Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Strachan, on behalf of our chairman, Mr. Priest, myself, and Mr. Carrigg, and other members of the committee who were not able to be here today, but who will have the benefit of the printed hearings, we would like to express our appreciation to you and your associates for your appearance here. I realize that it took a great deal of effort on the part of each of you to get here, and for that reason the committee is doubly appreciative. If that is all the testimony, then the committee will stand adjourned and this matter will be taken up in executive session. (Whereupon, at 2:50 p. m., the subcommittee recessed, subject to the call of the Chair.) TRANSPORTATION POLICY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1956 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment, in room 1334, New House Office Building, Hon. Oren Harris (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. HARRIS. Let the committee come to order. We must proceed, because we have so many witnesses to be heard this morning. I observed that a great deal of progress was made yesterday afternoon, and a good many witnesses were given an opportunity of being heard. I am gratified that this progress was made, because we are coming into the final few days of these far-reaching, important, and elaborate hearings. We want to accommodate everyone insofar as is possible. I again repeat that these hearings on the Cabinet Committee report and the enabling legislation thereto have been underway since in April, and we have had, I think, as thorough and extensive hearings on this subject as have been held in the last 15 years. I am sure all of those here this morning and the many, many other witnesses who have preceded you fully understand that we are now assembling the most outstanding record on the entire subject of surface transportation and water transportation that we have held in a good many years. We feel that it is going to be wholesome. We know that it is going to take a long time to analyze fully the hearings, and the committee hopes to be able to do that in the immediate future and during the rest of the year. We have today here the Waterways Council Opposed to Regulation Extension. There are a number of people, members of the Waterways Council, who have come from throughout the United States to express their views in connection with the omnibus bill to amend the Interstate Commerce Act in accordance with the recommendations of the Cabinet Committee's report. Mr. David A. Wright, chairman of the Waterways Council Opposed to Regulation Extension, is spokesman for this group. It is my understanding there are others here to supplement his statement, and also Mr. James Knudson will speak for the record, together with Mr. Wright, for the Waterways Council. Mr. Wright, we will be glad to recognize you at this time. 1487 STATEMENT OF DAVID A. WRIGHT, CHAIRMAN, WATERWAYS COUNCIL OPPOSED TO REGULATION EXTENSION, NEW YORK, N. Y. Mr. WRIGHT. Thank you. My name is David A. Wright. I am national chairman of a temporary organization known as the Waterways Council Opposed to Regulation Extension, with offices at 21 West Street, New York City. My principal occupation is as president of Lake Tankers Corp. and National Oil Transport Corp., contract carriers of liquid commodities in bulk upon the inland waters of the United States. I am also president of the New York State Waterways Association, a director of the American Waterway Operators, Inc., of the Mississippi Valley Association, and a trustee of the Ohio Valley Improvement Association. To conserve the committee's time, I shall not read my statement in full, but request that all of it be included in the record. I appear here today as the spokesman and the chairman of the Waterways Council Opposed to Regulation Extension for the purpose of opposing the enactment of section 14 and related sections 13, 16, and 18 of H. R. 6141, or any similar legislation designed to extend regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission over the now exempt transportation of dry bulk commodities moving on the inland waterways. I should add that I am serving on an unpaid basis as chairman of this temporary organization established for the sole purpose of opposing this type of regulation extension. Our organization was formed March 17, 1954, immediately following the introduction in the Senate of S. 3111 of the 83d Congress, a bill which would have had substantially the same effect as section 14 of H. R. 6141 which is the subject of these hearings. Our membership which totals approximately 160 includes a substantial number of water carriers common, contract, and private; some shippers, some terminal operators, and a few business organizations and individuals interested in opposition to the extension of regulation by the ICC in the field of water transportation. The membership has a widespread geographic distribution with representation not only on the east, gulf, and west coasts but on the Great Lakes and throughout the Mississippi River system. Many of the members of our organization were anxious to testify before this committee concerning their opposition to the repeal of the dry bulk commodity exemption. In order to conserve the committee's time and to avoid unnecessary implication and repetition, it was ararnged that I should appear here today as their spokesman. However, a number of these men who are officials of the carrier concerns who would be directly affected by the extension of regulation have come to Washington today expressly for the purpose of attending this hearing and showing by their presence their interest in and support of the case in opposition to section 14 of this bill or any other legislation that would be designed to extend Interstate Commerce Commission regulation to the movement of bulk commodities. I had intended to introduce them individually to the committee but, again, to save time, since a list of their names is being made available to the committee, I shall ask them to stand as a body. There are a few persons present whose names are not on the list and I shall give their names to the clerk following the hearing. Will you gentlemen please stand? Mr. HARRIS. We will be very glad to have you introduce them. Will you gentlemen stand for just a moment? I observe here in the list that has been given to me: J. F. Belford, Jr., vice president, Seaboard Shipping Corp., 17 Battery Place, New York, N. Y.; Rea Eastwood, vice president, Lea River Lines, Inc., 1813 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; E. W. Graver, secretary, Lea River Lines, 1813 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; H. C. Blutenthal, Jr., vice president and treasurer, Midwest Towing Co., Inc., 111 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill.; J. P. Beebe, manager, supply and distribution, Smith Oil & Refining Co., 1102 Kilburn Avenue, Rockford, Ill.; Harry B. Dyer, president, Nashville Bridge Co., Nashville, Tenn.; J. L. Diggs, manager, chartering and traffic division, marine department, the Texas Co., 135 East 42d Street, New York, N. Y.; Gresham Hougland, Walter G. Hougland Sons, Inc., 1231 South Third Street, Post Office Box 1040, Paducah, Ky.; Jesse Brent, president, Greenville Towing Co., Inc., Greenville, Miss.; G. G. McCool, secretary-treasurer, Greenville Transportation Co., Greenville, Miss.; J. G. Robison, general traffic manager, Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co., Three Penn Center Plaza, Philadelphia, Pa.; Kenneth A. Baker, manager, marine department, J. D. Streett & Co., Inc., 4067 Park Avenue, St. Louis 10, Mo.; Joseph F. Carroll, Jr., vice president, Dalzell Towing Co., Inc., 21 West Street, New York, N. Y.; C. W. Rushing, general manager, Missouri Barge Line Co., 231 North Maine Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; G. W. Gladders, president, G. W. Gladders Towing Co., Inc., 217 Clayton-Forsythe Building, 8230 Forsythe Boulevard, St. Louis 24, Mo.: Edward D. Kelly, vice president, M. & J. Tracy, Inc., 1 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Robert H. Beattie, president, Oil Transport Co., 2837 Tchoupitoulas Street, Post Office Box 1704, New Orleans, La.; G. H. Schmidt, traffic manager, Marine Transportation, Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Okla.; Ira U. Cobleigh, president and secretary, the Wright & Cobb Lighterage Co., 19 Rector Street, New York, N. Y.; N. M. Edmunds, Philadelphia manager, Spentonbush Fuel Transport Service, Inc., 1700 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; Capt. J. W. Banta, president, Plaquemine Towing Corp., Post Office Box 66. Plaquemine, La.; Weston B. Grimes, counsel, Cargill, Inc., Minnesota; Floyd A. Mechling, president, Mechling Barge Lines, Joliet, Ill.; Capt. Thorton D. Hooper, Sr., chairman of the board, Interstate Oil & Transport Co., 2101 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; Lloyd L. Leonard, traffic manager, Sioux City & New Orleans Barge Lines, Inc., Board of Trade Building, Kansas City, Mo. 78456-56-pt. 3—— -15 Mr. WRIGHT. I would like to also add to that list, Mr. Chairman, Capt. L. M. Tauassen, president, Cleveland Tankers, Inc., Standard Building, Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Scott Chotin, J. & S. Inc., New Orleans, La.; Mr. E. K. Metcalfe, Greenville Barge Co., Greenville, Miss.; Mr. Harry Jordan, Lee Circle Building, New Orleans, La.; Mr. J. E. Graham, secretary, Industrial Marine Service, Inc., Post Office Box 1188, 1177 North Second Street, Memphis, Tenn., and Mr. Walter F. Schulten, vice president, Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co., Koppers Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. HARRIS. I observe that you gentlemen have come from all over the United States-from the East, the West, the North, and the South-in support of your chairman of the Waterways Council in connection with this program. I will furnish this list to the reporter in order that he may have it for the record, and that you may be recorded. It will show your name and the position and that you are a member of the council, as well as the company you represent, and your address. That will all be included. in the record. And I might say, Mr. Wright, such a distinguished group of people from all over the country is very impressive to me and I am sure it will be to other members of this committee. Gentlemen, we are very glad to welcome you here and are very glad to have you here expressing your views and the views of your spokesman in connection with this all-important legislation. (The list of those present follows:) WATERWAYS COUNCIL OPPOSED TO REGULATION EXTENSION J. F. Belford, Jr., vice president, Seaboard Shipping Corp., 17 Battery Place, New York. Rea Eastwood, vice president, Lea River Lines, Inc., 1813 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, Pa. E. W. Graver, secretary, Lea River Lines, 1813 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, Pa. H. C. Blutenthal, Jr., vice president and treasurer, Midwest Towing Co., Inc., 111 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill. J. B. Beebe, manager, supply and distribution, Smith Oil & Refining Co., 1102 Kilburn Avenue, Rockford, Ill. Harry B. Dyer, president, Nashville Bridge Co., Nashville, Tenn. J. L. Diggs, manager, chartering and traffic division, marine department, the Texas Co., 135 East 42d Street, New York, N. Y. Gresham Hougland,, Walter G. Hougland Sons, Inc., 1231 South Third Street, Post Office Box 1040, Paducah, Ky. Jesse Brent, president, Greenville Towing Co., Inc., Greenville, Miss. G. G. McCool, secretary-treasurer, Greenville Transportation Co., Greenville, Miss. J. G. Robison, general traffic manager, Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co., Three Penn Center Plaza, Philadelphia, Pa. Kenneth A. Baker, manager, marine department, J. D. Streett & Co., Inc., 4067 Park Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. Joseph F. Carroll, Jr., vice president, Dalzell Towing Co., Inc., 21 West Street, New York, N. Y. C. W. Rushing, general manager, Missouri Barge Line Co., 231 North Main Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo. G. W. Gladders, president, G. W. Gladders Towing Co., Inc., 217 ClaytonForsythe Building, 8230 Forsythe Boulevard, St. Louis, Mo. Edward D. Kelly, vice president, M. & J. Tracy, Inc., 1 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Robert H. Beattie, president, Oil Transport Co., Inc., 2837 Tchoupitoulas Street, Post Office Box 1704, New Orleans, La., |