desire to present their viewpoints, we have decided to give this opportunity.

As a member of the committee I do not see much advantage in thrashing over the matters that were covered in the former hearing, because it is here and available to all members and all interested parties, but, of course, we do not want to interfere with you gentlemen representing the shipping companies in presenting your case in your own way, because it is for you to decide what you want to present. The bill (H. R. 1399) is practically, if not identically, the same as the bill which passed the House during the last session. That was H. R. 7767.

Subsequent to the hearings in the last session the question as to the amount of tolls was taken up, as all interested parties are aware, and it was determined by the Governor that if this bill should become a law, his recommendation would be that the tolls be fixed at not more than 90 cents a ton, instead of $1 a ton as permitted in the bill. That is the maximum amount permitted by this bill.

I think that everybody interested understood at the time the last bill was presented to the House, that the tolls would actually be 90. cents, instead of $1. The theory of that charge was that the object to be accomplished was not to increase the tolls of the Canal in the aggregate, but rather to provide what was believed to be a more equitable system of apportioning those tolls.

Now, how many of you gentlemen want to be heard, and is there anyone that is particularly anxious to be heard in order that he may get away promptly? We can hear you in your own order, if you have any preference.

STATEMENT OF IRA L. EWERS, REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN STEAMSHIP OWNERS' ASSOCIATION

Mr. LEA. We might take the names of all the witnesses who want to appear. You may proceed, Mr. Ewers.

Mr. EWERS. My name is Ira L. Ewers, and I am representing the American Steamship Owners' Association.

Mr. LEA. You may proceed in your own way.

Mr. EWERS. Mr. Chairman, I am not going into the merits of this controversy other than to mention them in connection with our present difficulties.

This subject has received considerable attention by both the Canal officials and the industry over a long period of years, and I believe most of you are familiar with the views involved and the difficulties of an equitable solution.

With that in view, the association appointed a committee, some five or six members, to collect the factual data, to prepare recommendations to the association for a solution of the problem. That committee has requested various data from the offices of the Panama Canal which they believe will enable a more intelligent comprehension of the problem. The shortness of time has not enabled the Canal officials to prepare and submit that information nor, of course, our committee to consider it. We have been informed by the Canal officials that it is hoped that the information that we have requested might be air-mailed from the Isthmus by January 24,