Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-15
IVA Backers Fight
Acc Power Plan as
Senate Meets Early
By Cecil HoI!ond

Senate opponents today waged
an uphill fight to block Presi-
dent Eisenhower's plan for pri-
vate utility to supply power for
an Atomic Energy Commission
installation in the Tennessee
Valley.
The Senate was called into
session at 10 an. two hours
early, as debate on the Eisen-.
hover plan, a new airing of the
old controversy of public versus
private power, continued into the
third day.
1t was hinged to Senate con-
sideration of legislation provid-
ing for the first comprehensive
revision of the 1916 Atomic En-
ergy Act that would authorize a
fuller exchange of nuclear infor-
nation with this country's allies
and permit private industry to
participate in peacetime atomic
activities.
Back Anderson Plan.
Opponents of the Presidents
plan, widely criticized as an at
tack on the Tennessee Valley
Authority, centered their hopes
on a proposal offered by Sena-
tor Anderson, Democrat, of New
Mexico, a member of the Senate
House Atomic Energy Commit
tee, at the end of nearly six
hours of debate yesterday.
The Anderson proposal would
allow the Acc to contract only
for power supplied directly to
the atomic installations.
Gen. Eisenhower has directed
the Acc to conclude a 25-year
contract with a private utility,
known as the Dixon Yates group,
for a new 500 million steam
plant to service the Memphis
(Tenn.) area over iva lines.
The power, to be produced at q
plant to be erected in West
Memphis, Ark, would replace
IVA energy being shifted to the
Aces plant at Paducah.
Defended by Fulbright.
The President has described
the order as one which would
permit time for a new Govern
ment appraisal of iva opera
tions. It has been defended by
Senator Fulbriglnt. Democrat, of
Arkansas who has supported the
IVA in the past.
The Anderson amendment also
would require Acc proposed con-
tracts to be submitted for review
to the Senate House Atomic
Committee. The New Mexico
Senator and other members
largely from the Tennessee VAL
ley area disputed the administra-
tons contention that the Pres
ident's plan would be the easy
way of replacing IVA power for
the Paducah atomic installation.
Senator Gore, Democrat, of
Tennessee, one of the leading
opponents of the Presidents
plan, predicted that some Re-
publican Senators will join the
Democrats in supporting the
Anderson amendment.
He declined, however, to pre-
dict the outcome. Senate Re-
publican Leader Knowland of
California said after White
House conference yesterday he
thought the administrations
plan would be approved.
Talk Of Compromise.
There was some talk of a
compromise after Senator Ander-
son called on Gen. Eisenhower
at the White House yesterday on
another matter. But initial
steps in that direction, it was
said. failed to produce any
agreement,
The Senate Democratic Policy
Committee decided yesterday
against making the power fight
q party issue. The decision was
reached after Senators Ander-
son and Fulbright appeared
before the committee to discuss
the issues involved.
Senator Gore said the Ander-
son proposal is the main move
against the power contract. He
added he will propose an amend
ment that would bar the Acc
from following present plans to
pay all taxes, Federal State and
local, during the proposed Is
year contract with the Dixon
Yates group.
Senator Gore also called for
some provision to be written into
the proposed revision of the 1916
atomic act to preserve the in
dependent status of the Acc. He
said he wanted this done so the
Acc cant be overriden by a
telephone call" from the White
House.
Three Of the five Acc COM
missioners, it has been brought
out. opposed the plan for the
commission to make the con-
tract with the private utility
group.