Arizona republican., 1898-12-22
THE NICHRAGUA CANAL
Provision for Guarding inc Wafer
 way imperative.

Washington, Dec. 21.-As the debate on the Nicaraguan canI bill proceeds it
 becomes apparent that there is to be great opposition both in the senate and in the house, to the measure which Sen atOr Morgan advocates and which looks to the interests of the Maritime Canal company. The feeling is spreading at both ends of the capitol that whenever canal is built it should be built by the United Sta.tes government, and that the control of the government should be absolute and unchallenged. That, also, is the feeling of the administration and it does not require the gift Of prophecy to foresee that any bill which may be passed is to follow these lines
 The measure introduced in the house by Colonel Hepburn, chairman of the committee on interstate ana foreign commerce, is thought by many persons to approach more near to the plan fla vored by the administration. That bill provides for the purchase end con- trol of 9 strip of land along the boun- diary line between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, sufficient for the construction and protection Of the canal, the idea being thas the United States shall hold the territory under it's military protection. If any Nicaragua1 bill is passed during the present session Of congress that measure or something like it stands the best chance Of success.
 Colonel Hepburn said yesterday that he had net consulted with the admins tration before introducing the bill, and that he did not know what the feeling Of the president was in regard to it, so that it could not be called in any way an administration measure and must stand or fall on it's own merits. He be- -lieves, however, that his solution is the most practicable one suggested.
 No provision has been made for the Maritime Canal company or for any ether corporation. Neither does the bill recognize ;hc Clayton-Bulwer trea- ty CT any obligation to Great Britain. As for the Maritime Canal company, whatever may be the feeling of Colonel Hepburn or the members of the house, it is safe to assume that is interests are net to be neglected by the senate, and that some provision reimbursing the company for its expedituNas is to be pu. into any measure which may pass, although that may not be done until ; action is taken by a conference com mittee
 It has already been pointed out that ] the administration has clearly defined i understanding with Great Britain by which the provisions Of the Clayton
 
 Of the canal, are to be practically null lifted, although the treaty itself is not to be abrogated either by direct or in direct action Colonel Hepburn is a warm advocate Of the proposition to buy 5he strip required for the canal.
 Tt is of the u,most importance" he ] said yesterday, that the United States should have the power to protect the entire line Of canal. Tha1 is particu- ! ', litical conditions are 50 turbulent as they are in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Ii must be remembered, too, ahat the canal under contemplation can be de- stroyed more easily than any other that has been constructed. In some cases { the inclosures Of the locks arc fully i foriy-five feet above ground, and there arc to De. six gTeas locks, which could be ds9t-Cyed without difficulty by the use of little dynamite.
 The United States should be in a position 10 have its troops stationed at intervals along tho line Of the canal at any time. Otherwise the canal is o be valueless for use in time Of war For [ example, we should have been afraid r. to send the Oregon into the canal dur ' ing the war with Spain if the canal had been constructed, for the vessel might have been lot into one Of the locks and there left high and dry by the destruc- tion of the waterway.
 Ut has been suggested that the gov ll ernment Of Nicaragua would not cede any part Of is territory to the United States. l do not know anything about | that, but l have nc reasCI to believe that the necessary cession could not be accomplished by the use of money. The srip Of land, it should be re- mcmEered, does not run directly through the territory of either country, 1 Out is CT the border cf ths two, and in It3 present condition i is valueless Dracttcally The San Juan rivsr, which runs through II, is net navisable, and nothing will ever be done with 1t un- ess t1 is 1sed for the purposes Of the Is anal. l. can make E5,le difference lc either to Nicaragua or Costa Rica if a T