DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA CANAL 393

 Mr. BAcoN. The Board of Engineers probably made their report to Congress.
 Mr. SaShz Mr. Marvin H. Walker, of Tampa, has been very active down
there in connection with the canaL He complained that they were covering up
the reports and were keeping them secret. I at once called upon the United
States engineers and asked them about it, and they told me that Mr. Walker
came up here; that they furnished a stenographer and engineer to go through
the report with him. They said that he made all the notes he wanted and
went over It carefully. In reply to his letter, I wrote Mr. Walker, in part, as
follows:
 "Your letter was called to my attention today upon my return to the city from
an inspection tour with the Naval Affairs Committee of the naval bases on the
West coast.
 "In reply thereto, will state I understand either you or another Mr. Walker
looked over the report at the Army engineers' office and had access to all avail-
able information. Of course, as I see it, after one man reads a report, the charge
of secrecy is not well founded. This is not critical, but in order that we may
understand just what the facts are. Personally I know of no delay in furnish-
ing the facts to the people of the State, and I assure you there has been no
effort on my part to conceal any of the facts."
 Now, this matter is a vital one to us. In fact, for the next 30 years we will
 have to pay on those bonds we voted. It means so much to the people of the
canal district and of my State that I hope Congress will see its way clear to
adopt the project I do not want to be misunderstood about it, but-the Senate
adopted three projects that were on all-fours with the Florida Canal
 The CrAImwuA. Except as to size.
 Mr. Smaim It does not make any difference whether it is a thin dime or a $20
 gold piece when it comes to a question of policy. They also passed several items
 involving millions of dollars for irrigation. They were exactly on all-fours, with
 the cross-State canal in Florida, and they involve large sums of money. I just
 want the members of the committee and my colleagues in the House to under-
 stand that I feel as you would feel if you were fighting for something in your
 own State. I feel that I can speak for my people, having been elected as a
 Member at Large from the State, and then reelected as Congressman at Large
 without opposition.
 I hope you will give the matter your favorable consideration.
 The CBanIMAx. I want to state to both you and Mr. Caldwell while you are
 here, my view of the legislative situation on the Florida Canal-not the merits
 of it
 This Florida Canal proposition came up in the Senate. It was voted down.
 They made a motion to reconsider, and that was thoroughly fought out, and
 there can be no claim that they did not understand it. They voted it down again,
 by one vote. It is now up to the Senate to reverse its action before we put any
 provision in our bill How the House can do that after the Senate has voted it
 down twice I do not know, unless the Senate puts it into the bill and sends it
 over to the House.
 On the same day, Representative Millard F. Caldwell, of Florida,
 appeared before the same subcommittee and made the following
 statement:
 FLORIDA SHIP CANAL

 STATEMENT OF HON. MILLARD F. CALDWELL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
 CONGRESS FRO THE STATE OF PLORIDA

 Mr. CanwD.r. Mr. Chairman, it is not my purpose to review in detail the
 great mass of data which justifies the Florida Canal project. My colleague,
 Congressman Sear, has ably and fully presented these to the committee, and I
 heartily endorse all he has said.
 I am convinced that the enterprise is fundamentally sound and that it is in
 the public interest. It will benefit not only the entire State of Florida but a
 very large part of the Nation as well. I think it is worth 4 great deal more
 than it will cost and that the work already vigorously begun should be vigor-
 ously prosecuted.