WATER POWER. COMMITTEE ON WATER POWER, The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Thetus W. Sims (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. Gentlemen, I can not know, without having been informed, as to just how many persons desire to be heard or the time that is expected to be used by the different persons desiring to be heard. We would like to conclude the hearings within one week; that is, this week, from the 18th to the 23d. I would not say we will not give any more time, but we would like very much, if possible, to get through this week, and if not, as soon thereafter as possible. It is hardly worth while to undertake to start the hearings earlier than 10.30 a. m. We can then proceed for an hour and a half and perhaps two hours, if the House is considering something that does not require our presence on the floor. Then we will usually take a recess until 2 o'clock. While neither this committee nor the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce has permission to sit during the sessions of the House, yet when the House is engaged on something like general debate or something that does not require our presence on the floor, we can go ahead in the afternoons, say, from 2 until 5, which will give four hours and a half or possibly five hours a day to the hearings, if nothing intervenes, but of course something may intervene. That would mean 30 hours for the week if we use that much time each day. I do not know just how much time the Government officials, who will be heard first on this proposed substitute bill, desire; neither do I know how many hours are desired by those who want to make suggestions regarding the legislation, for or against; and I would be glad if you gentlemen who are here for the purpose of being heard, especially those who are in agreement as to their viewpoint, will let me know as early as you can how much time you will want to consume and whom you will want to be heard, and how much time you will want for each witness, and we will see if we can not in that way get through this week. Of course, I do not mean for you to let me know this minute, but during the day or at the close of the session this afternoon. I do this in order that we may try to systematize the hearings and get through in a reasonable time, because the bill will require a good deal of time for consideration in the committee. The subject of water-power legislation has been thoroughly ventilated. several times before different committees of Congress as well as in the public prints, and we think a rather exhaustive hearing on the subject can be had within the week. Therefore, I hope you gentlemen will 3 |