Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-24
SHOALS BILL GOES
TO HOOvER'S DESK
Veto Expected as Senate
Adopts Compromise, SIS to
20, After Long Fight.

BY o vote just short of the two
a presidential veto, the Senate yester-
day passed and sent to the White
House a bill providing for operation of
the Government $133 600, 900 power and
nitrate plants at Muscle Shoals.
The bill reached the White House
shortly after noon today.
The Senate voted. SIS to %, to adopt
the conference report on the bill, which
would authorize Government manufac-
ture and distribution of hydroelectric
power. The measure was approved by
the House last week.
Veto Is Expected.
Although President Hoover has not
committed himself, friends of the
measure believed he would veto it..
1t was pointed out that a similar bill
died by pocket veto while Calvin
Coolidge was in the White House.
The bill is a compromise measure
based on the same bill that was turned
down by the former President. Under
the compromise provision, the nitrate
plants would be leased to private inter
ests for quantity production of fertilizer
If lease could be found within one year
from the date of enactment. If no one
would lease the nitrate plants under the
terms of the bill, the Government would
operate them for experimental produc-
ton Of fertilizer.
Dam to Be Constructed.
Ten million dollars for starting con-
Struction of Cove Greek Dam on the
Clinch River in Tennessee, in connec-
ton with the Muscle Shoals project.
was added to the second deficiency bill
today by the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
In addition the Cove Greek Dam is
designed to make the Tennessee River
navigable and aid in controlling flood
waters that go into the Mississippi.
Little adjustment will have to be
made before the great nitrate plant and
its two power units can function at full
capacity, for the Army has kept the
machinery oiled and the entire outfit
in a standby condition ready to 60
during all the years Congress has been
debating the matter.
Designed TO produce nitrogen for
munitions and fertilizer, the plant has
been picking up pin money by selling
power. Three municipalities and the
Alabama Power Co. have been its custo-
mers.
During the past eight years the aver
age annual expense of the plant has
been approximately $4,000, with an
average annual income of more than
$3.50, 900, according TO Army records.
Roll Call on Bill.
The roll call on the bill follows:
For:
Republicans-Blaine, Borah, Brook
hart, Capper, CouZens, Frazier Hatfield
Howell. johnson, Jones, La Toilette, Nc
Nary, Norbeck. Norris, Nye, Pine, Robin
son OF Indiana; Schall, Steiwer and
Thomas Of Idaho. Total, 20.
Democrats-Barkley, Black, Blease
Bratton, Brook. BrouSsard, Buckley,
Csraway, Connally, Copeland. Dill,
Fletcher, George, Glass, Harris, Har-
rison, Hayden, Hef1in, Kendrick, Nc
Gill, Mcclellan, Morrison, Pittman,
Robinson of Arkansas, Sheppard. Smith,
Steck, Stephens. Swanson, Thomas of
Oklahoma, Trammell, Wagner, Walsh of
Massachusetts,, Walsh of Montana and
Wheeler. Total, IS.
Against:
Democrats-King and Tydings. To-
tai, 2.
Republicans-Bingham, Carey. Dale,
Fess, Glenn, Golf, Goldsborough Hale,
Hastings, Hebert, Kean, Reyes, Metcalf,
Morrow, Moses, Oddie, Partridge, Pat
terson, Phipps, Reed, Shortridge, Town
send. Vandenberg. Walcott, Waterman
and Watson. Total 26.