, 1900-05-03
Vote Was 225 to 35-Mr. Hepburn, Who
Was in Charge of the Bill, Sustain
ed at Every Point-Appropriates
Ten Million Dollars With Which
to Begin the Work.

route to the president, was buried un,
der an adverse majority of SO to III.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
priations committee, and Mr.. Burton
of Ohio. chairman of the rivers and
harbors committee, made a game fight
to stand off action, at this session, but
their appeals were in vain and the
members rode rough shod over all their
arguments and protests. Much excite
ment reigned throughout the day and
several times bitter woro were used.
The excitement reached its climax in
a highly dramatic scene between Mr..
Hepburn and Mr.. Cannon, when the
former used the word "lie" and liar"
as he denounced the distinguished
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee for attempting to "dishonor
him" The house was in riotous o
fusion during the quarrel. Members
crowded the aisle and the situation was
at one time So threatening that Mr..
Wheeler of Kentucky (democrat)
sought to pour oil on the waters by
raising a point of order. But he was
not upheld and the two irate members
carried their way to the very hilt.
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 of the keenest and most cutting
sarcasm.
The bill as 1t passed the house is
as follows:
"Be it enacted, etc., that the presi-
dent of the United States be, and is
hereby authorized to acquire from the
states Of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for
and in behalf Of the United States, con-
troll of such portion Of territory now
belonging to Costo Rica and Nicaragua
as may be desirable and necessary, on
which to %excavate, construct and pro-
ltect a canal of such depth and capaci-
Ity as will be sufficient for the move
ment of ships Of the greatest tonnage
-
and draw now in use, from a point
near Greytown, on the Caribbean sea.
via Lake Nicaragua to Breto, on the
Pacific ocean; and such sum as may be
necessary to secure control is hereby
appropriated out OF the money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Section 2. That when the president
has secured full control yer the tar
ditory in section l, referred to he shall
direct the secretary of wal to excavats
and construct a canal and waterway
from a point on the shore of the Carri-
bean sea near Greytown, by way Of
Lake Nicaragua, to a point near Breto,
on the Pacific ocean. Such canal shall
be OF sufficient capacity and depth as
that it may be used by vessels Of the
largest tonnage and greatest depth now
in use and shall be supplied with all
necessary locks and other appliances
Ito meet the necessities Of vessels pass
ing from Greytown to Breto; and the
secretary Of war shall also construct
such safe and commodious harbors at
the termini of said canal, and such
provisions for defense as may be neces-
sary for the safety and protection Of
such canal and harbors.
Section 3. That the president shall
cause such surveys as may be neces-
sary 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 the construction of said canal the
San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua. or
such parts of each as may be available,
shall be used.
Section 5. That in any negotiations
with the states Of Costa Rica or Mic
aragua the president nay have. the
president is authorized to guarantee to
said states the use OF said canal and
harbors upon such terms as may be
lagreed upon for all vessels owned by
said states or by citizens thereof.
StCllOu U. mat the sunh VI $5o,-
OO0, 900 is hereby appropriated out OF
any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated, toward the project
herein contemplated, and the secretary
Of war is hereby further authorized to
enter into a contract or contracts for
material work that may be DEEM
ed necessary for the proper exca-
walton, construction, completion and
defense of said canal, to be paid for as
appropriations may from time to time
hereafter be made. not to exceed in the
aggregate $40, 100000.
Mr.. McColloch' Of Arkansas offered
an amendment to assert the words
%"fortify, garrison" between the words
"construct" and "and defend" He
said he desired that the language OF
the bill should be unequivocal and
should make plain the purpose of con
gress to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwel
treaty.
K Mr.. Shafruth Of Colorado heartily
supported the amendment. We should
have . fortified canal, or NO canal, h
said.
II. Williams Of Mississippi said h