thoughtful citizens" AS one Of the ef-
fects of the fate of the measure that
paper sees further embargo on the
hydroelectrical and industrial develop
ment Of the upper Tennessee Valley" 1t
forecasts the probable making OF the
power question one Of the major issues
in 1882"
The requirement Of an exceptional
and superior type Of mind as manager"
is quoted by the Buffalo Evening News,
with the comment that the United
States hardly can afford to undertake
enterprises Of such a character that
only one man could manage them sue
ceSsfully." The Baltimore Sun holds the
opinion that IAN intelligent national
handling Of the power issue would per-
NIT an honest experiment in Govern
ment ownership and operation" The
Kansas City Star recognizes the "unde-
STABILITY and danger Of Government
ownership or operation as a general
practice" but observing that for more
than 10 years every conceivable effort
has been made to dispose Of this prop
erty and to realize on the investment"
that paper concludes that "the plan EN-
bodied in the bill seemed the only way
out, ct least for the present" The
Dayton Daily News protests that the
power trust is 50 great that 1t can for
bid the United States to use the power
plant which 1t built" while the Wheel
Ing Intelligencer maintains that lit Is
better to have the plant remain idle
than to hand over this big investment
of the taxpayers to the power trust"
The Admission Star regrets that the
Government muffed its chance" when
Henry Ford showed o willingness TO
lease and operate the plants" The
Richmond News Leader predicts that
the matter will be an issue because
Muscle Shoals Is symbol symbol OF
the agrarian rebellion" The Little Rock
Arkansas Democrat believes IN ultimate
success for the project. The st. Paul
Pioneer Press and the Cleveland Plain
Dealer believe that it will be made q
political issue. The Salt Lake Deseret
News, however, sees mo danger at pres
ent of power monopoly"
1--WE hold no fear of Government
operation" declares the Columbus Ohio
State journal, of "the huge power and
nitrate plant. Indeed" continues that
paper, "in the present circumstances we
rather favor 1t, but on the other hand
we are not unqualifiedly opposed to pri-
vate operation, with the proper safe
guards. The bill which President Hoo
yer has Just vetoed was a nondescript
compromise which probably would have
encouraged endless argument and dis
satisfaction"
1.-THE very active politicians who got
$165 ,000, 900 for Boulder DAM" Accord
ing to the Chicago Daily Tribune, said
that the power trust was trying to stop
them. Muscle Shoals was proved in
kinship when Mr.. Norris and the rad
lcals found the same opposition. Boulder
Dam was to provide water supply and
electric power for California cities; Mus
Gle Shoals to provide fertilizer and cleo
trio power. The acceptance of the one
makes the veto of the other equtyocal
unless 1t indicates that Mr.. Hoover has
reached the limit and Is returning to
doctrines which were thought to be
| natural to him when he was elected"