New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
TOPUSH NICARAGUA CANAL
REPRESENTATIVE HEPBURN WILL IN
TRoDUCE A NEW BILL AT OPEN
ING OF CONGRESS.
xor TO BE PUSHED ASIDE BY PANAMA
pRoJEcT-MR. HEPBURN's VIEWS ON
OTHER ToPIcs-No ACTION AT
PRESENT ON PHILIPPINE
SITUATION REQUIRED.
rHY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

r-osbjneton. Nov 14-Representative ". p.
,,.nhurn OF Iowa. has just returned to Wash
,-r.or Mr.. Hepburn was chairman in the. last
,Jo,se ~ the Committee on Interstate and
,-...;g, Commerce-the committee that has
.harea Of Nicaragua Canal. quarantine and
..uwav anti-scalping and pooling legisla-
zion. He said tonight:
81 shall introduce Nicaragua Canal bill
~ the first day Of the session. and will push
:, N action The opponents Of the canal gained
.omething in the way Of postponement when
.bev succeeded in interpolating in the last River
cd Harbor bill provision for new Commits
s,on 70 investigate all the proposed routes across
,hs isthmus The Nicaragua route had been re-
,sntlv investigated by a careful Commission
which had made most elaborate surveys and
Rad submitted a most satisfactory report, but
nv eoutending that the Panama route had been
,.gl,cted the postponement Of the whole mat
fer was secured
THE newspapers inform that the Commits
elm will not be able TO report at this session.
The friends Of Panama WILL of course, throw
oil nossible obstacles in the way Of the United
states building the Nicaragua Canal, as the
construction Of one canal will preclude the build
,rg q, the other. The Panama people say that
s1o0OOOOOO will be required TO finish their canal
siderable part Of this If it is known that
,hs United States Government intends TO build
the Nicaragua Canal
Other companies. such s-the Maritime Canal
COMPANY the Gragin-Eyre syndicate and
o,her company whose name l forget, but which
operated q steamboat and railway line across
tbe isthnus in the ffties. also claim interests.
The Cragin people claim that they hold right
N a concession that took effect on October 10.
when the Maritime company's rights expired.
lust what value this alleged concession has
Am not prepared to say. For my part, do
not think the United States need bother about
any Of these concessions.
Il have no doubt that Costa Rica and Mica
ragua will be glad to give the United States
any territory and any rights IL may need to
prosecute and complete the canal. The canal
question is Of overwhelming Importance in the
development OF both countries, and they are
anxious 10 have it built There is no doubE that
the House would have acted at the last session
I: II could have come to a vote and there is no
doubt that both branches Of Congress favor the
enterprise How much the opposition can delay
matters l cannot say
Are YOU in favor Of the proposed new Depart
nent of Commerce.
That matter was gone into at the last session
A number of men were heard on 1t. and hope
they will renew their efforts at the coming SEES
sion; but an not prepared 10 say how the mat
ter is regarded by the committee"
Are you in favor of an extension Of the quar-
sntine laws?'
Il am but there is great diversity Of opinion
,n the committee on this point. The Southern
members generally willing that the Govern
rent should pay the money for National sys-
tenn but they want to select the men TO spend IL
The large cities also object. Some OF them col.
lect large sums Of money for their inspection OF
vessels and spend il in salaries much larger than
the United States Government pays. New-1orK
for instance. collects some $4,000 or S6OVV an
nualv and pays its Health officer SlZ,oOo
year In my judgment all this work shouId De
done by the United States Government alone, but
as long as the States. fearing invasion of their
rights bv the Government unite with the large
cities it is not likely that any efficient law VIII
What do you think of the Philippine stu
atom"
7 think that Congress should take no &C,
linn at present and that the President should
continue TO control the islands by military law
our original colonists were men 1ar superior 10
the Filipinos; they we're skilled ana ualleu III
self government. and yet it took them fourteen
years and much trouble before they couid Woik
~ a constitution and a government. YET the
Flininos want 10 accomplish all this in four
-asn months No no: they should wait and Con-
eress should wait until we all know each olhel
better We do not know enough ABOUT 'HS Io1
ands yet TO act wisely regarding thein MeaIi
while they should have as liberal government
as possible. ,.,on
How about currency legislation?
"In Iowa we fought the last campaign on the
gold standard, and the result was maJorts
greater by II 900 than the state ever gave IN
all its previous history. Yes am IN lawn u
action - or,
What railway legislation do you recon-
mend %" 49, .,
The House has three times passed tIe an SnC
,.si,ir- IsU- and the Senate has killed IL. NOW,
think that we had better wait for a Wnlie anu
See whether the Senate will pass any such reg
Station II il will. the House VIII speeuiiE io'-
low suit. ! am sure.