The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-01
THE HEPBURN CANAL BILL.
The Committee Makes Some Import
ant Amendments.


The Hepburn Nicaragua canal bill will
| be reported by the House Committee on
| Interstate and Foreign Commerce next
Tuesday. At meeting of the committee
held yesterday such action was decided
upon Several very important amendments
to the Hepburn measure. however, have
| been decided upon.
The principal change is the elimination
OF the words ownership. jurisdiction. and
sovereignty from that section granting
the President power TO acquire by purchase
from Costa Rica and Nicaragua such
portions OF territory may be necessary
for the excavation, construction. and de-
, fence of the canal. The Hepburn bill ap-
propriates $40. OO0 900 for the canal. 1t
authorizes the President and Secretary OF
War to acquire all the rights and fran
chses that may now be held by corpora
lions for the construction of the canal This
means that the Cragin-Graee syndicate
and the Maritime Canal Company will be
bought out II the bill become law.
Following is the amended bill in full:
That the President Of the United States lie.
and is hereby authorized to acquire. by purchase
frcw the states Of Costa kica and Nicaragua. FOR
d
, Of territory now belonging to Costa iars and
Nicaragua may be desirable and necessary ON
which to eXc1vate,- construct, and defend 4 canal
Of such depth and capacity viii be suiicIent
for the OF ships of the creates, tonnage
and draft in Use. IRON point near Grey
town. the Caribbean Sea, via Lake Nicaragua,
so Breto. the Pacific Ocean. and such sum as
may be Necessary to maize such purchase IS here
by appropriated out Of any money in the Treas
ury not otherwise appropriated.
See. ?. That when, the President has secured
ft1tl ord 10 arfTfTIl
sovereignty the territory in section
ferTed to. he shall direct the Secretary cf War to
excavate and construct canal and waterway from
a point on the shore OF the Caribbean Sea, near
GreytOwn, by way Of Lake Nicaragua. to a point
near Breto. on the Pacific Ocean. Such canal
shall be OF sufficient capacity and depth that
1t may be used by vessels Of the largest tonnage
and greatest depth in use. and shall be sup
piled with all necessary locks and other ap-
planes TO meet the necessities Of vessels passing
from Greytown to Breto: and the Secretary Of
War shall also construct such safe and COM
modiOus haTbors N the termini of said canal. and
such Notifications for defence, viii be required
for the convenience ard safety OF all vessels de-
string the USE Of said canal.
Sec. g. That in making surveys for said canal
and harbors, the Secretary Of Was shall detail
such number OF engineer officers Of the army az
may be necessary. and may require of them the
performance of such professional duties as he may
desire.
Sec. :. That in the excavation and construction
OF said canal the san Juan River and Lake Nicsra-
qua, or such parts OF each As may be made avail
able. shall be used
Sec. s. That in any negotiations with the
states OF Costa Rica Nicaragua the President
may have. the President is authorized 10 .,laran-
tee 10 said states the use of said canal and
hafbOIs, upon such terms as may be agreed UPON
for all vessels owned by said states by citizens
thereof.
see g. That the sum of $1,000. CO., or 50
much as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated
out Of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for the completion OF the work
herein authorized. said money to be drawn from
the Treasury from time TO time as the same
shall be needed, upon warrants of the President
based estimates made and verified BY the
chief engineer in charge of the work and APP
proved by the Secretary of War.