2/7 HEARINGS ON OHIO RIVER BRIDGE AT APRIL 7, 1909 PRINTED BY DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1909 OHIO RIVER BRIDGE AT PARKERSBURG, W. VA. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1909. The subcommittee this day met, Hon. Charles E. Townsend presiding. Mr. TOWNSEND. I will say to you, gentlemen, that this hearing is entirely informal; that the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce for the Sixty-first Congress has not been appointed. We have been acting on the assumption that possibly it would be appointed and that the subcommittee which had been appointed at the last Congress might possibly be excused by the whole committee for having accommodated Mr. Woodyard and other gentlemen by giving them a little time this morning. I will state, furthermore, that we have to be in session in the House at 12 o'clock and if the gentlemen who have the matter in charge can divide the time between them, those in favor of the proposition and those opposed to it, each taking one-half an hour, I will attempt to hold you gentlemen down to that rule. Mr. Woodyard, if you will present those gentlemen who are in favor of this proposition, we will hear them. Mr. WOODYARD. We appreciate very much, Mr. Chairman, your kindness in calling the committee together under the circumstances, but I do not know whether this case could be presented, on our side at least, in the time allotted. Could you not extend the time fifteen minutes? I appreciate that that would throw us into the House. Mr. TOWNSEND. I do not think that you had better take more time, because if you have anything prepared and will submit it to the stenographer it will be printed and read. Mr. TILLEY. As representing the other side, we have not come here to present our side in full and we are quite willing that these gentlemen shall take forty-five minutes. We do not know what testimony is to be submitted and we are rather on the defensive. They can take forty or forty-five minutes, and then we would like to submit our side when the committee is regularly organized. Mr. Moss. We respectfully desire to object to that. This gentleman was before the committee and he gave his evidence. We have come here this morning prepared to discuss this matter and we do not want something to come up afterwards when we are not present. Mr. TOWNSEND. Are you in favor of the proposition? Mr. MORSE. Yes, sir. Mr. HUBBARD. These gentlemen can not be denied the right to be heard when the committee has been organized. Mr. Moss. But we want to be present. Mr. HUBBARD. Notice will be given of the meeting and everybody can come. Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Chairman, I have no objection to accommodating anybody on earth, because my nature is to accommodate anybody 3 |