Let us get right to the point on this.

I am not challenging that in particular, but if the two railroads are responsible for writing the plan, how do you guarantee that people who utilize railroad services, i.e., shippers, have had their input in the designing of the plan?

I take the opinion that it seems to me that more and more we have less and less.

How do people who utilize railroad services have input into the content of the plan, if at all?

All we were asking for was the right to be treated as the other Class I's had been treated under the previous rules.

Thank you.

Only if someone comes in and challenges it.

I cannot conceive of benefits from further consolidation being something that is even in our language here.

I think the phrase 'benefits from further consolidation' is an oxymoron.

And I will be a much happier Senator.

I certainly think it is a step in the right direction.

We have introduced now for the third time... The 35th time... The Rail Shipper Protection Act.

I want to say first that I appreciate the courage it took for the Board to do what it did in creating the position you did.

Let me say, Mr. Chairman, that Senator Rockefeller and Senator Burns and I and some others have introduced the Rail Shipper Protection Act.

But we are determined this time to get a hearing, to get a markup, and move this legislation.

Obviously, this Committee is interested in the public interest.

If they do not?

We are, right.