Show nothing could tetter better illustrate th blighting effect ot of politics in business than the years of 0 failure by congress since the war ended to make some disposition ol of muscle shoals beneficial to the public there stands this great property a potential producer ot of nitrates for or farmers and power for industries our federal laws provide the method for or leasing such government property lor for useful purposes in spite of the fact that the leasing procedure Is clear and specific and duly protects the public interest eight years time have been wasted playing politics with muscle shoals finally after considering its disposition from every angle congress in march on the recommendation of president coolidge created a joint congressional committee to negotiate a proper lease of this property tor for the production of nitrates and other fertilizer ingredients primarily and for power purposes the power in 0 be equitably distributed between 7 the communities and states to which it may be properly transported after exhaustive hearings bids were balleu called 1 tor for based on the terms specified by the committee efrom the bids submitted the committee has recommended acceptance of the offer made by a group of public utility power companies operating in eight of the southern Sout herik states it now remains tor for the house and senate to authorize the secretary of war to execute a contract on behalf of the united states scales government therefore the present congress has i the hie opportunity to finally settle this problem on terms that conform to the requirements made by congress insuring operation ot of the plants tor for the purposes for which they were constructed and payment to th the 0 government of a large annual cash rental it if the proposed legislation falls of passage at this session of congress the question will again be deterred deferred for perhaps another two years or more be before fore new legislation can be I 1 considered and acted on by congress in the meantime the promise of the fertilizer assistance to agriculture and 1 the diffusion of surplus power to industries throughout the south will be unredeemed and the benefit from the investment of of public funds will be denied to the public by magnifying its importance tor for political effect muscle shoals has been given an apparent public value out of all proportion to its relative importance and the time congress has wasted on it to the exclusion of 0 more pressing matters |