The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-07-14
lke's Atomic Energy Program
Maybe Delayed By Power Plan
By RUSSELL BRINEs

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WASHINGTON R - Sen. Ander-
son (D-NM) said today a long SEN
ate look at a proposed government
contract to buy electric power in
the IVA area may delay Presi-
dent Eisenhower's broad new
atomic energy program.
A controversy has been raging
in Congress over the Presidents
directive to the Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC) to negotiate a
contract for construction of a new
private power plant to serve the
Memphis, Tenn, area over Tenn
essee Valley Authority lines.
Sen. Hickenlooper (R-Iowa), .ad-
ministration floor leader for the
1O4-page Atomic Act revision bill,
said the power issue promises to
provide the main battle on a meas
ure designed primarily to allow
giving certain atomic information
to allies and to permit private op-
Grafton of nuclear facilities.
Hickenlooper said he also ex-
poets considerable debate on au-
thority provided in the measure
for the Defense Department to fur.
nish allies with what he calls
SHARPLY circumscribed" data on
the tactical employment Of atom
ic weapons"
He told the Senate last night that
the Senate-HouSe Atomic Energy
Committee, of which he is vice
chairman, had provided carefully
stipulated safeguards" to withhold
information on the "Aes.g.. L.. i
fabrication of the nuclear part of
atomic weapons (and) de-
tailed engineering information on
other sensitive parts of our
weapons"
The United States, he said, still
possesses "vast superiority in
weapon power" although traitors,
spies" and captured German sci
entists have permitted the Rus
SLAMS ito make atomic weapons
several years earlier than under
their own Independent efforts"
He said the United States also
Is ahead in the development of
peacetime power from atomic
energy.
He and Anderson said in separ-
ate interviews they did not expect
the battle over the electric power
issue to kill the entire bill, as some
Democrats have predicted. Hick-
enlooper predicted the measure
will pass the Senate after "con-
siderable debate"
The bill reached the Senate floor
last night. The House may begin
debate on it within a few days.
Anderson said the proposal for
the Acc to sign a contract with
a private Southern utility group
for new plant at West Memphis,
Ark, to generate 100000 kilowatts
of added power "goes beyond" the
original intention Of Congress.
The Acc now has authority to
conclude 25-year contracts for
needed power. The present bill
makes no change in this clause.
"This is pretty important legis-
lation," Anderson said. eve
might hold the bill up for a while
because billions and billions of dol
lars are involved"
Hickenlooper said that Demo
Gratis, who have threatened to try
curtailing the Aces long-term con-
tract authority, care not concerned
with the morality of this contract
but are afraid that iva will not
be expanded"
President Eisenhower has de-
Tended his directive to the Acc to
negotiate the power contract on
grounds that it will enable the gov
eminent to. take a new look at iva
which, he said, is expanding be-
yond its original area.
The power which the Acc would
buy from a private utility combine
known as the Dixon Yates group
would be used by iva to serve
consumers in the Memphis area.
iva then would continue to fur
nish q like amount of power to
the atomic plant at Paducah. XIV.
Anderson served notice he will
offer an amendment to the atomic
energy bill to allow Acc to con-
tract for power only when it is to
be delivered directly to an atomic
installation.
Sen. Gore (D-Tenn) told news
men he will offer an amendment
to prohibit Acc from contracting
to pay the taxes of any private
firm or to compensate any private
firm for taxes paid to federal
state and local governments. I'm
der the proposed contract, Acc
would pay taxes of the private
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