The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-16

and Costa Rice Will Cede the
United States Any Territory
Needed to Complete the Water.
Way.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 15.-Represen-
tative w. H. Hepburn of Iowa has just
returned to Washington. Mr.. Hepburn
was Chairman in the last House of the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce the committee that has
charge of the Nicaragua Canal, quaran-
tine and railway anti-scalping and pool
ing legislation. He said in an interviews:
4 shall introduce a Nicaragua Canal
bill on the first day of the session and
will push it to action. The opponents
of the canal gained something in the
way of postponement when they sue
ceeded in interpolating in the last river
and harbor bill a provision for a new
commission to investigate all the pro-
posed routes across the isthmus with
the Nicaragua route which had been
recently investigated by careful COM
mission, which had made most elab-
crate surveys and had submitted most
satisfactory report, but by contending
that the Panama route had been neg
lected the postponement of the whole
matter was secured.
The newspapers inform us that the
committee will not be able to report at
this session. The friends of Panama
will, of course, throw all possible OBJ
stacles in the way of the United States
building the Nicaragua Canal, as the
construction of one canal will preclude
the building of others. The Panama
committee says that $10O,OOO,O0O will
be required to finish their canal. 1t is
certain that they can never raise any
considerable part of this sum if it is
known that the United States Govern
ment intends to build the Nicaragua
Canal.
"Other companies, such as the MARI
time Canal Company, the Cragin- Erie
syndicate and another whose name
forget, but which operated a steamboat
and railway line across the isthmus in
the SOS, also claim interests. The
Cragin people claim that they hold
right 20 Il concession that took effect
on October 10th, when the Maritime
Company's rights expired. Just what
value this alleged concession has l 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
Nicaragua will be glad to give the
United States any territory and any
rights it may need to prosecute and
complete the canal. The canal ques-
ton is of overwhelming Importance to
the development of both countries, and
they are anxious to have it built. There
is no doubt that the House would have
acted at the last session if it 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 1 cannot
say
Are you in favor of the proposed
new demand of commerce."
THAT matter was gone into at the
last session A number of men were
heard on it, and l hope they will renew
their efforts at the coming session; but
am not prepared to say how the mat
ter is regarded by the committee"
Are you in favor of an extension Of
the quarantine laWs?"
Il am, but there is a great diversity
point The Southern members gener-
ally are willing that the Government
should pay the money for a national
system, but they want to select the
men to spend it, The large cities also
object Some of them collect large sums
of money for their inspection OF vessels
and spend it in salaries much larger
than the United States Government
pays New York, Tor instance. collects
some $4,000 or 100000 annually and
pays its health officer $4,000 year.
In my judgment all this work should
be done by the United States Govern
ment alone, but as long as the States,
fearing invasion of their rights by the
Government, unite with the large cities
it is not likely that any efficient law
will be enacted"
what do you think of the Philippine
situation?"
II think that Congress should take no
action at present, and that the Presi-
dent should continue to control the ISL
ands by military law. Our original coll
onists were men far superior to the
Filipinos; they were skilled and trained
in self government, and yet 1T took
them fourteen years and much trouble
before they could work out constitu-
ton and a government Yet the Fill
pinos want to accomplish all this in
fourteen months. No, no; they should
wait and Congress should wait until we
all know each other better. We don't
know enough. about the islands yet to
act wisely regarding them. Meanwhile,
they should have as liberal govern
n,ant as possible'
How about currency legislation"
.sIn Iowa we fought the last CAM
paign on the gold standard, and the
result was a majority greater by IT,
600 than the State ever gave in all it's
previous history. Yes, I am in favor OF
What railway legislation do YOU
action.
."The House has three times passed
the anti-scalping law and the Senate
has killed it Now, I think that we
had better wait for awhile and see
whether the Senate will pass any such
legislation. If it will the House will
speedily follow suit, am sure"
Mozart died of malignant typhus fe-
yer on December 8, 1791.