The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-04
HEPRURN CIVIL NIL.
The House Committee Decides to Report II
ms n Substitute for the Morgan Bill.

The House Decides TO Report II
ms n Substitute for the Morgan Bill.
WAsHINGToN. Feb. 3.-The House Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce this
morning agreed to report the Hepburn bill as
amended as a substitute for the Morgan Mica
raguan Canal bill. The words. fun owner
ship. sovereignty and jurisdiction " were
stricken out. As agreed on Tuesday. The limit
of the cost OF the canal was reduced from Sl40.-
100000 to S1l5.OOO.OOO. An amendment Of
fered by Representative sherman Of New York,
providing that the President should acquire the
rights and concessions OF the Maritime Canal
Company. was defeated. as Il majority Of the
committee believe that the bill gives the Prcsi-
dent discretionary powers on that point. The
hill be reported at once, and il is expected will
be passed by the House.
The following Is the text OF the bill as
amended:
That the President OF the United States be
and is hereby authorized to acquire by pur-
ragua. for and in behalf of the United States.
such portion Of territory now belonging 70
and necessary, on which to eNcavate. construct
and defend acannl of such depth and capacity
the greatest tonnage and draught now in use,
from a point near Greytown. on the Caribbean
Sen. via Lake Nicaragua. to Breto, on the Pa
cilc Ocean and such sum as may be necessary
to make such purchase is hereby appropri-
ated out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
Sec. .. That when the President has Sc
cured full and complete title to the territory in
section referred TO he shall direct the Secre-
tary OF War to cNcaVate and construct n canal
and waterway from II point on the shore OF the
Caribbean Sea near Grcytown. by way OF Lake
Nicaragua. TO a point near Breto. on the Pacific
Ocean. Such canal shall be of sufficient ca
pacity and depth as that It may be used by YES
sells Of the largest tonnage and greatest depth
now in use. and shall be supplied with all nee
essary locks and other appl tnnces to meet the
to Breto: and the Secretary of War shall also
construct such safe and commodious hnrbOrs
al the termiii Of said canal and such fOrtiiica-
tons for defence as will be. required for the
convenience and safety of all vessels desiring
the use OF said canal.
Sec. 3. That in making surveys for said
canal the Secretary of War may detail such
number of engineer officers Of the army and
he necessary. and may require of them the
performance of such professional duties as he
may desire,
Sec. 4. That in the excavation and construc-
ton Of said canal the San Juan River and Lake
Nicaragua. or such parts OF each as may be
made available. shall be used.
Sec. D. That in any negotiations with the
States Of Costa liica and Nicaragua the Presi-
dent may have. the President is authorized to
guarantee to said States the use of said canal
upon, for all vessels owned by said States or
10y citizens thereof.
Sec. Is. That the sum of S~1l5.OOO.OOO. or so
much as may be necessary, is hereby appropri-
otherwise appropriated, for. the completion of
the work herein authorized. said money to he
drawn from the Treasury from time to time.
as the same shall be needed. upon warrants of
verified by the chief engineer in charge ofthe
work and approved by the Secretary of War;