Evening Star Newspaper, February 15, 1922, Page 2

—_— DRECEIAK SEEN ‘FORRKSNG BON Opinion Favors Securing _Funds iqfiethod Felt as Little as Possible. BY N. 0. MESSENGER. . The present status of the question of soldiers’ adjusted compensation, popularly characterized as the soldiers’ Bonus, is this: That there is disposi- \oa on the part of the administration to view the proposition favorably on the plea of generosity, but to take inte-account the interests of the gen- efal public, the state of the national finances and the responsibility of the government to the Tehabilitation of industry and business. In Congress the same spirit is found. It might be truthfully said that a like comperamenc 1s refected by the people. The outright opponents of the bonus are charging taat political considerations intluencs Copgress. ‘That is 1or senatoss and representa- tives to answer Lo & own o seience and (0 tineir constiluenLs. They have the privileges oI tie noor and the right lo eacsusivn of taeir Temarks in tne Congressional Record. The broader anu iarger iwcw ls that the quéstion 1s no. beiag con- sidered from the angie of business, taxation, cold rigures und the vrace cability of carrying mio efect legis- Iafion, which the dominant sentiment dpparenty favors in principte. 1t i8 evident to the most casual tanker t there coutd be no potitiear ad- VAntage In invivting the soidiers oi the world war to & feast apd giving em empty dishes—or something that would later distress tnem: anua their families along with the waoie uatry. Must Consiter Conditions. ;. President Harding has made in that the administration is in general terms still as favorably ais- posed toward the bonus as when that sugestion was indorsed in the cam- ign of 1920 and thereafte e latest authentic commgnic the attitude of the executive It was likewise made clear that the gover: ‘mient must take INto AcCCOURT exist- nw conditions in finance, industry and the movement toward the re: toration of normal business condi- tlons of the’country. Tre responsibility of the executive and the legisiative branches, it is held, is not confined to a class, how- ever deserving. but to the people and the country at large. Desiring to do the thing in view, the question is for Congress and the recommending executive how to do it without in- flicting_hardship upon_ the mass of the citizenship while benefiting the few. The President, to whom the legis- lators appealed for advice and sug- gestion, has ruled out two plans hith- erto suggested for raising the funds —a large bond issue and the imposi- tion of some elght special forms of taxation, in addition to the taxes imposed by the latest legislation of Congress. Some of the President's official family, the cabinet. take the ground that Congress should not put the burden of deciding the pro- cedure upon the executive, but the congressmen retort by saying that the program finally agreed upon should represent uniformity of view between the legislative and the po- tential veto power, and that co-or- dination in advance is desirable. Direct Tax Pessible. As conditions stand toda; President is expected to lay his views before the ways and means committee smA the Senate finance committee, by way of suggestion and comment, and then leave with the”constitutional re- venue-raising Jnddx the method of pertecting a plan. Chmirman Fordney of the House ways and means com- mittee has declared his belief that a bonus bill will eventually pass, and the same opinion prevails in influen- 1al quarters in the Senate. While at the moment no legislator can foresee what form the prospective raising of the funds will take, it is the prevailing opinion that it must take the form of a direct tax, appli- cable to all, and not to specified in- dustries or classes, and be so widely distributed as to minimize realization of its effect upon the individual. ' SEEK BONUS SOURCE. President’s Opposition to Two Methods Presents Problem. With President Harding Known to oppose both additional taxes and a bond issue, republican leaders of the House tegan casting about today for other means of financing the soldiers’ ‘benus. iRepresentative Mondell of Wyo- ming, during a visit to the White Hpuse. said pendinz annropria. - it} ition of « BACHELORS TAKE HEART! ONLY 804,406 SINGLE MEN FOUND IN U. S. Bachelors and old maids and bachelor girls, cheer up, be of &ood heart and further courage; you're not so many, after all. Comes this tardy Valentine as- surance from the Department of Commrece. Even the statisticians of the federal service have a heart, and so the following announce ment was réleased today, in ob- scrvance of the opening of Cupid's new year: 3 Now that the official statistics of the census bureau, giving the number of married, single, widow- ed and divorced peovplé enumier- ated In the census of 1920 have been tabulated; it appears that the widely circulated report that there are 2,000,000 singlc persons over Aty yeprs of age in the Umitsd States wWks an exaggeration. The actual number s reported in the } cuntus was only 1,440,514, com- pflulnf 804,406 single men aad L 634,103 single women. ISOLDIERS' BONUS ARGUSES CONGRESS |Members More Politically {- Perturbed Over This Than Any Other Issue. It is no exaggeration td say that not in many “years kns Congress, {using the wbrd as descriptive of the | aggregate of individual senators and i represcntatives, been in such a per- turbed state of mind, politically, as at i this time over the soidiers' bonus Is- {sue. It may be said that at this stage che question. “How shall the money to pay the DWwus he-raised?” Is ra another, “Shall thero be a bonus”” in the minds of the statesmen on Cupitol Hill. The second question rapidiy ie assuming proportions large enough to engage serious attention. It is induced by the tlood of pro- tests against the bonus pouring in upon congresgmen from sources in their constituency of importance suffi cient to WAarrant earnest considera- tion. Vigorous opposition from an influential section of the press is atousing public thought and seeking to array It in imposing mass against |tho bonus. Anoiher element of the {preas. which withnolds publishes the news and discussions fof the question, also arousing the general publiic to the pending propo- sition. Mear From Businesw Men. The political leaders of the dom- inant party are said to be hearing from business men who have hitherto supported the republican party, threat- ening to refuse to support the party in succeeding elections if the bonus is granted, a bond comment, and impediment industrial and financial recovery. Congressmen in both parties are hearing from the op- position among their constituency, threatening to take individual re- prisal in their renomination and elec- tion against senators and representa- tives who vote for the bonus. The sentiment among the farmers is declared to be heavily arrayed against the bonus. While demanding legisla- tion for the agricultural interests, whieh, In some quarters, has been de- nounced as class legislation, they dep- recate as class legislation the assis ance proposed to be given the soldiers. See Bonus as Inevitable. With all this protest, however, the opinion is held By many of the most influential men’in the House and Senate that granting the bonus is in- evitable and that the Congress will have to face the inevitability with such political consequences as may - sue. They do not overlook the con- sideration that many of the states have found it advissble to give aid to their own veterans and cite this action as indicative of local public approbation of the policy. GATE LOCKED FAST .TO EASY DIVORCE (Continued from First Page.) ment of attorneys flling divorce suits to make a reasonable inquiry into the facts of the case and to furnish a sworn statement as to their truthful- ness; the appointment by the court of an attorney to represent the com- to shull be known as a guardlan ad litem, who shall be paid by one of the litigants and who shall have the power (0 be present during the tak- ing of depositions, to summons wit- nesses and to cross-examine wit- nesses. s Notwithstanding the adoption of this ruje by the court has been ac- claimed generaily ay a direct blow at | the so-called evil, and is supposed to spell the end to easy divorces in Alex- {andria, there are members of the local sad bills, particularly those for the|bar who question Judge Moncure's Navy and Army, would be scruunizes | Wisdom and , authority carefully, with a view to slashes that Buld provide a good measure of the money needed. It was his thought that any deficiency could be made up through an Issuefof short-term Treas- ugy certificates. r. Mondell did not see President Hprding, who was understood to be| preparing a letter to Chairman Mc- Cumber of the Senate flnance com- mittee, setting forth his views against the suggested eight-point tax pro- g¥am and an issue of five-year Treas- ury notes. Pending receipt of that Jetter the joint conference between ity members of the finance com- ,mittee and the House ways and means cammittee on the bonus problem were suspended. A short-torm note issue, to provide funds for the bonus, a rently etill ‘Was uppermost today in the minds of “some of the senators dealing with the problem, but they were keeping an open mind until they had received the President’s letter. It was understood, however, that not ail of them shared the administfation’s views as to the probable effect of such an iseue on the refunding operations of the gov- ernment. . RECEIVES INJURY TO HEAD. Man Is Alleged to Have Had Bow ‘With Cousin, Former Policeman. Ricaard Cook, fifty-five years old, 3337 N street, was taken to Georgetown Uni- versity Hospital yesterday afternoon and treated for a serious injury to his head, possibly a fracture of the skull. Cook, twenty-seven years-old. 3615 O street, cousin of the wounded msn, was arrested by Detectives Waish .and King and Precinct Detective Kueh- 1 and held at the seventh precinct oe station. wiiere he formerly served as a policemar Tt is alleged that the men participated in & fight in the home of the elder Cook, where the young man was a visitor. Richard Cook had been 'sick, the police ‘were told, and yesterday Ttnoon complained because his cousin had neglected to visit him during his ill- ness. The men are alleged to have partici- pated in an encounter, using only their fists; and the elder Cook is thought to have ived his wound when hul: head he_told th: lice after The pnlfuwnmvud th“ mulbnmthmlnnfidnm it nO aITests were mat in ~ adopting {such a rule and who do not think the investigating committee should have made such a request. Appenl Can Be Made. It is pointed out that should any lawyer take any serious objection to the rule he has the privilege to apply to the court of appeals of the state for a mandamud suit com- peliing Judge Moncure to hear ths divorce case under the préesent code, irrespective of the terms of his rul- ing., It iz not considered likely, htowdvor, that any member of the bar will see fit to take advantage of this privilege in vies of the Ifact that Judge Moncure's ruling is {known to have been intended only a3 a temporary relief of what has been called an evil situation. Confidence in Investigators. ‘The committee of lawyers appointed to investigate® the divorce situation in this city is composed of men of honesty {and integrity, and If there is an evil existing they will discover it and will correct it, according to the opinion ex- pressed today ‘by- M. B. Harlow, one of the prominent bmnking and real ewtate men of Alexandria. “This committee is going about its probe into the divorce practice in_the right way,” Mr. Harlow ssid. “And no one can help but. be convinced of its earnestness and thoroughness. I be- |lieve it will soon find the cause of the monwealth in its divorce suit, who; RUARY 15, 1922, 7 NEVITT RECEIVED FROM THE JURY THE VERDICT IN THE KNICKERBOCKER CASE, AND SOME OF THOSE HELD FOR ACTION OF THE (GRAND JURY. STATES ATTORNEY FOR THH DI! R. C. BROWN AND C. J. GILBERT. FRANK L. WAGNER. COAL WAGE ISSUE ~ BEFORE MINERS Sentiment at Convention Favors Holding Out Against Proposed Cuts. By the Asoclated Press. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., February 15. ~~The demand for retention of the| present. basic wages of soft coal miners came up for settiement to-| day before the special éenvention 0% the United Mine Workerm of Amerlcxl ‘Taking up the report of the union's wage scale committee for considers-!But Collins Cables Ireland Has| {NEW MEMBERS ENROLLED. | Casuaity Hospital Directors Add tion, item By item, the delegates found the first important proposal was that of wages in the bituminous industry. Majority sentiment appar- ently favored indorsing the stand | against accepting any wage reduc- tions and declaring for the retention lof the present base scales. Some; delegates, however, favored asking : an increase, but none had announced'; an intention of pressing an amend ment to the committes report. Otl aleo seemed” certain of indorsement, | includling that of calling for wage; { increases for the anthracite workers. | Aetion on Poliey bp. As soon ad the demands wers die- posed of the program.of administra- tion leaders was for the convention to consider the committee's action on tvoucy. which was a part of the scale raport and included the threat; {of a strike by all unfon miners on { April 1 in event no wage agreement | 18 reached before then. Debate on some tiems of the report was expected | to delay” completion of the conven- tion’s work until late in the day and perhaps extend the work into tomor= row. jequipment ORGUE MASTER; J. RAMSAY NEVITT, CORO REGINALD W. GEARE. SHOOTING RESUMED IN BELFAST, DEATH TOLL REACHING 26 (Continued from First Page.) will be of a grwy-green material. Or- ders have beerl placed with the Irish Co-operative Clothing Manufacturing Society. A Drogheda factory is making ma- terial for coat linings, sleeve linings are being made In Cork, while the manufacture of buttons, a new Irish industry. is proceeding in Dublin. Shirts, socks and all other general 50 will be wholly Irish products. LEAGUE ACTION UNCERTAIN. Right to Membership. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, February 15.—The provisional government of the Irish Free State has not decided whether 4t will seek membership in the league of natlons, | ture business uncertain.” VINTER, H. D. HAPTSY FRanY. [ JULIAN R. DOWNMAN. |ORDERS CONTINUING TELEPHONE RATES (Continued from Pirst Page.) would be approjimately $700 lzer u- subscriber and the prospect of Citizens Asked Reduction. The Federation of Cltizens' Asso- olations, through William McK. Clayton, had asked for a slight re- | duction in telephone rates, calling at- | that telephone rates were the only ones that had not tention to the fact been changed since the war. In making the period of the order indefinite the commission leaves it possible for either the company or the citizens to apply for reconsid-|da: eration at any time. Nine to Board The board of directers of Eastern Digpengary and Casaulty Hospital, vy = | meeting 1ast night at the hospital, but England’s admission | ;1 .1eq, as members of the board, the that Ireland in entitled to member-| o uing: Representative William D. | proposals named as formal demands|ship is “an acknewledgment of Ire-| .o,y of Georgia. Charles E. Myers, | land’s independent statehood,” Michael | ;™ oo Hiate, George D. Lantel, Collins, head of the provisional gov- | ernment, said in a cablegram receiv- James W. Camalt, Frederick G. UMTED ER; MAJ. PEYTON GORDO) SRIL] . KELLY, K. LON « W2 EDMONSTON, RICHARD G. FLETCHER. |MORE SNOW FORECAST, THEN FAIR AND COLD | Weather Man Expects Snowfail to | Follow Rain and Sleet Tonight. More snow for Washington is the prediction of the weather bureay. This will probably follow an evening of {rain and sleet, it was said, and will bring with it a temperature of about 26 degrees. The unpleasantness of this morning was the result of a distarb- ance off the Virginia capes, and, the bureau further stated, the storm of this afternoon and tonight ie the end of a similar disturbance in Georgia. However, fair and cold weather is promised for the next three or four Y. Snowfall in the New England tier, a cold wave in the lake resgion and in |'the guif states and precipitation else- ‘where is the gist of today's weather report for the country. Two storm warnings were issued by the bureau, one covering a disturbance from New York north to Eastport, Me., which was said to be moving northeastward and increasing in inten- sity, and the other central over south- western Georgia, afso moving north- east. The storm off the north Atlantic will be accompanied by strong east to north winds and gales, with snow and Tain, the forecaster declare - 5 Though there has been a marked in China in recent vears, it is said ed by John Devoy, editor of the|Coldren, Frederick J. Rice, Daniel E.|that in most homes girl babies are Gaelic American. Garges and Charles J. O'Neill. PLANS WORKED OUT IN ADVANCE ENABLE ‘ still unwelcome. STREET CLEANING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE CREDITABLE SHOWING TODAY. ON SNOW REMOVAL Leaders, however, proposed to confine | convention action today to ths 3 &l which would defer any fight in be- If of Alexander Howat, the deposed Kangag leader, into the last stages of the convention. Supporters of In- ternational President John L. Lewis, who expelled Mr. Howat from union bevause of his refusal to order strikers back to work, seemed in con- trol of the convention, and any effort in behalf of the former Kansas union chief was expected to be mads on the credentidls committee report. Ad- ministration supporters from Kansas ‘were seated as: delegates at the open. ing session of the convention, and no contests from Kansas were pend- ing before the credentials committes, which continued work today on other contested Begtas Fight for Seat, Howat began his pown fight for & seat In the convention when the ses- ston opened, his move delaying con- stderation of the wage scale report The Kansus leader said he wished the convention to decide by an appeal whethep it would sustain his expul sion and. that of his followers, but, in reply to questions of President Lewis, admitted he h not filed an appeal from theé union exccutive. board’ order, as provided by the union's con- stitutiol Howat contendéd he was only seeking & fair trial which he sl as the cardinal principle of the Harlow said he did not care to || trouble, and. if any one has wilifully vio- lated the divorce law he or she will be made to answer. I have every confi- dence in the committee, and I will with- hold my Jjudgment u this Body r!fi!” its conclusions.” ipass judgment in the meantime or to |expreu any opinions regarding. the di- vorce conditions and the chas ‘which have been mude, &e explained that he had no first-hand knowledge regarding] the alleged. evil, which, he said, was sufficlent reason in itself to refrain from probably inaccurate and unfound- ed comment. EDMURDS BILL UP. The House is today again consider- ing the Edmund¥ bill to establish a model marine insurance law in the District. This bill was considered on strict day, Monday. This is calen dar Wednesday, with the District committes. Objec- tion was rai severai. promi- nent members: that the. w no right to call up the suth 11 on calendar Wednesday whick it had been considering on District aay. ‘When Speaker Gillet finally recog- niged Chalrman Focht of ul:’ H:?l" District committes aad the mauine insurance bill was called up, the minority leader/ Representati x rett of Tennessee, raised the ;nu- tion of constderstion. The decided by & vots of 89 to 4% im favor of contihuing oo n of] this bill. o 1 not. ing’ Howat's appeal nol or!dn:r‘““ Pnra'ndent Lewis said humdred: million peonle are ‘Wwatchink. waiting for the policies: that will: onvuo from this convention, and rnow e are asked to set sside our work: to deal with. & purely internal matter and affecting the welfare of a few jvidunis’™ lm}’!‘owu’f pertissns among the dels- gates startod: an uproar, but it was .llun:fll b;‘d who' continued, thHat ex= and the call _rewts| gecided the | WOULD SCRAP SHIPS | AT NAVY YARDS TO l AID LAID-OFF MEN (Continued from First Page.) their retirement they should be re- quired to accept such employment on the pain of forfeiting their pension privileges.” The delegation urged that Mr. Den- by present these suggestions —and recommendations to President Hard- ing, and through him or with him to Congress, so that whatever adminls- trative or congressional action may be necessary in carrying them into eftect may be brought about with the least possible delay. . Objects to Swummary Actiom. Speaking for the workers of the navy yards, Mr. Gompers emphasized that organized labor supported fully the pur, and results of the arms limitation conference and declared that labor looked “with pride on the initiative of the United States govern- ment” in calling the parley, “But it hurt me to_think” he said to Secretary Denby, “that it (the re- duction of navy yard labor) was done the way it wa It was pointed out by President Gompers that the suspension order came “from a clear sky,” and that men who had worked continuously in the yards for nearly thirty years were turloughed with no more “than seven or eight minutes’ notice.” “It must be remembered, however, that the dismissais which have 30 seriously ed to an aiready acute condition of uremployment are pred- icated upon the ratification of the treaties which have been written, but which have yet to be ratified. We feel that it was not a consid- erate and sympathetic act to 80 sum- marily and in such sweeping maaner cut thousands from their means of Iivelihood, seemingly without any ef- fort to modify the action or to lessen the severity of the blow. We are convinced that the readjustment could have been made in such a manner not to anticipate the ac- tion of the Senate and at the same time not to add to the volume of work that must be undone when ratificatfon of the five-power treaty takes place. We belleve that a more thorough- 1y considered judgment will right this wrong which has been done and, in order to assist to that end, we offer this program, which, if adopted, wil go far toward bringing about an orderly and just readjustment in the navy yards. Tells of Hardshipm Robert Johnson, president of the local Machinists' Union, described to Secretary Denby the hardships im- posed upon the Washington navy yard employes by the abrupt order of dis- missal. He said that he had been constantly hesieged since the order was issued by union members, and so great had been thoir distress that he had lost much sleep every might in his effort to alléviate his fellow mem- bers. It had been said outside of the union, he said, that navy yard work- ers were In the “well-to-do-class. Nr. Johnson insisted that he could testify from hig 6wn personal knowl- edge of the circumetnces of the yard men that this was“aot the case, and that a very brief period of unemploy- ment would bring upon the nwn and thelr families great sullering aond hardship. . P. Alifas, president of District 44, International clagics of\ Machinists, mede a stggag“Plea for the maintenance of the navy varcs, pointing out that V. people of the country_have invested large sums in them. He emphasised that the nav: yards can produce work at ss little or less cost than private conceras Among other members of the dele- tion who conferred with Secretary enby were Frank Morrison, secre- tary of the American Federation of Labor; Willlam H. Johinston, president of the International Association of Machmnists; A. J. Barries, secretary of the Metal Trades Union; J. F. Anderson, vice president of the Machinists’ Union; Charles Roeemund of the Draftsmen’s Union, Mr. Davis of the Boilermakers” Union, A. E. Lin- ten aml Frank Lee. |CONFERS WITH MEB. DENBY. [ Representatives of the Washington Board of Trade's committes on indus- trial interests held a conference this morning with Secretary of the Navy Denby relative to the reductions in force at the Washington navy yard. The board’s representatives were Wil liam C. Johmson, chairman of the committee; Arthur J. May. Harry Blake and Charles F. Crane. The committee expressed its appreciation to Secretary Denby of the opportunity afforded to present its views on the situation. Stress 7. laid_on the great number of employes affected by the cut in force, many of whom had families to support in addition to the responsibility of purchasing thefr improvement in the position of girlsi homes. It was pofnted out that ‘Washington is not a eommercial or manufacturing city and that it is go- ing to be extremely difficult for the men who have been furloughed to se- cure other employment here which will provide the necessities, An appeal was made to Secretary Deenby to place at the Washington navy yard all work that can be profitably handied there and thus give employment to as many as possible of those furloughed. Further Lay-Off Seen At Navy Yard, Though Probably Less Drastic Further reduction in the mechanical force at the Washington navy yard may be made at any time, it was sald today by an official. How many additional employes will be laid off the official was unable to estimate, but emphasised that the reduction would not be as large as that put into effect last Wednesday. “There may' be a few men that are not needed in tne various shops.” he said, “who will be furloughed. “I am quite certain that the next lay-off will not be a big one.” Along with the next furiough of the mechanical force a reduction in the clerical personnel probably will be made, it was pointed out, due to the fact that the decrease in the work in the shops will not necessi- tate as large clerical force as is now maintained. The reduction in the office force will not take place, it was said, until the latter part of this month. B What action the local navy yard employes will take relative to the cutting of the force at the local yard will be determined at a meeting: of Co\!:mb!a Lodge, No. 174, which will betield in the Garden Theater tonight at 8 o'clock. At this meeting, a re- port on_the conference held today be- tween Secretary of Navy Denby and a del tion. representing the navy yard workers of the eountry aiso will be made. . Prexident ' Gompers of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor has been in- vited to k at’ the meeting. Gen. Coxey of Coxey's army fame will speak: FRANCE ASKS REFUND. Wants $300,000 for Alleged Freight The French government filed with the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion today a serles of complaints against various raifroads and the director general of raflronds ax ad- ministrator, asking & return of al- leged- overcharges om ehlpments of| war munitions durfng the war. and eguting. more’ t §800.000. ‘{fiu of Tre difficulty, according toj ., the complaint, arcse after the armi- stice, when materials purchased iz the United States by Prance were hold for lorig: periods st porte of em- burkation aud the Ffench agents and| and. the railroas al he busiy on which penaities were to man: erial shi was pped in_the faterior of e sold 1S, GETS FOURTH MUSCLE SHOALS 3D Alabama Power Co. Would Lease for 50 Years and Keep Within Power Act. By the Associated Press. Another offer for purchase snd lease of the governmeat's properties at Muscle Shoals, Ala, was completed today and arrangements made by its sponsors, the Alabama Power Com- pany, for inunediate fillng with Sec- retary Weeks. The offer was tendered by Thomas Martin, acting for the Alebama Power Company, of which he is presideat, and with its submission the total number of proposals received by the government for its war-acquired prop- erties in Alabama was brought to four. The new offer is expected to dbe transmitted soon by Secretary Weeks to Congress, which has before it the offer of Henry Ford. The Alabama Power Company pro- poses sompletion of the Wilson dam “without further advances or expendi- tures by the United States” and the outright purchase of the Warrior power plant en the Gorgas river, which is situated on ground already owned by the power company. Would Lease for Fifty Years. The properties would be leased by the power company for a period of fifty years under the plan, and be sub- ject to “recapture by the govern- ment” at the termination of that time. They also would be operated subject to the provisions of the federal water power act under an operating license. The offer was outlined to Secretary Weeks in a letter signed by Mr. Mar- tin, ag president of the company. The offer is different from those re- ceived from Ford, Frederick C. Eng- strum of Wilmington, N. C., or, 80 far as is known, from that proposed by C. C. Tinkler, head of the Construction Company of North America, with headquarters in San Francis-o. None of these agrees to function under the provisions of the federal waterpower act. Another distinction it has is that the compat.y from which it comes already owns the land on which the govern- ment’s power plant is situated at War- rior and which has entered Tnto the hearings of the House military com- mittee, investigating the Ford plan, in the form of a perplexing problem which would require solution before the Ford offer could be accepted by Congress. Claims Option on Warrior Plant. The Alabama Power Company claims an option to purchase the War- rior plant on as favorable terms as those given to other private concerns which War Department officials, in- cluding Secretary Weeks, Maj. Gen. William, chief of ordnance, and other officials admit contains & moral obli- gation, if not a legal one, binding the government to sell the plant to the ‘Alabama concern or remove it from the ground it is on. Secretary Weeks informed the House committee that the company had notified him it intended to exer- cise the option claimed, while other witnesses tlestified that' before Con- gress accepted the Ford plan, invoiv- ing delivery of the Warrlior plant with a clear titie, it would be faced with a long fight in the courts, instituted Ly the government in the shape of condemnation proceedings and oppos- ed by counsel of the Alabama Power Company. FORD OFFER FAVORED. Mr. Wallace Approves if Its Terms Are Definite and Binding. Henry C. Wallace, Secretary of Ag- riculture, “looks with favor” upon Henry Ford's offer for purchase and lease of the government's nitrate and water-power projects at Muscle Shoals, Ala., “if its terms are suffi- ciently definite and binding to make sure the plant will be operated con- tinuously for the manufacture of fer- tilizer.” Dr. Richard C. Tolman, director of the ixed nitrogen research laboratory of the department, announced the Sec- retary’s position with regard to the Ford offer In an authorized statement which he read yesterday before the House military committee. The Sec- retary’s views as expressed by tne witness were that if the terms were as he had outlined, the proposal would “result in making 1lavble a con- siderably intreased supply of ferti- ser in time of peace and give us as- surance of adequate supplies of ex- plosives in case of need. Statement Follows Mayo Evidemee. The statement was read by Dr. Tol- man atter the commitice had com- pleted an_examination lasting mors than five hours of W. B. Mayo, chief engineer and personal representative of Henry Ford. Mr. Mayo s testimony included repeated statements that Mr. Fords intended to manufacture tertilizers in their completed forms at the maximium capacity of th Mugcle Shoals plant and would make every effort to manufacture them st a minimum cost to the farmers, using every known formula and working his chemists wwh e to discover ved methods. Amg'r-o B. Mayo, chief engineer and spokesman for Henry , yesterday notitied the House military committee investigating the Ford offer for pur- chase and lease of the Muscle Shoals, Als., government owned properties, that “Mr. Ford had made the best offer he could.” The statement was accepted by the committee as reaflirming Mr. Mayo's declaration of the day before that Mr. Tord would not accept any material alterations in provisions of his pro- posed and Congress ac- cept it as tendered or reject it with- out disappointing the Detroit manu- facturer. ; == ued ‘he Investigution was continued yes- - ? Mayo, as the principal witness, facing & rapid-fire interro- gation by Representative Miller, re- publican, Washington, who said he intended to show where the govern- t “gets off in this deal™ = ne item of conmsiderable size,’ Mr. Miller said, “will be the $1,600,000 interest charged in the twb years re- quired to compiste dem No. 2 and construct dam No. 2. The $20,000,000 to be used for this work must be raised by bonds, probably at 4 per cent interest. We cannot load th ers by taking it from the Treas: ury % Mr. Mayo said the dams could be constructed within a two-year period. Teanesscuus to Be Heard. ‘While the House committes pro- ceeded with its hearing the Senate agriculture committee, which algo has the Ford offer pending before it, decided to henr tomorTow & tion of Tennessee citizens, headed by Gov. to- morrow before the Sentiment on the question~of hold- ing extended hearings appeared di- vided in the Senste committes and is to In response to a gquestion as to wh:t Mr. Ford’s intentions were with reference 3 ying agrioul- tuml need of the coumtry, Mr. Mayo said: has been his dream to make fertilisers: s0 iow that evieryNody} can use all he wants. He also hopes to raw materials at = lower