The times., 1898-12-13
HEPBJRN's ALTERNATIVE.
Provides for Purchase of the Canal
Route.

| Provides for Purchase of the CnnaI
Route.
Much interest was awakened by the m
! production of Mr. Eepburn's bill IL the
House yesterday proviiins for 'the n
struction of canal connecting the
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans and carrying with It an arp;o-
priation of $40 000,J0O for that pur. ose
Occasional reference to the nature of the
bill has already been made. bu; it is re-
produced in fun In order to afford The
opportunity of comparing 1t With n
ator Morgah's. which i still rendins:
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United Stat IS
OF America in Congress assembled:
Sec l. That the Pre- s.den, OF tie
United States be and he Is hereby au-
thorized to acquire by purchase from the
states OF Costa Rica and Nicaragua fl
ownership, Jurisdiction and sovera' gnty
for and in behalf of the United st tes OF
such portion Of territory SOW belangi IL
to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as IRA be
desirable and necessary on with to ex-
cavate. construct and defend n c nal of
such depth and capacity as will b. suf-
hcient for the movements of SHIPS of tn.
greatest tonnage ard draught row in
use, from n point near Graytown on the
Caribbean Sea via Lake Nicaragua u
Breto. on the Pacific Ocean. and such
sum as may be necessary to make such
purchase is hereby appropriated out OF
any money In the treasury not 9th arwlse
appropriated
Sec. 2. That when the President has So
cured fun and complete title to and IL Is
diction and sovereignty over the Ter. ito.y
in section / referred to. he shaI. direct
the Secretary of War to excavate and
construct a canal and waterway from q
point on the shore of the Caribbean Sea
near Graytown. by way of Lake Mica
ragua to point near Breto. on the Pa
cihc Ocean. Such canal shall be of ul-
hcient capacity and depth so that it may
be used by vessels of the largest Tonnage
and greatest depth now in use ard sh1I
be supplied with all necessary locks and
other appliances to meet the nscess lies
OF vessels passing from Graytown to
Breto; and the Secretary of War sh.ll
also construct such safe ami comm dious
harbors at the termini of said canal and
such projections for defense as will be
required for the convenience and safety
OF all vessels desiring the use of SAD
canal
Sec. B. In making surveys for said
canals and harbors, the Secretary of War
shall detail such number Of engineer Off
GERS of the army as may be necessary.
ana may require of them the performance
OF such professional duties as he may de-
sire.
Sec. 4. In the excavation and con-
struction of said canal the San Juan
River and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts |
or each as may be made available, shall !
be used
Sec. 5. In any negotiations with the |
states OF Costa Rica or Nicaragua that |
the President may have, the President Is |
authorized to guarantee to said states |
such use OF said canal and harbors upon !
such terms as may be agreed upon. for |
all vessels owned by such states or by
citizens thereof.
Sec. 8. That the sum of $4,000 900
or so much as may be necessary. Is |
hereby appropriated out of any money in
lhe treasury not otherwise appropriated.
for the completion of the work herein
authorized said money to be drawn from
the Treasury from time to time as the
same shall be needed upon warrants of I
the President. based on estimates made
ana verified by the chief engineer I'm
charge of the work and approved by the
Secretary of War"
A meeting of the Interstate and For
eign Commerce Committee will be held
tomorrow, at which the bill will be con-
sidered. e
My reason for desiring to secure SOW
ereignty over the territory" Mr.. Hep
burn explained, .is that l don't believe
I wise for the United States to put
900 into the soil of those countries |
hat we can't take out and over. which
We Will not have absolute control | am
N favor of paying those countries for
sovereign rights in the canal property
-ather than giving the canal COMPANY
rom sll, 900 to $4,000 900 for franchises
'niy. This proposition ignores the con-
,essionaires entirely and proposes to deal
iirect with the governments interested
Senator Morgan. when informed of the
erms of Mr.. Hepburns bill, expressed
lis surprise at their tenor
Mr.. Hepburn is an intelligent man. and
lie certainly must know that such A
cheme is impossible of execution
Seither of those countries" he said, will
'arter its sovereignty over an inch of
erritory. They would consider it an in
ult for the President TO make the sn~
;estion.'