The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-07
NICARAGUA BILL
Congressman Hepburn to
: Introduce One.
The Friends Of the Waterway WIN
Wholly Disregard the New Ca
nal ommission.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 21.-One of
the frs measures Of importance in
PRODUCED in Congress will be the Mica
ragua canal bill The friends of the
waterway intend TO disregard entirely
the new Commission appointed under
the provision OF the law enacted in the
closing hours Of the last session. This
bill will be identical with that intro
duced by Mr. Hepburn in the last Con-
gress, which appropriated $4,000, 600,
available in sums Of $40 100000 year,
to be secured by a bond issue. and pro-
vided that the canal should be con-
structed by the United States Govern
ment instead of by private enterprise.
The Hepburn bill also contained a
provision to the effect that the United
States should exercise absolute Sover-
eighty over a zone OF land which the
Government was empowered to secure
by purchase or treaty. This feature of
Hepburn's bill was the subject of criti-
cism from friends of the canal them
selves, for the reason that in the con-
situations of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
it is provided that neither Government
may ALLEVIATE territory.
Discussing the question Of canal leg
islaItiOn tonight Representative Bar
ham of California said an effort would
be made to amend this feature of the
Hepburn bill. 1t is Mr.. Hepburn's be
lief that practically the same object
can be accomplished by a mere change
of words by which the United States
shall be clothed with absolute control
Of the canal and given the privilege oi
terrifying the waterway in time of wal
while at the same time the constitu-
tional inhi bition of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica will not be violated Mr.
Hepburn will undoubtedly be reap
pointed chairman Of the Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Committee, which
will have charge of the bill. and Mr.
Barham, it is equally probable. will be
chairman of the subcommittee TIC
which the bill will be referred.
THE canal bill will be introduced
early in the session. said Mr.. Bar
ham. and from the standing commit
tee will SO at once to the sub-commit-
tee. 1t will be reported back TO the
full committee for consideration al
once and AN effort will be made to in
corporate my amendment The stand
ing committee will endeavor to secure
early consideration from the House
Speaker Henderson i sfavorable to ca
be able this year to enact a law under
which the Government will be empow-
cred to construct the waterway"
Representative Kahn of San Fran
cisco will work hard for the enactment
of canal Legislation, which he consid-
ers not only national benefit but g
matter Of prime Importance ito his con
stituents.
Representative Waters of Los An
ge1es saw Speaker Henderson today
and discussed the committee appoint
ments and forthcoming legislation. Ht
believes the Pacific Coast should have
a member ON the Rivers and Harbor:
Committee and would like the place
himself, although he is not making {
fight for the appointment.
Representative Kahn of San Fran
cisco also had an interview with Hen
derson today and received assurance!
that the Coast will be we'll taken care
of. Where old members express a de-
sire to serve on the same committees
as last session they will be undisturb
ed. The fact that many prominen
members of the last Congress do mo-
return leaves some very importan
committee places to be filled by new
men.