The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-04
COMMITTEE HAS
COMPLETED BILL
Authorizing Construction of the
Nicaraugan Canal.
WILL 60 TO HOUSE MONDAY
The Total Appropriation Was Reduced
From $l4O,ooo,ooo to $115,ooo,-
600 in the Committee Room-It
May Have to Go to Conference.

Washington, February 3.-The Nicaragua
canal bill has been completed by the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Hinrichsen, of Illinois, secured the
adoption of an amendment reducing the to-
tai appropriation from $40 900 to s1l5.-
100000. AS thus amended the substitute bill
was agreed to by a practically unanimous
vete, and Mr.. Hepburn was directed to
make the report to the house. The bill in
its amended form is as follows: \
Section /. That the president of the
United States be and is hereby authorized
to acquire by purchase from the states Of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua for and in be--aif
OF the United States of such portion of ter
ritory now belonging to Costa Rica and
Nicaragua or either Of them as may be
desirable and necessary ON which to ex-
cavate, construct and defend canal of
such depth and capacity as will lie sufficient
for the movement of ships of the greatest
tonnage and draft now in use from a point
near Greytown, on the Caribbean sea, via
Lake Nicaragua, to Brito, on the Pacific
ocean; and such sum as may be necessary
to make such purchase is hereby appro-
prlated out of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
Section g. That when the president has
secured the territory in section l referred
to he shall direct the secretary of war to
excavate and construct a canal and water
way from point on the shore of the Car
ibbean sea near Groytowp, by way of Lake
Nicaragua to point near Brito on the
Pacific ocean. Such canal shall be of
~ he
vessels of the largest tonnage and greatest
depth now in use and shall be supplied
with all the necessary locks and other APP
p,iances to meet the necessities of vessels
passing from Greytown to Brito and the
secretary of war shall also construct such
safe and commodious harobrs at the ter
minas of said canal and such fortifcations
for defense as will be required for the con-
venience and safety of I'll vessels desiring
the use of said canal.
Section 8. That in making survey for
said canal and harbors the secretary of
war shall detail such number of engineer
officers of the army and civil as may be
necessary and may require of them the
performance of such professional duties as
he may desire. -
construction of said canal the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua or such parts of
each as may be available shall be used.
Section 5. That in any negotiations with
the states of Costa Rica or Nicaragua the
president may have the president is au-
thorized to guarantee to said states the use
OF said canal and harbors upon such terms
as may be agreed upon for all vessels
owned by states or citizens thereof.
Section G. That the sum of Sis, 900, Co., or
so much as may be necessary, is hereby ap-
propriated out of any money in the treas
ury not otherwise appropriated for the
completion of the work herein authorized
said money shall be needed, upon warrants
of the president based on estimates made
and verified by the chief engineer in charge
of the work and approved by the secretary
of war.
When reported the bill will have parlia-
mentary status of a senate bill SO that If
the substitute is agreed to the subject will
go to a conference committee and the final
results expedited.