The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-22
NICARAGUA BILL PASSED
Six Votes Only Were Cast in Op-
position.
PROVISIONS OF THE ACT
The Big Ditch Is to Be Completed With
in Six Years From the Time the
Contract Is Internationally
Is Guaran teed

Washington, Jan. 21.-The senate to-
day passed the Nicaragua canal bill,
decided to make the anti-scalping bill
the unfinished business and continued
without completion the consideration of
the Indian appropriation bill. A num-
Der of amendments We're made to the
Nicaragua canal bill and there were in
Vulnerable short speeches during the
| day. There was, however, no opposi-
ton to vote. When the time came a
| roll call on it developed only six votes
in opposition to final passage The anita
scalping bill was taken up on a vote of
| 33 to q. but no effort was then made
| to resume the consideration. The result
of the vote was to give it the first place
on the calendar, but the understanding
is that it shall not be pressed in oppo-
sition to the peace treaty or the APP
preparation bills.
The Nicaragua canal bill, as it passed,
continues the name of the Maritime
Canal company. 1t provides for the
issuance of 100000 shares of stock at
500 each. The canal company is re-
quired to call in all the stock issued
except that held by the Nicaragua and
Costa Rica governments The COM
pany is also required to redeem and
cancel bonds and scrip heretofore is
sued by the company and to Salty all
cash liabilities. To enable the company
to comply with the requirements treas
ury warrants to the amount of SIS, 000,-
600 are authorized with proviso to the
effect that only so much of the amount
shall be paid as shall be required to
pay the actual cash value Of the right,
privileges, franchises and property at
the time of. the payment. the value to
be determined by commissioners to be
appointed by the president. This being
done, the secretary of the treasury is
authorized to subscribe for 925, 900 shares
of the company's stock for the govern
ment of the United States, the present
members of the board of directors are
then to resign and a board of seven is
to be appointed, consisting of five in
behalf of the United States and one
each in behalf of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica. The directors on behalf of the
United States are to be appointed by the
president and confirmed by the senate.
No two of them are to be residents of
any one state and no person who has
heretofore been interested in the canal
company is to be appointed to this Of
hce. They are also prohibited from be-
ing interested in contracts on the canal
Each of the directors, except the presi-
dent is to receive a. salary of $4,000 a
year and the president is to have Sc, 0OO
All travelling expenses are to be paid.
Annual reports are required. There is
provision against declaring a divi-
dend except upon the net earnings. The
company is authorized to contract for
the completion Of the canal within six
years. The payments are restricted to
$40, 100000 annually. The canal is to be
large enough for the use of the largest
seagoing vessels, at cost not exceeding
the estimate of the engineers and mot
to exceed $115,00O,O0O' This amount is
made permanent appropriation for the
work, to be used as the occasion may
require.
The bill gives the government lien
upon the property to secure the repay
ment Of the moneys advanced and the
president is empowered to declare for
fixture of the property to the United
States without the necessity of judicial
or other ascertainment. The president
IS authorized to suspend payments at
any time.
The president is also authorized to Sc
cure any change in or modification of
the terms OF the concession either from
the concessionaires or from Nicaragua
and Costa Rica. In case of the failure
IN such negotiations the president is
also empowered to negotiate for an
other route across the isthmus. He is
further required to open negotiations
for the abrogation of the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty. or any other treaty found
to be in existence and standing in the
way of the construction of the canal.
me neutrality of the canal is guaran-
iced, but the right to protect against
the Interruptions of business between
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of he
United States is reserved
AT the opening of the senate Mcmillan
presented the credentials of Julius
caesar Burrows, reelected senator
from Michigan. They were filed.
The resolution offered yesterday nv
Caffery requesting the president to give
any information he may have received
from agents or representatives of the
so-called Philippine republic relative 10
conditions in the Philippines was laid
pefore the senate. Gallery said the reso
luton was very important. He thought
1t likely the statements concerning the
condltlons in the islands made in public
PRINT were true. If true, the question
of fact concerning the islands had an
important bearing on the pending peace
treaty. The resolution was adopted.
The following bills were passed:
Granting to the Clearwater Valley
railroad company a rieht of way
through the Nez Perces Indian lands
In Idaho; extending the privilege of
immediate transportation of dutiable
goods to the port of Astoria, Ore:
granting $4,000 to Mary A. swift
widow of the late United States min
lister to Japan; amending an act en-
titled An act to provide for location
and satisfaction of outstanding mill
tary bounty land warrants and certifi
Gates of location under section 3 of the
act approved June 2, 1855"
The Nicaragua canal bill was laid
before the senate, the pending question
bein" upon the amendment of Mr.
Spooner of Wisconsin. The amendment
was accepted by Mr.. Morgan and was
agreed to by the senate. 1t follows:
That If the president shall be I'M
able to secure from the governments
of Nicaragua and Costa RIGA such con-
cesslons as will enable the United
states to build and perpetually own
rH1 C.oiI