Hutchinson gazette., 1899-01-26
UNCLE SAN IS 70 BUILD IT..
The Nlcaraguan Canal Bill Is Pass
w cd by the Senate,
ONLY SIX NEGATIVE VOTES.

WASHINGTON, Jan. %. The Senate
passed the Nicaragua canal bill satur-
day by vote Of yeas 40, nays O.
Those voting In the negative were
Senators Caifery, Bate, Mantle, coch'
rell, Smith and Martin, Tho vote was
a surprise TO even the most sanguIne
advocates OF tho bill.
The bill, which was introduced by
Senator Morgan of Alabama, chair
man Of tho Senate committee on the
construction OF the Nicaragua canal,
was subjected TO many important
changes In the committee, and II was
further altered by amendments 30
that, as II passed. II is widely differ
emit from the original measure. It's
most important features are as fellows;
II provides for the appointment OF
three commissioners by tho President
TO ascertain the value Of the property
OF the Maritime canal company, These
commissioners are TO report TO tho
President direct, When they have
made their report and the Maritime
Canal company has called in all Of It's
outstanding stock and scrip for stock
aud freed itself from obligations OF
every character, tho secretary OF the
treasury Is TO Issue warrants to tho
amount OF tho value OF the property,
ascertaincd by the commissioners, not
TO exceed 85, 100000. Then tho Mari
time Canal company Is to transfer TO
the United States government 500, ,5OO,-
900 OF It's stock, TO Nicaragua S0,oOO,-
900, and TO Costa Rica $500, 100, as
required by concessions from those
countries,
The President is TO appoint five
directors whose nominations shall be
confirmed by the Senate and who shall
be paid salary Of $4,000 year, Mic
aragua and Costa Rica each TO bo on.
titled to one director TO be paid by
those governments, respectively The
President Is also authorized to enter
into negotiations with the govern
ments Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua for
whatever changes In tho concessions
no may consider necessary. Ho Is
further authorized to negotiate with
any power for the abrogation Of any
treaty which may conflict or interfere
with the right to own and control the
canal.
In the event Of his inability TO OBJ
tain from Costa Rica or Nicaragua
such changes in the concessions for
constructing the canal along the line
of the San Juan river and Lake Mica
ragua, the President 10 authorized to
negotiate for any other route from
any other power that may in his judg-
ment seem desirable. No money is TO
be paid to the Maritime Canal company
until 1t shall be fully determined and
decided to build the canal under its
concessions and along the route pre-
scrlbed thereby.
The President may direct the detail
Of army engineers for the construc-
tion of the work and the government
OF the United States will agree with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica to guaran-
tee the neutrality Of the canal and TO
protect 1t from any and all interrupt
tion. In the negotiations, the Presi-
dent, If he sees flt, may require per-
petual ownership to be granted the
United States
The Ncaraguan canal bill was in
troduced In the Senate June 90 by Sem
ator Morgan, who has since constantly
urged Its passage. The chief point OF
difference between 1t and other Mic
aragua canal bills which have been be-
fore Congress is that the present
measure secures for this government
absolute ownership Of the canal. BY
It's provisions the United States be-
comes in fact the canal company. Tho
present bill does not permit Of the
slightest joint interest or anything in
kha nattre of nrivnte control