The Eddy current., 1899-02-11
Nicaraguan NH.

| committee ON Interstate and foreign
commerce to-day directed favorable
report on the Hepburn Nicaragua ca
nal bill with amendments aa a substl-
tute for the Morgan bill passed by the
senate.
When the subject was taken up at .
the meeting OF the commerce commit /
tee yesterday II was at FIRST deter
mined without the formality OF a vote I
that Chairman liepburn'a bill should /
be reported as cmbodying the sense
OF the committee. The main question
was as to expeditinE legislation. For
this purpose Mr. Lowering OF Massa-
chusotts moved chat the Morgan SEN
ate bill be taken up aud oil after the
onacting clause be stricken out aud
the Hepburn bill substituted. This wns
approved and the substitute was then
changed In some particulars ON mo-
ton Of Mr.. Barham OF California The
requirement for full ownership and
sovereignty over the route was strlck-
en- out. An amendment by MIR, sher
man OF New York authorizing the
president to negotiate with private
companies or associations for conees-
aions, rights. etc. was defeated.
Mr.. llnrlchen OF Illinois secured the
adoption OF an amendment reducing
the total appropriations from si4O.-
100000 to tli5.OOO,OOO As thus amend
ed the substitute bill was agreed to BY
practically a unanimous vote and Mr.
Hepburn was directed 10 make the 70.
port TO the house,
The bin in its amended form is as
follows.
Section /, That '.e president OF the
United States be and Is hereby au.
thorlzed TO acquire by purchase from
, the states OF Costa Rlca and Nicaragua
for aud In behalf OF the United States
A OF such portion Of territory now be-.
longing to Costa Rlca and Nicaragua
or eith o. them as may be desirable
.g. Geccssary on which to cxcavate.
construct and defend a canal OF such
. depth and capacity as will be sufficient
for the movement OF ships OF the great
est tonnage and draft now IN use, from
point near ureytown, on the Caribbean
sea, via lake Nicaragua to Brlto, on
the Pacific ocean: and such sum n,
y may be necessary to make such pur
chase is hereby appropriated out oI
any money In the treasury not other
wise appropriated
. Sec. g. That whom the president has
;. secured the territory in section /, re-.
- ferred to, he shall direct the secretary
= canal and waterway from q point on
the shore OF the Caribbean sea neal
= Groytown by way OF Lake Nicaragua I,
~ point near Brito. on the pacih,
"A ocean Such canal shall be OF suffiolen
4, capacity that II may bo used by YES
sells OF the largest tonnage and great
q, est depth now In use. and shall DO sup
,r piled with all tho necessary locks an,
"a other appliances to meet the nccessl
IA ties OF vessels passing from Greytowl
,r 10 Brlto and the secretary OF war shal
NJ also construct such safe and commo
dious harbors at tho terminals OF sal
canal and such fortlnoatlons for dc
fense MS will be required for the con
he venience and safety OF all vessels de
string the use Of said canal
OF Sec g. That In making survey 10
Is said canal and harbors the secretary q
nj war shall detail such number of en-
o. glneer officers OF the army navy an
W civil as may be necessary, and may r,
is 1ulre OF them the performance OF sue
ID professional duties as he may desire
Sec. 4. That In the excavation an
construction OF said canal the San Jua
river and Lake Nicaragua 4 such part
Of each as may be made available sha
be used.
a. Sec. o. That In any negotiation
ad with the states OF Cost Rlca or Nlcal
an aqua the president may have the pres
~. dent Is authorized 10 guarantee 90 sal
"o states the use OF said canal and ha
ne bors upon such terms as may be agree
Is upon, for all vessels owned by sal
~. states or By citizens thereof
=, Sec 8. That the sum OF sii5000,0 ,0l
'm or 90 much as may be- necessary
IN hereby appropriated out OF any mon,
In the treasury not otherwise apprl
tlo prlated for the completion OF the w0i
:. herein authorized. said money 10
drawn from the treasury from time
time aa the same shall be needed, upg
warrants Of the president. based 4
fla estimates made and verified by u
chief engineer In charge OF the wor
and approved by the secretary OF wa
sas
- SOAP Couabine.