252 DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL
 it may be that the mail ship prefers to collect from the Government
 and run the extra mileage at Government expense.
 (3) Those operators whose business is to charter their ships: These
 companies operate usually in the tanker trade and own no product to
 carry in their own bottoms. They are, therefore, dependent upon a
 shortage of vessels to create a demand for their ships. They, there-
 fore, cannot view any facility which tends to bring the Atlantic
 seaboard and the Gulf coast closer together as a benefit to their
 business.
 Further than this, there is an almost universal feeling among
 operators in the Gulf-Atlantic run that they are in a trading position.
 In other words, if the canal is constructed, they desire to have accrued
 to them the largest possible share of the benefits. This thought may
 be reflected in three ways: First, by a desire that the canal be toll free
 in order that the entire savings will accrue to them; second, by a
 desire not to see the principle of tolls established for the use of any
 waterway within the United States; third, by a desire that if tolls
 are charged they be as low as possible in order that their share of the
 increased savings will be a maximum. Again, some operators feel
 that competition will force most of the savings to be passed on to
 the producers and consumers of the Nation. While this is really
 an argument in favor of the canal, it nevertheless results in a trading
 attitude on the part of the operators.
 Senator VANDENBEO. Now, before you leave your previous point,
 just in fairness to the gentlemen whom I have quoted here, I think it
 should be said that several of the largest oil-tanker operators have
 testified that they think the canal ought to be on a toll basis if it is
 operated at all, and I would say that they were acquitted of the self-
 ishness which you rather universally attribute to them.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. I am giving you my general impression from read-
 ing the record, Senator.
 Senator FLErcmHm. I do not see why any of them should want tolls.
 Senator VANDENBxmo. Because Mr. Pugh, for instance, I think, of
 the Sun Oil, has specifically declared that he was opposed to all such
 subsidies and would not care to be a beneficiary of it himself.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. I can see how an oil company, which though it
 itself was not interested in bringing oil from the Gulf of Mexico to
 the Atlantic seaboard, but that when a competitor might be able to
bring it at a little cheaper rate by the Florida canal, then it would
want that competitor to pay that toll. That would be one reason
why they would want to see a toll. I do not know whether that is
the case here, as I do not know these gentlemen.
 Senator VANDENBEoG. I was going to inquire whether you intended
that as a comment on Mr. Pugh's letter.
 Mr. BUCKMAN. No; I was answering Senator Fletcher's question
as to why they would want a toll. That is one reason they would
want a toll on it.
 Nowe this trading attitude of the ship operating concerns becomes
increasing clear when the exact wording of the original questionnaire
sent out by the War Department is considered. I quote from that
letter to all shipping concerns, under date of May 9, 1933:
 It will be appreciated if you will review the data presented herewith and
express your view as to the necessity for or desirability of thil project in the
interests of navigation and marine commerce, presenting any information of