The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-03
NICARAGUA
CANAL BILL
PASSES HOUSE.
The Vote in Favor Of Its Passage
was Observation-Disclosures for
Hepburn and the Committee.
EXCITEMENT REACHED ACLIMAX
When the 'I4eo Was Passed in the
Debate-Tried to Pour Oil on
the Troubled Waters.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 2.-The
house to-day, at the conclusion Of the
most stormy debate Of the present ses-
sion of Congress, passed the Nicara-
guam canal bill by the overwhelming
vote of 225 to s5. All attempts 70 re-
tain in the bill the language Of the
original bill for the fortIacation OF the
canal, and to still further strengthen
the language on that line were balked.
and the victory of Mr.. Hepburn and
the committee was complete. a mo-
ton to re.commit the bill, with In
structlons to report back another bill
leaving the selection Of the route to the
President, was buried under an adverse
majority Of 90 to III.
Opposed by Two Veterans.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the appro-
priatlons committee. and Mr.. Burton,
of Ohio. chairman of he rivers and har-
bors committee, made q game fight TO
stall off action ut this session, but their
appeals were in vain, and the members
rode rough shod over all their argu-
ments and protests. Much excitement
reigned throughout the day. and sew
eral times bitter words were used.
The excitement reached It's climax in
a highly dramatic scene between Mr.
Hepburn and Mr.. Cannon, when the
former used the words "lie" and liar"
as he denounced the distinguished
chairman OF the appropriations COM
mittee for attempting to "dishonor
him." The house was in rtotous con-
fusion during the quarrel. Members
crowded the aisles, and the situation
at one time was so othreatening that Mr..
wheeler, Of Kentucky, (Dem.) sought
to pour oil on the troubled waters by
raising q point OF order, but he was
not upheld, and the two irate members
carried their war to the very htit.
There was a show Of peace at the close
Of the incident but the feeling between
the two men ran so high that the mu-
tual retractions with which such incl
dents generally end, were but the
cloaks for the keenest and most cut
ting sarcasm.
Some Provisions of the Bill.
The bill, as 1t passed the house, is as
follows:
"Be 1t enacted, ETC., that the Presi-
dent OF the United States be and here
by is, authorized to acquire from the
states Of Costa Rlca and Nicaragua
for ana In behnlf of the United States,
control OF such portion of territory now
belonging to Costa Rica and Nicaragua
ms may be desirable and necessary on
which to excavate, construct and pro-
tect n canal of such depth and capacity
as will be sufficient for the movements
OF ships OF the greatest tonnage and
drnught now in use, from q point near
Greytown, on the Caribbean Sea, via
Lake Nicaragua, to Brete, on the Pa
cfac ocean: and such sum as may be
necessary to secure control Is hereby
appropriated, out of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated
Shall Direct Secretary Of War.
"sec,lon 2. That when the President
has secured full control over the terri
tory in Section referred to- he shall
direct the secretary Of war to excaTate
and construct a canal and waterway
from n point on the shore of the Carib-
bean sea, near Greytown, by the way
Of Lake Nicaragua, to a point near
Rreto on the Pacific ocean. Such ca
nal shall be Of sufficient capacity and
depth as that 1t may be used by ves-
seis of the largest tonnage and great
est draught now In use. and shall be
supplied with all necessary locks and
other appliances from Greytown to
Breto, and the secretary of war shall
nlso construct such safe and commo-
dlous harbors at the termIni Of said ca
nal, and such provisions for defense as
may be necessary for the s1frty and
nrotection OF said canal and harbors.
"secion 3. That the President shall
cause such surveys as may be neces-
gary for said canal and harbors, and
in the construction Of the same shall
employ such persons as he may deem
necessary.
section 4. That In the excavation and
construction Of said canal the San
Juan river and Lake Nicaragua or such
parts Of each rs may be made availa-
BILE, shall be used.
Start Out With Ten Millions.
Section g. That in any negotiations
with the states NJ Costa RiGn or Mic
aragua the President may have, the
President is authorized to guarantee to
snid states the use OF said canal and
harbors upon such terms as may be
agreed upon for all vessels owned by
said states or citizens thereof.
"scctlon G. That the sum OF 10000
900 Is hereby appropriated, out Of any
money IN the treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, toward the project herein
contemplated. and the secretary Of war
Is further authorized to enter Into
contract or contracts for materials and
work that may be deemed necessary
for the proper excavation, coHstEHe-
tlon, compilation and defense Of said
canal, to be paid for MS appropriations
may from time to time hereafter bo
made, not to exceed In the aggregate
$40. .OOO.OO